Summer camps are in full swing, and many rely on foreign workers who come to the U.S. via temporary visas, according to experts.
As a result of State Department policy changes, a special camp for children and adults are warning of devastating impacts on their staffing levels.
Shady Oaks Camp for people with disabilities is in Homer Glen. The camp recently learned that the State Department is looking to enforce requirements that those who come to the U.S. on the J-1 Visa can only work with youth 18 and under.
The oldest person at the camp right now is 63, but intellectually he’s like a child, organizers say.
“There have been some memos that have gone out regarding the J-1 program and they’re basically saying that ‘J-1 kids are only allowed to work with campers under the age of 18.’ Well, that’s great for a normal summer camp. For special needs camps, 99% of them service kids and adults,” said Scott Steele, the camp’s executive director. “Physically, they could be a 50-year-old man, but mentally, they’re two or three years old. If we lost the J-1 program, I would be very fearful that we wouldn’t be able to recruit enough American staff to be able run our program anymore.”
Regina Rojas is from Mexico City. It’s her fourth summer participating in the program.
“I take care of guys in dorm 5,” said Rojas. “I make sure that my guys are OK, that my counselors are OK. Helping them with activities, showing them how to do the personal care, having fun with them.It is a job, but it is more for the intercultural experience. You come here and you meet people from all over the World.”
Right now, 38 camp staff at Shady Oaks are in the United States on the J-1 Visa program, and could be at risk of losing those visas. The State Department handles J-1 Visas, and NBC Chicago is awaiting resposne to multiple requests for comment on this story.
“I’d love for someone from the State Department to our camp,” Steele said. “If they wanted to come out and just walk around and meet our campers, they would 100% understand from meeting the first camper why the J-1 program is so important for special needs camps.”
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