Youngsters do more than P.L.A.Y at summer camp
By Becky Keasling
Staff Reporter
Each morning, up to 3 6 elementary-age chil
dren head to the F Street Recreation Center for
a day full of fun and games.
The children are taking part in the P.L.A.Y.
(Positive Learning Activities for Youth) pro
gram.
The program runs each weekday from June
12 to August 11 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
“Our camp targets children with special
needs,” Kevin Chavez, F Street Recreation su
pervisor, said.
“Some of these children would not function
well at regular day camps.”
The idea for the day camp emerged at Everett
Elementary School. University of Nebraska
Lincoln students Erica Schroeder-Seip and
Chavez were practicum teaching there during
the 1994-95 school year. They approached spe
cial needs teacher Jeannine Van Laningham
with the idea for a special needs summer camp.
With a little help from Lincoln Parks and
Recreation and the Lincoln-Lancaster Health
Department, the P.L. A.Y. program was formed.
The day camp is free for the children because
many of them cannot afford to attend traditional
camps.
The three paid staff members and several
volunteers teach the children how to be produc
tive in the community. The children learn to
work together in a community-oriented envi
ronment.
“Without the support we give
the children, they wouldn't be
able to make it through many
social situations."
■
KEVIN CHAVEZ
- F Street Recreation Supervisor
“Our goals are socially oriented,” Chavez
said. “Without the support we give the children,
they wouldn’t be able to make it through many
social situations.”
A typical day at the P.L.A.Y. camp begins at
9 a.m. with an opening game or activity. Then,
throughout the morning the ch ildren go through
various learning centers. The centers focus on
reading, writing, art and music. Other morning
activities include singing songs and playing
outdoor games.
The main goal of the centers is to get the
children to express themselves, Chavez said.
After lunch, the children usually go on field
trips for the remainder of the day. Field trips
include going to movies, the children’s mu
seum, the zoo and swimming.
Also, the children are involved in the Everett
Elementary School reading program. In return
for the use of the library, the children often help
clean up the area around the school.
Just 5 minutes from campus on west "O" street in the Westgate Shopping Center
■
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James Mehsfing/DN
Gov. Nelson tries to rid
state of Nazipropaganda
By Erin Schulte
Staff Reporter
In the wake of twisted beliefs
spread by neo-Nazi propagandists
here in Lincoln, Gov. Ben Nelson
has issued a proclamation disasso
ciating the state of Nebraska from
activities that support neo-Nazism
and people who distribute Nazi or
neo-Nazi propaganda.
Although his name is not spe
cifically mentioned in the docu
ment, Gerhard “Gary” Lauck prob
ably had a lot to do with the procla
mation.
Lauck had distributed neo-Nazi
propaganda out of his home in Lin
coln since 1970,until thisyearwhen
he was arrested in Denmark for his
crimes.
Gov. Nelson said the proclama
tion was issued because of the
people who had been using Ne
braska as their base for Nazi opera- -
tions.
He said he thought other coun
tries may look down on Nebraska
and associate Nazism with the state,
and Nebraska’s name should be
clearedofany association with these
types of people or organizations.
Dara Troutman, press secretary
for Gov. Nelson, said although it
may seem to some that this is an
infringement on free speech, the
proclamation isnot trying to change
rights, it simply says that the gov
ernment disagrees with the ideas
of the Nazis.
Troutman said copies of the
document were sent to the German
Embassy in Washington, D.C.,
German media and the Nebraska
Congressional delegation.
She said Gov. Nelson’s office
is waiting on a reply from the Ger
man offices and the consulate gen
eral.
A similar resolution was intro
duced in the legislature by Sen.
LaVonne Crosby of Lincoln,
Troutman said, but because oftime
constraints, it was never debated,
although at least 35 senators gave
support for the bill.
Some opposition came from
Sen. Ernie Chambers, Troutman
said, because he felt that if one
group was targeted, soon any
group’s freedom of speech could
be opposed.
Crosby approached Gov. Nel
son about issuing a proclamation,
which only the governor can do,
after the bill was passed over by
the state legislature.
Although the proclamation has
nolegal reinforcement,“itmakesa
very strong political statement
about Nebraska,” Troutman said.