by Carin R. Kirkegaard with photos provided by Jane Kelly

This summer, special needs students between the ages of 10 and 17 years old will have an option for a summer day camp. Local Castle Pines community resident, Kelly McAlear will launch her academic special needs program, The Sky’s the Limit, with six sessions of classes offered throughout the summer.

“The Sky’s the Limit’s mission is to help special needs children reach their highest potential. Special needs children have few options to continue their development beyond the traditional school year. Our program will fill that need while fostering each child’s educational momentum during the summertime,” said McAlear.

McAlear, a special needs educational assistant at Rocky Heights Middle School, saw a need for a day camp that was designed around the special needs students in the community. During the past year at RHMS, McAlear noticed that her students just wanted to be with their friends, a need not so different from her own two boys who look forward to playing with neighborhood friends when school is done.

For McAlear’s students, it isn’t as easy as running over to the neighbors for an impromptu play date. On Monday, when she’d ask her students how the weekend went the answer was always how he or she couldn’t wait to get back to school to be with friends.

This knowledge, coupled with the idea that over the summer there would be even less chance for her students to see friends, started McAlear considering starting The Sky’s the Limit. McAlear did extensive research looking for a similar day camp program for special needs children, but could not find one that offered what her program would.

The Sky’s the Limit is structured to provide families a place to send their special needs child that provides an academic, creative and physical challenge tailored to each child’s needs all in an environment surrounded by his or her peers.

The summer program curriculum will be academically based with a creative delivery method. For example, McAlear described shooting baskets while working on math skills. Each day will include elements that include physical fitness and academic challenges as well as an outlet for creativity. Most importantly, McAlear stresses that each child’s curriculum will be modified for each individual’s level and ability of learning.

McAlear, as part of the Colorado Teacher-In-Residence program, has been certified to teach elementary education as well as special education. McAlear hopes to continue teaching in special education with the coming school year.

“I get one hundred times more back from these kids than what I’m putting in,” said McAlear.

To see session dates, times and cost visit The Sky’s the Limit website at, www.limitlesskids.com.

Kelly McAlear, helps Max Frishman with the zip line at the Wildlife Experience. McAlear’s special needs day camp The Sky’s the Limit believes that each child’s possibilities are endless and is designed to help each child discover his or her potential.