On the Job: Dinithi Weerasinghe, BS ’27

The 2025 edition of Camp Kinney recently wrapped up its six-week run, and psychology major Dinithi Weerasinghe, BS ’27, was right in the middle of it all. As a Kinney SCHOLAR and support staffer for the camp, she played an important role in helping individuals on the autism spectrum participate in an immersive and recreational camp experience. 

The Role:

SCHOLAR/Support Staff, Camp Kinney

Describe your internship in three emojis:

☀️ (summer)

😆 (excitement)

🧐 (feeling inquisitive while doing research)

The Day-to-Day:

Each day is structured similarly, but there’s a rotation of some of the activities run during each camp day. My responsibilities are just about the same every day. I help prepare, organize and conduct the activities, and work with the different clients, encouraging them and working through some things that may give them trouble. It can be anything from a water play activity to a sensory activity or a skills activity like reading. 

Go-to snack or drink that gets you through the day:

I always have an orange with me and candy. I have these little chocolate candies that I snack on that help me get through the day. 

My “I nailed it” moment:

With the camp, sometimes you have to deal with conflict management. I was working with a client who was struggling to keep their thoughts to themselves a lot, and it was negatively impacting some of the other clients. So, I wanted to make sure that I took the initiative to have an open, honest conversation about how their words might be harmful to others. After the conversation, I saw a change in that client’s behavior. Uncomfortable situations can be challenging, but managing them is important and conflict resolution is, too.

Favorite part of your role:

I think it goes back to the previous question, but facilitating those conversations was a favorite part for me. Also, working with clients and seeing their growth throughout the six weeks was something I also found to be highly rewarding. 

Tips for the next intern:

Stay hydrated! There’s a lot of time outside, and it can be exhausting. Try to have fun and plan to have fun, but make sure that you’re always being considerate of the client and their wants and needs. Building a trusting, considerate relationship is beneficial in the long run, and important to their growth and the overall outcome of their experience at the camp.