"How does Peter use the bathroom?" might sound like an innocent enough question, but when Peter is in a wheelchair and the child asking the question is not, it's an opportunity for a child to learn about the challenges facing special-needs children in Bermuda.

Every August able-bodied children and those with special-needs join hands for four weeks during the WindReach Explorers Summer Camp. And while the camp started off with just a few children three years ago, it's now almost sold out.

Programs and Events coordinator, Janie Flath describes the summer camp as a "fully accessible and inclusive summer camp that integrates special-needs and able-bodied students into an exciting summer programme".

She says the WindReach Explorers Summer Camp came about as a result of a need for local summer activities for special-needs children — of which there are about 12 individuals at the moment.

"We consulted with health professionals, special-needs schools, individual teachers and parents of special-needs children," she explains. "WindReach developed a pilot summer camp programme in 2007 and it was a resounding success."

Because of the ongoing need, WindReach made the summer camp an annual event in August and today it's one of the first in Bermuda to offer places to physically and intellectually challenged students and to include special-needs counsellors in the camp staff.

The WindReach Explorers Camp is held at the facility in Warwick which spans over four acres and includes a fully accessible playground, petting zoo, sensory trail and air-conditioned activity centre.

The camp accommodates up to 50 children between the ages of five and 12, including up to 20 physically and intellectually challenged participants.

"In 2009 three of our assistant counsellors were special-needs individuals themselves," Ms Flath adds with a broad smile.

"The able-bodied children begin to recognise that these children can do everything they can do," executive director Lance Furbert adds. "It's a fantastic mix of communities which answers to our mission to bring the special-needs community and the community at-large together."

WindReach's mission statement is to offer educational, therapeutic and recreational programmes and events that foster inclusion and interaction between the able-bodied and the special-needs communities, so the summer camp fits into that perfectly.

The Explorer Camp has a history theme and children investigate the history of Bermuda and its environment through fun hands-on activities.

"The history theme explores all aspects of Bermuda's environment and we also make sure the children have an opportunity to visit both ends of the Island, the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo and the Botanical Gardens," Ms Flath says.

Children learn about the different parishes, practice their mapping skills and work on different crafts which are brought in from overseas.

The property is quite extensive and children also have the opportunity to discover endemic species around them and work on their own "Zen garden".

The camp is divided into two groups — five to eight years and nine to 12 years and Ms Flath says there's never more than 25 campers per group.

"The presence of a registered nurse at all times also attracts children with asthma and diabetes, " she adds. "And our two qualified special-needs counsellors also give parents the assurance that their children are in a programme that can meet their needs."

The summer camp therefore also includes children with minor disabilities such as behavioural or anger management issues, who may previously have been excluded from mainstream summer camps.

"They can only benefit from an environment which recognises special-needs," reveals Ms Flath.

Since 1999 has done just offered a variety of therapeutic and educational experiences for persons of all physical and intellectual abilities.

"Today, WindReach Bermuda hosts some 30,000 visits each year, and continues to have a profound impact upon the quality of life of Bermuda's special-needs community," Mr. Furbert adds. "We have a lot of parents who come back to us and say they have always tried to make their children aware of special-needs and now their children are teaching them how it works," he says laughing.

On a more serious note, transport is always a challenge for anyone in a wheelchair. "Especially when we go on our day trips," says Ms Flath.

There are also a few places in St. George's and Dockyard that are not wheelchair accessible, and this limits where special-needs children can and can't go.

As for the challenge of transport, Mr. Furbert says WindReach is trying to purchase its own bus, and the charity is urgently looking for funding to make this a reality.

For more information on the WindReach Explorers Camp or the charity as a whole, visit www.windreachbermuda.bm or call 238-2469.