CAMP 24 - Our Creative Arts & Social Skills Summer Day Camp for Children with Special Needs - one week remains (8/23-8/27)
CAMP 24 is a concept developed by The Center on Central and Program Director Katie Opher which incorporates creative arts in the Extended School Year curriculum, to foster individual growth in a group social skills dynamic.
The arts provide opportunities to practice social skills in a natural environment. When creating art, music and dance together in a group, many objectives common to many special needs students – such modulating energy and interacting in socially acceptable manner - are addressed. We provide the containing structure within the arts activity, while simultaneously allowing for creative expression and flexibility. Music, art and movement activities provided by a trained therapist balance fun experiences with learning core socialization and self-expression skills – for children of any age.
Within music tasks, students get to select instruments and negotiate with peers when they may need to wait their turn for a certain instrument – this is the introduction to the children of the need for impulse control. The music therapist’s role is to encourage participation and to help organize the activity - even during improvisation – in order to help the group to hear other instruments which peers are playing, as well as modulating energy to play instruments at certain volumes. The music therapist assists the group to negotiate leadership and sharing roles. This therapist also provides song structure to introduce new experiences with different styles, as well as having students request songs they want the group to play and learn. Songwriting is effective in providing a non-threatening structure for expression of fears and wishes, as well as providing group process skills, since we create the song together. Once again, a trained therapist adjusts how much structure to impose to help the students create a song that is both meaningful and fun.
Art tasks are a way to alternate between individual work and integration of that work into a group setting. Oftentimes, art activities start with the students free drawing whatever they wish and then coming together to participate in a group task that can take the form of a mural, a group sculpture or independent art pieces that are shared with the group. Art allows for fluidity between the needs of self and the needs of the group. An art therapist presents tasks appropriate for both the functioning level of the group, and the group’s ability to work together. A higher level of structure for new groups helps provide success as the group learns to work together.
Dance/Movement therapy groups provide necessary kinesthetic connections that many of our students are challenged with. Developing one’s sense of body in space is a developmental skill that movement therapy tasks promote, within the context of participating in a fun activity. Using props such as large stretchy bands, parachutes and scarves, students develop modulation skills as they manage props of different weights and texture. Working as a group, students negotiate themselves in space with each other while the Dance/movement therapist helps them to learn what is socially appropriate in varying situations.
Recognizing that learning and social challenges are often stressful, we introduce children to yoga as a great way to decrease stress and to learn coping skills to help reduce anxiety. Stretching, breath work, centering, mantras are introduced in a fun and child-friendly manner.
The opportunity to play and work with clay provides children with a sensory and tactile experience. Handling mistakes and tolerating frustration are among the goals of the pottery session.
Utilizing a variety of creative arts modalities allows your child to explore their senses fully. We are all more comfortable processing our world in one way (either visual, auditory or kinesthetic). Participating in activities which incorporate all three modalities allows your child the opportunity to express themselves in ways they are comfortable, and to also stretch themselves in ways they would not independently choose - all while having success under the leadership of a Master’s-degreed therapist.
• Come participate in creative arts activities that promote meaningful social interactions
• Join us for one or more fun-filled weeks of music, art, dance/movement, yoga and pottery with our team of creative arts therapists and instructors
• No prior arts experience needed - we structure the group for success
• Group size will be limited to ensure at most a 3:1 child:staff ratio
• The Center on Central is wheelchair-accessible on our ground floor
PRE-ESY: June 28-July 2
Open to students of all levels, and grouped for maximum success (limited to 8 children per group)
ESY Intensive Social Skills Day Camp
July 5-9 “Be Part of the Group”
We will work on perspective-taking, peer awareness skills, how to enter a group and stay active in the group.
July 12-16 “Making Friends/Keeping Friends”
We will learn how our non-verbal cues affect others around us. We will practice how to initiate contact with peers and develop skills to stay engaged.
July 19-23 “Stop and Think”
We will address impulse control issues – from both a physical standpoint as well as a verbal one. The goal is to decrease the propensity for interruption/disruption.
July 26-30 “Chillin’ - Learn to Hang Out”
We will teach stress-management techniques to help campers keep their “cool” in a variety of situations.
August 2-6 “Conversation”
We will teach specific conversation-building skills and also role-play examples of the impact of non-verbal body language
August 9-13 “Keeping it Together”
We will review and combine the various skills taught in prior weeks into a comprehensive daily practice of peer socializing
POST-ESY:
August 23-27
Open to students of all levels, and grouped for maximum success (limited to 8 children per group)
CAMP 24 MEETS DAILY from 9am-12pm, except during PRE-ESY and POST-ESY (week of June 28-July 2 and August 23-27), when CAMP 24 meets from 1pm-4pm. CAMP 24 is open to children ages 5-14 after application and interview.
Cost is $375 per week.
In addition, where placement in our afternoon (1:15pm-4:15pm) Creative Arts Summer Day Camp - featuring Young Rembrandts and more - is appropriate, we invite you to enroll separately in that program, and receive Lunch Bunch (from 12:00pm-1:15pm) free of charge.
A non-refundable $100 for a full-week registration. The balance will be processed to the same credit card used for the deposit soon after.
Register by clicking the appropriate button below, or we will accept checks made payable to The Center on Central, LLC and mailed to P.O. Box 1293, Southeastern, PA 19399.
Upon receiving your registration, we will furnish you with a questionnaire to help determine the appropriate placement for your child. If we are unable to make an appropriate placement, your deposit will be refunded.
click the button above to be directed to complete your on-line registration form and credit card payment of the non-refundable $100 deposit per week
