Lauryn Richardson, junior, spent seven weeks during the summer in Ontario, Canada, coaching and aiding people with special needs.

Richardson said there were many camp counselors there just like her, but many were from different parts of the world.

“There were people from Germany, Iceland, England and Australia,” Richardson said.  “There was only one other American.”

When she was there, she helped the special needs kids with life skills, job skills and people skills.  The campers had physical, mental and behavioral disabilities.

Richardson said the most important things they helped with were everyday skills, such as doing laundry and cleaning.

“We taught the campers how to sanitize things, how to restock groceries, and other things they might need to know for jobs they might have in the future,” Richardson said.

Richardson said she knows how much the camp can help because she was once a camper there.

“I definitely want to go back next year and help, but maybe stay for less than seven weeks,” Richardson said.

Richardson said she doesn’t know what she wants to do when she’s older, but helping people with special needs might be a part of it.