Stars and Stripes Camp Coordinator Matthew Hagge M.A., CCC-SLP reflects on the fun summer at our social communication program.
Stars and Stripes 2014 is coming to a close. It has been a fun summer with lots of exciting activities, new faces, and plenty of new memories.
If you are unfamiliar with our program; Stars and Stripes is a summer camp that LLA Therapy runs in Medina, OH. We service over 70 special needs students aging from 4-19, employ 7 special education teachers, and staff over 30 professionals consisting of paraprofessionals, aides, graduate student clinicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists.
The goal of our program is to provide the summer camp experience that is both academic and social in nature for those students in which a true summer camp may not be an option. The students that we serve are sent from all of the school districts in Medina county for extended school year services. Because the school districts we coordinate with send their students, we are able to access IEP's, and reinforce both academic and therapeutic goals over the long summer break on a weekly basis.
Although our commitment as a camp to academics and therapy is unparalleled, we also pride ourselves on providing relevant, entertaining, and educational programming.
The theme for Stars and Stripes in 2014 was "We are all heroes!" Each classroom was assigned a super hero mascot: Superman, Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Batman, and Spiderman.
As the coordinator, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the enthusiasm and spirit both the staff and the students exuded on a daily basis. Students dressed up like super heroes, donned super hero t-shirts, created super hero themed crafts, and decorated their rooms to reflect super hero like hubs. It was certainly a super effort!
The guests that visited our camp this year were incredible. During Community Week we were visited by the Medina City Police Department and the Medina City Fire Department. Students were able to explore the police cruiser and a fire truck. Our campers enjoyed the siren demonstration, watching the fire truck ladder get raised, and of course, viewing the fire hose spray water all over our parking lot.
During Animal Week, Critter Cate brought all of her cool snakes, lizards, turtles, and geckos. We were also visited by therapy dogs, and even a cute little teacup pig!
Our Stars and Stripes Campers also enjoyed music therapy and movement therapy from More Than Words Therapy weekly. Our campers love playing instruments, singing camp themed songs, and moving around in complete silliness.
I am sad to see the summer come to a close. I can't say enough about our wonderful staff, the great kiddos who inspire me on a daily basis, and the encouragement and support from our community and local school districts. I can't wait to start planning for 2015!
If you would like your child to attend Stars and Stripes in 2015 look here for more information and a camp application form.
If you are a school district representative who may be interested in supplementing your ESY services through Stars and Stripes in your community please email info@llatherapy.org for more information.Labels: Behind the Scenes, Offers for Parents, Offers for Schools, Our Services, Stars and Stripes
