PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Michelle Yadoo
Marketing Communications Coordinator
(516) 922-4100, ext. 231
06 August 2012
Another Summer of Learning and Laughter at
Mill Neck’s Sign Language Camp for Hearing Kids
The campers arrived from near and far. Some from Mill Neck’s neighboring areas, like
Bayville’s eleven-year old Gunnar and thirteen-year old Skye from Glen Cove. Others traveled a
bit farther, from Manhasset and Dix Hills. One, Levi, back for his second time at Sign Camp,
made the trip from his home in Florida. Like last summer, he joined the two-week camp while
visiting his grandmother on Long Island. These kids were among the 53 children who recently
attended Sign Language Camp for Hearing Kids this summer, run by Mill Neck Foundation.
Now in its fourteenth year, the Camp, held on Mill Neck’s 86-acre campus, is held two
consecutive weeks each July. This unique opportunity offers kids, ages 8 to 16, a chance to
learn American Sign Language (ASL) while participating in typical summer camp activities.
Through daily socializing with students attending the Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf
summer program, the campers have ample opportunity to practice their newly acquired
communication skills.
To ensure the best possible experience, children are divided by age (ages 8 - 12 and 13 - 16) to
learn sign language letters and numbers as well as signs for animals, food, colors and more.
Classes are led by Deaf instructors with assistance from hearing teachers and Deaf Mill Neck
students. Campers further learn sign through various activities, games and arts and crafts. By the
end of session one, campers are able to have basic conversations in sign and are encouraged to
return for the second session to build their skills with additional enjoyable and educational
activities. Session two is perfect for campers with some prior sign knowledge, or for those who
have completed session one or another beginner class.
While Mill Neck offers a rich summer learning experience, what would summer camp be
without tie dyeing, water games and arts and crafts? Along with these activities, kids engaged in
plenty of outdoor play in the spacious grassy areas of the campus and in the playground at the
Deaf Education Center. It was during many of these times that the campers had opportunities to
interact with their Deaf peers.
Nina Iannitelli, a Mill Neck staff member since 2009 was this year’s camp coordinator. She
commented on how much the campers loved interacting with Mill Neck students. “It was their
favorite time of the day,” she said. The kids just took to each and didn’t seem to have any
difficulty in communicating among themselves. While camp staff was always on hand to offer
interpreting assistance, Iannitelli says, “Even first-time sign campers seemed to know how to
communicate with the Deaf children. They all managed well, even making use of pictures if they
needed to.” She also noted, as other staff has in summers past, that many of the campers and
students said they would like to keep in touch after summer ends.
Since this was her first experience running Sign Camp, Iannitelli was grateful to the dedicated
counselors who assisted her, including Intermediate ASL teacher David Rosenberg, who once
again traveled from his home in Michigan and took two weeks of vacation from his job to be at
camp. Local residents Casey Olsen of Commack taught the age 8-13 Beginner group and Eleanor
Jailer-Coley from Port Washington instructed the Beginners class for older kids. Teacher
assistants Tabitha Bobick of East Meadow, Ellyn Horowitz of Smithtown and Levittown resident
Nicole Shaw, who taught arts and crafts, rounded out the camp staff.
Wrapping up the Sign Camp experience at the end of each week, campers had a chance to show
off their new language skills at a special performance for parents, Mill Neck staff and students.
Following a presentation of the week’s experiences, the campers took the stage and performed
short skits and several songs, signing all. Even the first-time campers impressed everyone with
how well they were able to sign after beginning instruction. For their efforts, all the kids received
several prolonged rounds of applause!
Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf and the Early Childhood Center are part of the Mill Neck
Family of Organizations, a not-for-profit group dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for
people who are Deaf, or who have other special communication needs, through excellence in
individually designed educational, vocational or spiritual programs and services. For more
information, please call (516) 922-4100 or visit http://www.millneck.org.
Photo Captions:
1. Campers at Mill Neck’s Sign Language Camp for Hearing Kids pause during outdoor play to
sign “I love you.”
2. Campers from week two perform one of several songs at their show.
3. Counselors join campers on stage after the final song.
4. Lots of laughs during a game of “Red Rover.”
5. Taking an ice cream break at the Mill Neck playground.
6. Mill Neck students and campers during one of their daily interactions.
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