News

Every summer hundreds of Portland State students help people with disabilities at the Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp. Many students say it is a life-changing experience. Others view it as the best type of community-based learning.

The Western Association of Summer Session Administrators recently presented PSU Summer Session with a notable Best Credit Program Award for its contribution to the University's Senior Capstone with the camp. Holly Campbell, Summer Session coordinator, accepted the award on behalf of PSU and the Graduate School of Education.

"The Department of Special Education and our community partner, Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp, are deeply grateful for the many years of support from PSU's Summer Session that allows us to offer this unique Capstone," says Ann Fullerton, program coordinator at Portland State.

Kiwanis Camp is PSU's largest Capstone and is directed and administered by the Graduate School of Education with leading input from its Department of Special Education. (Non-Capstone courses are included as well.) Over the years, more than 3,000 PSU students have been involved. Students enroll as counselors and live at the camp, where they learn teaching, outdoor recreation, and personal assistance skills.

Portland State has agreed to host the 2011 Western Association of Summer Session Administrators annual conference, which will draw more than 65 college and university representatives from across the Western United States and Canada to visit Oregon and the PSU campus.