New summer programs offered at The Bridge Center in Bridgewater, Mass

BRIDGEWATER, MASS.

The Bridge Center, a non-profit (501)(c)( 3) recreation center that serves children with developmental, physical and emotional disabilities, recently announced its new portfolio of camp programs for Summer 2010. Camp is offered to children and adolescents aged 4-22.

That new portfolio includes:

Camp Connect- Designed for children and teens with Asperger’s Syndrome, High Functioning Autism, and related challenges, Camp Connect offers programming and supports designed to support social skills and thinking development and practice.  Camp Connect offers three- and six-week sessions with 2:6 counselor:camper ratios. First , six-week session begins Monday, June 28 and ends August 6; second Lite session (three weeks) begins August 9 and ends August 27.

Camp Summit - Designed for campers who struggle with behavioral control and benefit from significant behavioral supports and structures, Camp Summit provides an environment focused on success using a behavioral level system for the whole camp and individualized behavior plans as appropriate.  Camp Summit offers one- and three-week sessions with 2:6 counselor:camper ratios. First weeklong session begins June 28. The more intensive Summit session lasts three weeks and runs August 9 through August 27.

Camp Endeavor - Designed for campers with learning, intellectual, and developmental disabilities who benefit from intermittent or limited support, Camp Endeavor helps campers try new activities, meet new people, and feel successful.  Camp Endeavor offers one-week sessions throughout the summer with 1:3 or 1:2 counselor:camper ratios in order to assure that every camper has the appropriate accommodations so they may fully participate in all activities. One-week sessions start June 28 through week of August 23.

Camp Discovery - Designed for campers with intellectual and developmental disabilities who benefit from extensive or pervasive support, Camp Discovery provides campers full access to all activities with its 1:1 or 1:2 counselor:campers ratios that assure appropriate modifications are in place throughout camp.  Camp Discovery staff support campers with ADLs (activities of daily living) as needed and offers one1-week sessions throughout the summer. One-week sessions start June 28 through week of August 23.

Horse Camp – Designed for campers aged 8+ who love horses, Horse Camp offers riding center activities every morning, including one mounted riding lesson each day.  In the afternoons, campers join Camp Endeavor and participate in a variety of camp activities.  We offer four 1-week sessions of Horse Camp during the summer, typically with 1:3 counselor:camper ratios. Sessions take place the weeks of: July 6, July 19, August 2 and August 16.

“Structured recreational activities are key ingredients for children’s social, emotional and physical development,” said Jennifer Harber, executive director of The Bridge Center.  “Our specialized camps offer children maximum opportunities to grow from their summer experiences.”

For more information on The Bridge Center’s camp schedule, including fees, please visit http://www.TheBridgeCtr.org. The Bridge Center strives to achieve a “no child is turned away” policy. Financial assistance and assistance with transportation are available.

School’s Out, Summer’s Here! Tips for Enjoying the Summer Months With Your Ad/hd Child

As children count down the days to the end of school, many parents with children with AD/HD and executive dysfunction start to worry about what to do during these less structured months.  Many of these children thrive on the structure of the school day, knowing what they are expected to do, and following familiar routines.  While many neurotypical kids cannot wait for the school year to end, many of my clients are ambivalent about school ending.  They want to know, “Now what will we do?” 

Here in the Northeast we are fortunate to have several quality day camps (and a few sleepover ones, too) that specialize in working with children who have attentional, and/or social difficulties.  These camps fill quickly, and can be quite expensive. Some families do not have the means or access to such experiences, so here are some tips to enjoy the summer with your kids. 

1.       Set up a daily routine and weekly structure at home.  A child who thrives on structure will not do well with a “find something go do” approach to summertime.  Post your daily schedule somewhere at home where everyone can see it and check it if they want to know what will happen next.  Have some “anchor” activities that happen every day-  One example: 

·         breakfast

·         get dressed

·         outside play

·         lunch

·         free choice fun

·         quiet time

·         dinner

·         TV

·         get ready for bed

2.       In your daily schedule, plan for outside play time.  I often hear my clients say they sat indoors all summer and played video games.  This is not good for brain or physical health. Get outside!!

3.       Create a “What to Do When I Am Bored” list with your child.  Inevitably, children will come to parents and say, “I’m bored.”  Plan ahead by sitting with your child and listing 5-10 things she can do when boredom hits.  The list should include outside and inside activities such as read a book, color/draw, play with bubbles, help mom with housework, plan a dinner menu, listen to music, etc.  This list will have much more success if your child comes up with the activities.

4.       Prepare children in advance for change in routine. For example, if one day is going to be gloriously sunny and warm and you decide it will be a great beach day, tell your child ahead of time, so he can get used to the idea and not resist when you are packed and ready to go.

5.       Explore nature.  There is a growing body of evidence that says children with AD/HD function better when they have exposure to nature and all things “green.”  Go for a nature walk, plant and tend a family garden, rent a canoe and go for a paddle, check out tide pools, or (my all time favorite) fly a kite on a windy day.

6.       Plan vacations with your child’s social, emotional and sensory needs in mind. A well planned vacation can be a relaxing way to bond as a family.  A poorly planned vacation can leave everyone feeling anxious and miserable.   For example, if your child needs a lot of active running around during the day, do not plan a road trip where he will be sitting in a car for long periods of time.  If she has sensory/tactile issues a trip to the beach with sun, sand and water may not be the best choice. 

7.       Get together a box of bin with “summer surprises” you can pull out when the kids have just run out of things to do.  These can include:  sidewalk chalk, bubble soap with cool bubble wands, new crayons and coloring books, new books, funky shoelaces to re-lace shoes, squirt guns, water balloons, etc.

8.       Kids at a loss of what to do during free choice time?  List fun activities on slips of paper and have kids pull them out of a hat.  Activities can include playing in the sprinkler, making popsicles or ice cream at home, rearranging the furniture in the bedroom, a family walk, choosing what is for dinner .  Get creative with your kids and have them write things down (that you approve of first).  This is a great way to give your child new experiences within the structure of the day.

Many of us have great memories of our own childhood carefree, unplanned summers that seemed to go on forever.  Parents hope to pass on those experiences to their children and can become disappointed when it is suggested they structure the summer as much as the school year.  The reality is: some kids just thrive on structure, are happier and more productive when they know what to expect and they will remember a happy, safe, carefree summer because someone cared enough to plan it for them.

Summer in Jackson Hole Wyoming

Experience a glorious summer in Jackson Hole Wyoming. Breathtaking scenery and a wide variety of activities make this the ideal vacation destination. Stay at the Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa, www.rustyparrot.com, for the ultimate in luxury getaways.

Weight Loss: Overweight Teens, Marching to Summer Camps

Weight loss camps, yes, they really do exist. If you’ve heard of training camps, band camps and all sorts of other summers camps then chances are you have an idea already why such summer weight loss camps exists. Various weight loss summer camps have distinct programs. You’ll find camps that offer programs from traditional dieting and exercising to the newest fad in weight loss programs.

A summer weight loss camp in New York, for example, supplements traditional diet and weight loss programs with alternative means of loosing weight. The camp set their priorities to keep their programs enjoyable and entertaining.

The want the teens and kids that enroll in their summer camp to have fun more than anything else. Their programs are spread out to a diversity of extraordinary activities which increases, hastens and maintains the calorie burning process.

And before the summer camp ends, parents and the teens themselves are very happy on the results of their weight loss program. The good thing from these summer camps is that most of their weight loss programs are geared towards continuity. If they decide to stick with their program, they will surely loose weight even after they return to their homes.

It has been observed that traditional diet camps are not producing the desired results. It is therefore important that you choose well which camp you will send your kid to. Look for camps that have great programs and impressive backings from the academe as well as the scientific community.

It is comforting to know that the diet programs your kids or teens will undertake are based on scientific research and meticulous studies. You don’t want to send your kids to a camp which will make them guinea pigs for a new exercise program. You want well established weight loss programs that deliver results.

Aside from diets and exercises, other camps offer skills trainings that will help kids and teens maintain a healthy body all through their life. Some still offers various behavioral therapies that will strengthen their mental and emotional state through whatever kind of issues that might arise from weight gain.

Also, there are summer camps that are specialized for the needs of teens with other issues aside from overweight like such as Autism, ADHD, Asperger’s, obesity, different learning disabilities or behavioral problems. There are camps that will handle the needs of these special kids all the while addressing their problems in weight.

For parents, these camps are God send. It might prove to very difficult for the parents to encourage their teens and kids that are hounded by psychological disorders to loose weight. They sometimes need the experts’ assistance on things.

One other thing the parents should look for in a weight loss camp is the ratio of instructors or counselors to students. The ratio of instructors and counselors to students should be high. By having more than enough instructors, camps will be able to focus on the kids and teens’ programs.

They will make sure that the teens will be following the program correctly and will guide them to the right techniques in order to maximize the results. Expert instructors will make sure that kids and teens as well as their parents and sponsors will leave camp satisfied and have greater self esteem.

Weight loss summer camps are scattered all over the country. There are also winter camps for weight loss. You won’t run out of options when it comes to health camps such as these.

Weight Loss for Teens: Overweight Teens, Marching to Summer Camps

Weight loss camps, yes, they really do exist. If you’ve heard of training camps, band camps and all sorts of other summers camps then chances are you have an idea already why such summer weight loss camps exists. Various weight loss summer camps have distinct programs. You’ll find camps that offer programs from traditional dieting and exercising to the newest fad in weight loss programs.

A summer weight loss camp in New York, for example, supplements traditional diet and weight loss programs with alternative means of loosing weight. The camp set their priorities to keep their programs enjoyable and entertaining.

The want the teens and kids that enroll in their summer camp to have fun more than anything else. Their programs are spread out to a diversity of extraordinary activities which increases, hastens and maintains the calorie burning process.

And before the summer camp ends, parents and the teens themselves are very happy on the results of their weight loss program. The good thing from these summer camps is that most of their weight loss programs are geared towards continuity. If they decide to stick with their program, they will surely loose weight even after they return to their homes.

It has been observed that traditional diet camps are not producing the desired results. It is therefore important that you choose well which camp you will send your kid to. Look for camps that have great programs and impressive backings from the academe as well as the scientific community.

It is comforting to know that the diet programs your kids or teens will undertake are based on scientific research and meticulous studies. You don’t want to send your kids to a camp which will make them guinea pigs for a new exercise program. You want well established weight loss programs that deliver results.

Aside from diets and exercises, other camps offer skills trainings that will help kids and teens maintain a healthy body all through their life. Some still offers various behavioral therapies that will strengthen their mental and emotional state through whatever kind of issues that might arise from weight gain.

Also, there are summer camps that are specialized for the needs of teens with other issues aside from overweight like such as Autism, ADHD, Asperger’s, obesity, different learning disabilities or behavioral problems. There are camps that will handle the needs of these special kids all the while addressing their problems in weight.

For parents, these camps are God send. It might prove to very difficult for the parents to encourage their teens and kids that are hounded by psychological disorders to loose weight. They sometimes need the experts’ assistance on things.

One other thing the parents should look for in a weight loss camp is the ratio of instructors or counselors to students. The ratio of instructors and counselors to students should be high. By having more than enough instructors, camps will be able to focus on the kids and teens’ programs.

They will make sure that the teens will be following the program correctly and will guide them to the right techniques in order to maximize the results. Expert instructors will make sure that kids and teens as well as their parents and sponsors will leave camp satisfied and have greater self esteem.

Weight loss summer camps are scattered all over the country. There are also winter camps for weight loss. You won’t run out of options when it comes to health camps such as these.

Does anyone know of any Summer Camps for Disabled Adults and where they are at?