'Campers first... Tourette's second'

Just three days into summer camp, and Amanda Smith is ready to rattle off what she likes.

Katie Stapleton, above left, launches Mason Loggins in a kayak at Camp Twitch and Shout in Winder, Ga. Swimming. Singing. Dancing. Tree climbing.

And boys.

After a day of physical activities, the 10-year-old said she and her friends like to return to their cabins to do and talk "girl stuff."

That's hair, makeup — and Max.

"I have a crush on an 18-year-old. He knows, but says we can only be friends," said a smiling Amanda, clad in a football jersey with pink trim.

Such is life at the weeklong camp for youngsters like Amanda, who has Tourette's syndrome.

Camp Twitch and Shout in Winder, Ga., boasts 50 campers with varying degrees of the neurological disorder known for its involuntary movements and vocal sounds, called tics.

Youngsters with Tourette's have come to Georgia from as far as New York and California and range in age from 7 to 18.

Activities — from canoeing and kayaking to archery and arts and crafts — are held at the 53-acre Camp Will-A-Way, a new addition to Atlanta-based Camp Twin Lakes. For 17 summers, Camp Twin Lakes has served kids with special needs.

PHIL SKINNER / COX NEWSPAPERS Brad Cohen, left, and Jimmy Wolk, the actor who played Cohen in a TV movie, teach tree climbing at Camp Twitch and Shout. Cohen organized the weeklong camp. Brad Cohen, an educator whose life with Tourette's was chronicled in a television movie last year, is camp director. He's quick to point out that Twitch and Shout is about having fun, not dwelling on the disorder.

"We don't sit around and talk about Tourette's," he said. "This isn't therapy. This isn't a doctor's office. It's not school. We just come here and let them do camp activities ... just be kids."

And by engaging with others with Tourette's, campers realize they're not alone, said Cohen.

"We all know we have a disability," Mr. Cohen said. "We have a disability because the rest of the world thinks we have one. The reality is, these kids can do anything they want."

Gil Berman, 16, of Sandy Springs, Ga., wants to be a comedian.

"I've always loved making people laugh. It's a great feeling," said Mr. Berman, who came to camp straight from an improv performance in downtown Atlanta.

Actor Jimmy Wolk, who played Cohen in "Front of the Class" on CBS, flew from California to volunteer. "When Brad told he was doing this, I booked my ticket," he said.

A camp counselor growing up, Mr. Wolk and others showed the youngsters the ropes as they climbed 35 feet up a tree. He said he was excited to see them soar.

Rhett Sewell, who's one of the camp's 30 volunteers, said Twitch and Shout hits close to his heart.

"I have Tourette's syndrome as well, so it really touches home," said Mr. Sewell, 18, of Newnan, Ga. "We've been treating them as campers first, kids with Tourette's second."

Ken Frazier, 14, of Powder Springs, Ga., has been to a Tourette's camp before in Chicago. He is drawn to archery and swimming, as well as kayaking — up until he fell out of the boat.

Mr. Frazier finds Twitch and Shout relaxing and spacious, but he does have a camp criticism. "They need to supply everyone with bug spray."

Tourette's Syndrome

• The symptoms: May include blinking, head jerking, throat clearing and clicking, among others.

• How many have it: About 200,000 in the United States, though it can be difficult to diagnose.

• The cursing: It is a common misconception that everyone with Tourette's utters obscenities. Only a small percentage affected with Tourette's have this symptom. • Treatment: There is no cure, but medications are available to help control symptoms.

• For children: Tourette's doesn't affect a child's intelligence, but it can make learning more difficult. Some people afflicted by Tourette's have difficulty reading or writing. Additionally, some with Tourette's may also have obsessivecompulsive disorder.

— Source: Tourette's Syndrome Association