📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
CAMPHILL SPECIAL SCHOOL, GLENMOORE, PENNSYLVANIA is a nonprofit, Pennsylvania Approved Private School and Waldorf school accredited by AWSNA and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools. We offer day and residential programs for children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities that may include, but are not restricted to, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), and other conditions associated with intellectual disability. Camphill Special School is part of the worldwide Camphill Movement and the only Camphill community in North America for children, as well as the only Waldorf school in the country for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities. www.camphillspecialschool.org
💼 What the programme involves
In the main community our work is dedicated to the 5-18 set and life revolves around school, pre-vocational programs, and recreational activities. The objective for this age group is to build self-help, life, independence, and personal hygiene skills and help maintain them throughout the year and of course indefinitely. In the transition program which has two locations outside the main community (approximately 6 miles) there are three houses. The Transition program otherwise known as the farm is dedicated to furthering the self-help, independence, and life skills of our students aged 18-21; This is done through hands-on vocational work on our farm, the local CSA and adult village Kimberton Hills. Our goal is to extend as much of a familial setting as possible for all involved and well-rounded hands-on education for the children. The workday begins at 6:45 am with a house meeting to plan the day and ends at approximately 8:30 pm. During the day there is downtime (an hour and half between breakfast and class helping, and an hour during rest hour).
🏠 Accommodation on site
All volunteers have their own bedroom provided in one of our 11 houses with shared living facilities. We provide room/board, medical insurance, minor personal needs (soap, shampoo, etc.) access to our fleet of cars and a $175.00 monthly stipend.
📍 About the location
Glenmoore, Pennsylvania (approximately 1 hour southwest of Philadelphia). Only 2.5 hours away from New York City and Washington, DC.
LEISURE ACTIVITIES: Volunteers will have ample opportunity to enjoy the abundance of history and cultural offerings of Philadelphia and nearby Valley Forge National Park.
⚠️ Requirements
Camphill Application Form required as well as 3 references. No drugs or alcohol allowed. Dietary needs are accommodated. No smoking in houses or in front of children. Camphill will obtain the appropriate work visa for the volunteers.
ℹ️ Additional information
We want our volunteers to work with the children and encourage as much independence as possible, not to see the limitations, but rather see the potential of the students. We have volunteers come to us for 11 months from all around the world.