Cody Yanochko is usually a bit introverted and not always very eager to take part in new activities. The 15-year-old from Lehigh Township is on the autism spectrum.
“When Cody was younger, we had a lot of difficulty getting him to try out anything new, even going to school,” said mom Melanie Turock, DO, an emergency medicine physician with St. Luke’s. “Sometimes the transition to leave mom was very difficult.”
Not so during Camp Via, a 10-week daytime summer program for teens and young adults with special needs between the ages 13 and 21. It runs June 15-Aug. 14.
“This is his second summer doing Camp Via and he loves it,” Dr. Turock said. “Every day he is excited to go to camp, and when I try to walk him in, he is so excited that runs to his area. When we pick him up, he’ll tell you how his day went, and every day is always awesome. Because of Camp Via, we’ve seen hm blossom with his social skills.”
Via of the Lehigh Valley organizes Camp Via to prioritize the development of life skills for the campers, doing everything from learning to operate a cash register to volunteering with Meals on Wheels, along with traditional camp agendas like crafts and sports.
In July, St. Luke’s Week at Camp Via included two days at St. Luke’s SportsPlex in Allentown, nutrition education with a certified registered dietitian, and adventure skills at Blue Mountain Ski Resort.
“Camp Via is about helping young people discover their strengths, explore their communities, and prepare for successful, fulfilling futures,” said Lisa Walkiewicz, President and CEO of Via of the Lehigh Valley. “We make learning fun, whether it’s practicing job interviews, building a résumé, volunteering, or developing everyday life skills. At the same time, we connect families with the services and supports they’ll need as their children transition into adulthood, so they feel informed, empowered, and ready for what comes next.”
For more information on Camp Via, go their website at www.ViaNet.org and search on their “What We Do” pulldown at the top.
“When Cody was younger, we had a lot of difficulty getting him to try out anything new, even going to school,” said mom Melanie Turock, DO, an emergency medicine physician with St. Luke’s. “Sometimes the transition to leave mom was very difficult.”
Not so during Camp Via, a 10-week daytime summer program for teens and young adults with special needs between the ages 13 and 21. It runs June 15-Aug. 14.
“This is his second summer doing Camp Via and he loves it,” Dr. Turock said. “Every day he is excited to go to camp, and when I try to walk him in, he is so excited that runs to his area. When we pick him up, he’ll tell you how his day went, and every day is always awesome. Because of Camp Via, we’ve seen hm blossom with his social skills.”
Via of the Lehigh Valley organizes Camp Via to prioritize the development of life skills for the campers, doing everything from learning to operate a cash register to volunteering with Meals on Wheels, along with traditional camp agendas like crafts and sports.
In July, St. Luke’s Week at Camp Via included two days at St. Luke’s SportsPlex in Allentown, nutrition education with a certified registered dietitian, and adventure skills at Blue Mountain Ski Resort.
“Camp Via is about helping young people discover their strengths, explore their communities, and prepare for successful, fulfilling futures,” said Lisa Walkiewicz, President and CEO of Via of the Lehigh Valley. “We make learning fun, whether it’s practicing job interviews, building a résumé, volunteering, or developing everyday life skills. At the same time, we connect families with the services and supports they’ll need as their children transition into adulthood, so they feel informed, empowered, and ready for what comes next.”
For more information on Camp Via, go their website at www.ViaNet.org and search on their “What We Do” pulldown at the top.
