Summer Camp

2012 “The Pillar of Hope” STAR Summer Camp Art Project

This ceramic column was created by students participating in the Miami Lighthouse 20012 Summer Camp Program with the help of visiting artists Carlos Alves, Jane Carroll, and staff artist Nelba Gonzales. During the 2012 summer camp, children created individual ceramic pieces which the artists used to create the column.

2012 Miami Lighthouse Transition Summer Program Students Experience Exclusive Wildlife Tour at Miami Seaquarium

On Friday, August 17th Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Transition summer program students, ages 14 to 18, spent the day and got the opportunity to experience a private interaction with dolphins, sea turtles, stingrays, iguanas, horseshoe crabs and birds through the Miami Seaquarium’s touch tour. Twenty Miami Lighthouse students attended the exclusive wildlife tour that not only helped educate the participants, but it also helped them gain the confidence needed to learn through their other senses. Mr. Arthur Hertz and Andrew Hertz are sincerely thanked for their kindness in providing this wonderful interaction.

Transition Summer Camp student touches a dolphin.		The students getting splashed by the dolphins.
Transition students touch an iguana.		Transition students touch a horseshoe crab.
Transition Summer camp students at the Miami Seaquarium.

2012 Miami Marlins Foundation Invited Miami Lighthouse Summer Program Students To Experience Special On-Field Touch Tour At Marlins Ballpark

On Wednesday, August 15th thirty Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired summer program students, ages 13 to 18, got the opportunity to take part in an exciting hands-on tour of Marlins Ballpark and learn about the traditions of America’s national pastime. With the help of Marlins Foundation staff, Miami Lighthouse summer camp students used their other senses like touch and smell to learn about the new Ballpark located just blocks from the Miami Lighthouse facility.

The students were exposed to a multi-sensory experience by having a special touch tour on the Marlins Ballpark field and in the dugout. The students also got to feel and handle equipment used in the game, including bats with pine tar, gloves, a catcher's mask, a batting helmet, balls and batting gloves. After the tour, summer program students were able to experience the Miami Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-2 and were greeted by Miami Marlins President David Samson. We thank Alfredo Mesa, Executive Director, and Joanne Messing, Director of Partnerships, of Miami Marlins Foundation for making this wonderful interaction for our summer camp students possible.

Summer camp students sit in the Miami Marlins dugout.		Miami Marlins President David Samson asks the summer camp students about their favorite experience during the touch tour.
Miami Marlins President, David Samson and CEO of Miami Lighthouse Virginia Jacko celebrate the Marlins victory with summer program students and staff.
Summer camp student Davonte Pollard taking part in an on-field interview.		Summer camp student Frankie Young touches the grass along the first baseline with transition summer camp coordinator Emily Nostro.

Miami Lighthouse for the Blind students perform at U.S. Naturalization Ceremony

On July 25th Miami Lighthouse for the Blind Better Chance Music Production Program™ students performed in front of a standing room only crowd taking part in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Ceremony where over 208 individuals from 30 countries were sworn in as new U.S citizens. This is the fourth time our students have been invited to perform at a naturalization ceremony. This year’s performance included the National Anthem, God Bless the USA, Coming to America, Waving Flag and more. We are grateful to Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, District Director Linda Swacina and Acting Field Office Director Eileen López Tomé of the USCIS Miami Field Office for providing this opportunity. The Miami Lighthouse Better Chance Music Production Program™ is funded by The Children’s Trust and community foundations.

Natalia Sulca sings the National Anthem.		Miami Lighthouse Music Production Program™ students sing God Bless the USA.
Julius Butler sings to the crowd.		Miami Lighthouse performers congratulate the new citizens.

2012 Miami Lighthouse Better Chance Music Production Program™ Students Experience Wildlife Tour At Biscayne Nature Center

On Thursday, July 19th Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Better Chance Music Production Program™ students, ages 14 to 18, spent the day and got the opportunity to take part in an exciting hands-on marine science lab and learn about environmental studies with multisensory observations within Biscayne Nature Center’s extensive seagrass beds. With the help of trained marine biologists and lifeguards, Miami Lighthouse summer camp students were able to use other senses like touch and smell to learn more about local sealife. The students were exposed to a multisensory experience by learning about, catching and touching the sealife that lives in our very own backyard. Every student, whether blind or visually impaired, was able to see the aquatic life through physical interaction. Twenty-one Miami Lighthouse blind and visually impaired music students along with their sighted peers experienced the wildlife tour that was not only educational, but it also reinforced what we teach at Miami Lighthouse—it’s possible to see without sight™. We thank Theodora Long, Executive Director, and Claudia Succar Ferre, Assistant to the Director, of Biscayne Nature Center for making this wonderful interaction for our music summer camp students possible.

Music Summer Camp students gather on the sandbar to touch the sealife that was captured.		Music student looks at a blow fish caught in the seagrass.
Music students learn about the hazards of liter from this shark made from garbage found on the beach.		Students touch live sea urchins.

2011 Miami Lighthouse Summer Camp Students visits
The United States Coast Guard

On August 11th students from the Miami Lighthouse summer program participated in an event sponsored by the United States Coast Guard. The children explored a U.S. Coast Guard airplane and helicopter, got to examine the equipment used to fix the aircrafts, they got to wear U.S. Coast Guard gear and everyone received a model U.S. Coast Guard helicopter. We thank the Opa Locka Coast Guard Station for allowing Miami Lighthouse summer camp students to spend the day learning about what it takes to be in the United States Coast Guard.

Coast Guard member Heredia with students.		Opa Locka Coast Guard members and summer camper.
Miami Lighthouse summer camp student gives the “all is a go” dressed in Coast Guard gear.		Summer camp students visit the Opa Locka Coast Guard Station.

2011 Miami Lighthouse Star Summer Program Students
Experience Exclusive Wildlife Tour At Miami Seaquarium

On Friday, July 8th Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired STAR summer program students, ages 5 to 13, spent the day and got the opportunity to experience a private interaction with dolphins, sea turtles, stingrays and birds through the Miami Seaquarium’s touch tour. The students were exposed to a multisensory experience by feeding, playing with and petting the animals at the Miami Seaquarium. Every student was able to see the aquatic life through touch and interaction. Forty Miami Lighthouse students attended the exclusive wildlife tour that not only helped educate the participants, but it also helped them gain the confidence needed to learn through their other senses. Mr. Arthur and Andrew Hertz are sincerely thanked for their kindness in providing this wonderful interaction for our STAR summer camp children.

STAR Summer Camp student feeds a dolphin.		The students also got the opportunity to touch the dolphins.
STAR students touch a sea turtle.		Feeding stingrays.
STAR Summer camp students at the Miami Seaquarium.

2011 Miami Lighthouse Family Support Group visits
Miami Children’s Museum

On June 18th eight families participated in a family support group session at the Miami Children’s Museum. Thirty-two children and parents explored the vast array of exhibits the Miami Children’s Museum offers. The event was funded through the generosity of a wonderful community philanthropist Gloria Martin who said, “I am very happy to bring these two organizations with rich traditions in the community together. This is a great program for the Miami Lighthouse where they can bring their blind and visually impaired children to the Miami Children’s Museum to enjoy the exhibits they have to offer. I am delighted to have made it happen.”

Miami Lighthouse child learns about the job of a dentist.		Child rides in a train learning about the different modes of transportation.
Child explores the wonders of being a construction worker.		Gone fishin’.

2010 “The Pillar of Hope” STAR Summer Camp Art Project

This ceramic column was created by students participating in the Miami Lighthouse 2009 Summer Camp Program with the help of visiting artists Carlos Alves, Jane Carroll, and staff artist Nelba Gonzales. During the 2010 summer camp, children will again create individual ceramic pieces which the artists will use to create a second column. These projects are underwritten by Scott Miller and the Opa Locka Hialeah Flea Market.
 

2010 Miami Lighthouse Transition Program students swim
with dolphins at Miami Seaquarium

	Miami Lighthouse Transition Program students swim with dolphins at Miami Seaquarium

Miami Lighthouse for the Blind Transition students, ages 14 to 22, spent the afternoon playing with dolphins at Miami Seaquarium Dolphin Harbor. On July 29, 20 students fed, played with, pet, hugged and posed with bottlenose dolphins. Every student, whether blind or visually impaired, was able to see the dolphins through touch and interaction. The students saw the dolphins through feeling their textured skin, kissing their beaks and playing catch with them. The Miami Lighthouse is grateful for this wonderful experience provided by Andrew and Arthur Hertz.

To view a video taken by the Miami Herald, please click here

To view a video taken by NBC 6, please click here (The video begins after a commercial).
 

2010 STAR Summer Campers Enjoy a Carnival Day

On July 9, campers in the Summer Training and Recreation (STAR) program had a fun-filled Carnival Day complete with a bounce house, train, slides and golf cart rides. The carnival was generously provided by Harvey and Ellen Amster, Elsa Dela Cruz, Dario Gomez and family, and Jack and Patricia Tierney. The summer campers, ages 5 to 13, enjoyed getting their faces painted by a clown and eating unlimited snow cones, cotton candy and popcorn. Miami Lighthouse music program students performed a concert in the sensory garden for all those in attendance followed by a pizza feast.

The STAR program is a six-week summer camp providing services to blind or visually impaired children ages 5- 13. The program offers fun, engaging, and enriching activities including Braille literacy, physical fitness, social skills development, art and music. In addition to the STAR program summer campers, Transition students also enjoyed the day’s carnival activities. The Transition program provides students ages 14 to 22 with the experience needed to live independent, successful and fulfilling lives, while teaching students how to succeed together and build meaningful relationships with their peers. The Transition program offers students work experience that suits their individual interests, personal and home management, assistive technology training, orientation and mobility, field trips, and community integration.
 

2009 “Touching Our Dreams” STAR Summer Camp Art Project

On July 29th, parents of children participating in the Miami Lighthouse STAR Summer Camp were on hand to witness the unveiling of a very special project entitled “Touching Our Dreams.” With the help of local artist Carlos Alves, Miami Lighthouse Instructor Nelba Gonzalez, and many volunteers, students created a mosaic column that was installed in the sensory garden at the Lighthouse.

When working with ceramics, a child’s imagination is stimulated allowing the child to recreate figures using primarily their sense of touch. Using their hands helps children develop fine motor skills, spatial relation and orientation allowing them to see through the sense of touch. This project was conceived with goal of having the children interact and develop social skills while learning to work together as a team.

Special thanks to Mr. Scott Miller, President, Opa-Locka Hialeah Flea Market, for his generous donation which helped make this dream come true.
 

2009 Miami Lighthouse Transition Summer Camp Students
Visit Coast Guard Air Station Miami

On July 28th, students participating in the Transition Summer Camp visited Coast Guard Air Station Miami. Students were paired with either a pilot or crewmember and received a personal tour of a Dolphin helicopter and Falcon jet in addition to learning about Coast Guard missions. This was the first time students from Miami Lighthouse have had the opportunity to visit a military facility. A special thank-you is extended to Board Member David Turner and Coast Guard Captain Robert Grant for facilitating this once-in-a-lifetime visit.

Miami Lighthouse first sought and received NAC accreditation in 1978 and has consistently achieved NAC accreditation to the present time having received seven commendations with its five year accreditation renewal.

Miami Lighthouse ranks among the elite 4% of U.S. nonprofits having earned a 4-star rating for five consecutive years from Charity Navigator, the nation’s premier independent nonprofit evaluator. Receiving such a distinction reflects our sound fiscal management, responsible use of donor dollars, and financial strength.

Miami Lighthouse received the prestigious South Florida Business Journal 2011 Excellence in Health Care Award in the Community Outreach category.

Miami Lighthouse honored by being named the recipient of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce 2010 Non-Profit Business Diamond Award.

Miami Lighthouse received the prestigious 2008 Concern Award from Health Foundation of South Florida.

Miami Lighthouse received United Homecare’s 2012 Thelma Gibson Community Service Award at the 18th Annual Claude Pepper Memorial Awards Ceremony.

Miami Lighthouse's Heiken Children's Vision Program received the bronze medal for their service to thousands of under-served children in public schools at the 2012 Miami Today Gold Medal Awards Ceremony.