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The summer months are a time of experiential learning for many students.

Camp Chickababa has been offering a variety of fun and educational activities to campers with special needs for more than 32 years.

Lisa Wigdor is the camp's director for the Maryville-Alcoa-Blount County Parks and Recreation Commission's summer camp this year.

"We're having a blast," said Wigdor about the staff's experiences this year. "I feel like we have a lot to give."

Four weeks of theme-filled fun and excitement ranging from space and robots to sports and animals are being offered this year.

The summer months are a time of experiential learning for many students.

Camp Chickababa has been offering a variety of fun and educational activities to campers with special needs for more than 32 years.

Lisa Wigdor is the camp's director for the Maryville-Alcoa-Blount County Parks and Recreation Commission's summer camp this year.

"We're having a blast," said Wigdor about the staff's experiences this year. "I feel like we have a lot to give."

Four weeks of theme-filled fun and excitement ranging from space and robots to sports and animals are being offered this year. No space is available for the camp's two final weeks this year.

The campers are learning and having fun, said Wigdor. Their days are filled with arts and crafts projects like building rocket ships and robots, painting moon rocks and making kites. Campers also have swim days at the Springbrook Pool and will be going on field trips to a local petting zoo and bowling alley in the coming weeks.

The camp's real story, however, might be the strong relationships campers and counselors have forged.

Owen Story has been attending the camp for several years. Story loves game shows and hanging out with his friends. Some people are mean to his friends at school, and Story likes to take care of them and cheer them up, he said.

Everybody, however, at Camp Chickababa is nice, said Story. The camp makes him feel comfortable and Story considers the counselors to be his friends.

He likes to talk with the counselors about the latest game show he has watched, and Story seemingly can quote entire passages from the programs. He recently graduated from high school and is trying to get a job at a grocery store's floral department.

Katie Howard, a Maryville High School senior, is working at the camp for a second year.

"This is something I like to do," she said. "I've always known I wanted to do it.

"Seeing these kids outside of school, it is easier to get to know them," she said. "It's a more comfortable environment."

"There is a lot more than meets the eye with (these campers)," Howard said. "They have beautiful souls. A lot of people overlook it, but they aren't that different.

"It's a very rewarding (occupational field). I plan on (working in the field) for many years."

Another counselor, Laken Kimsey, said he has felt blessed by his experience with the campers. Kimsey is a Maryville High School junior and a member of the school's football team.

"This experience kind of changes the way you look at things. It is definitely a learning experience," he said. "If everybody was like (these campers), the world would be blessed.

"I know I'm doing this for a reason. Someone has got to be here for these kids," Kimsey said. "I've always had a really big heart.

"Maybe I can touch one of their hearts."