Osage County Herald-Chronicle | Midnight swim for Camp MITIOG

Midnight swim for Camp MITIOG
Osage City youth step up summer volunteer efforts

DeAun Michael | Reporter

Improving the quality of life for children with spina bifida has been a passion of Osage City teens for the past eight summers. In late July, a local group will return to Excelsior Springs, Mo., where they spend a week of their summer as camp counselors at Camp MITIOG (Made in the Image of God).

The group, along with volunteers from the Osage City Aquatic Center, are taking their volunteer efforts another step by helping raise money for the camp with a midnight swim at the Osage City Aquatic Center on July 17.

Camp MITIOG is a week long camp for children with spina bifida, one of the most common birth defects which occurs when a baby’s spine does not close completely during early pregnancy. The week at Camp MITIOG provides children a place to participate in many camping activities including fishing, swimming, canoeing and crafts.

The Osage City group is organized by Osage City High School math teacher James Bellinger. Bellinger has been attending Camp MITIOG since he was 15 and is now a lead camp counselor. He has organized groups to attend the camp and serve as counselors since he started teaching at OCHS eight years ago.

“This is an experience you have to take part in to really understand it,” Bellinger said. “It’s a one to one bond you develop with this one child for an entire week, making sure they eat and go to bed on time, and providing the majority of their care.”

Bellinger explained each child attending the camp is matched up with a counselor for the week. They work one-on-one with the campers, assisting with recreational activities as well as personal daily needs.

For the Osage City teens who volunteer as counselors, there are many benefits that reach far beyond the enjoyment of a week away from home at summer camp.

“The camp is all about the campers and about them having a great week,” Bellinger said. “But I think our kids get just as much out of it as the campers do. They learn so much about themselves and so much about other people.”

Camp MITIOG has anywhere from 50 to 60 counselors each year, depending on the number of children attending. The first year Bellinger began taking a group of Osage City teens to the camp, he had approximately 10 students join him. Around 25 Osage City youth have signed up to attend the camp as counselors. For some, it will be their first experience, while others are returning for their eighth year as a counselor.

“What’s impressive is what these kids are doing at the ages of 15 and 16 as counselors,” Bellinger said. “It’s a character builder and gives our kids an opportunity to see kids outside of the community.”

Several former Osage City teens have continued to serve as counselors at the camp even after their high school years. Mark Brewer, Kristen Bean and Brenna Tobias, who were among the first groups to attend Camp MITIOG as counselors from Osage City, are now on staff at the camp.

The teens serving as counselors receive training prior to the start of camp. The camp also has trained medical staff on site.

Fundraising efforts

Osage City Aquatic Center Manager Lynn Tice said staff at the pool were thrilled with the idea of a midnight swim when approached with the idea. Tice said nearly half of her staff will be attending the camp as counselors this year, and several other staff members have attended in previous years. They quickly jumped on board with organizing an event to assist in the on-going fundraising needs for Camp MITIOG.

“So many of our guards go each year,” Tice said. “They were excited with the idea of being able to help out. I know every kid that comes back from serving as a counselor has been so excited about their experience.”

Their goal is to make at least $500 to present to the camp on behalf of the Osage City Aquatic Center.

Bellinger and Tice encourage everyone to join them at the midnight swim, come out and show support for the camp and the teens in Osage City who have been supporters of Camp MITIOG for the past eight years, even if they do not plan to swim.

The swim will run from 10 p.m. to midnight Friday, July 17, and is open to all swimmers junior high age and older. Admission will be $3 per person (no passes) and baked goods, soft drinks and snacks will be for sale.

All aquatic center staff will volunteer their time that evening, as well as donating baked goods and snack items for sale. The City of Osage City has donated the use of the pool for the event. All proceeds from the event benefit the camp. Donations will also be accepted.

More information on the camp can be found at www.campmitiog.org, including how to become a counselor, camper or how to donate to the camp, which is a member of the American Camping Association, and is now in its 40th year of providing summer camp to children with spina bifida.