Community Connections: February 2004 Newsletter

The Community Connections Communicator -- February 2004

In this Issue:

The theme of this month’s issue is It’s Time for Summer Camp Fun! In this issue you will find information on how to find the right summer camp. You will also find tips on making your child’s camp experience both enriching and exciting. In addition you will find an abundance of resources on finding day camps, overnight camps and out of state camps. Although it is just February, and we are still in a winter freeze, now is the time to begin researching and applying for summer camps to ensure a better chance of finding a camp that is a right fit for your child. Remember, all children benefit from summer camps and while they are being engaged in great activities, you will be able to enjoy a little respite during the summer. So take a moment and review the great materials in this issue and begin creating your child’s summer camp adventure!

	Tip Sheet: Summer Camp
	Check out this tip sheet, which gives eight quick tips on what parents should consider when deciding on a summer camp. Click on the link below for the entire tip sheet. http://www.saferchild.org/summcamp.htm
	Article: Ask Lots of Questions to Find Right Camp
	This article provides valuable information on what to ask when searching for the right camp for a child with a disability. This is a valuable article to help parents look at each summer camp as being unique, determine if the camp is accessible, and locate organizations which can provide answers to tough summer camping questions. http://www.ican.com/news/fullpage.cfm?articleid=BFA49CF6-ED8C-4D2C-A79D9000CD9322A4
	Two additional articles include:
	Don’t Be Afraid to Send Your Child To Camp http://www.ican.com/news/fullpage.cfm?articleid=D79A1907-9750-4A74-9E7145B5C9039063
	Tips for Packing for Summer Camp http://www.ican.com/news/fullpage.cfm?articleid=D99E043D-8737-4102-B86555ECF513BF0C
	Spotlights of the Month:
	Children’s Developmental Clinic: The Children’s Developmental Clinic offers winter, spring, and summer programs for children with various developmental disabilities. The Clinic provides fun motor, language, and reading programs for children in an exciting setting. For further information you can click on their website at: http://www.pgcc.edu/schedules/2004/spring/noncredit/I-Z.html Camp Invention: This week long camp provides an inclusive setting for children with and without disabilities to participate in fun activities surrounding science, math, arts and history. To learn more about this camp, click on the link below at: http://www.invent.org/camp_invention/2_1_0_camp.asp
	Recommended Websites:
	Washington Parent: Summer Camp Guide – this website has an excellent guide with hundreds of summer camp listings as well as a special section devoted to finding camps for children with disabilities. http://www.washingtonparent.com/guides/guide-camp.htm Baltimore’s Child: Camps for Children with Special Needs – this guide provides great camps for children with special needs from ages 3 and up. http://www.baltimoreschild.com/directories/pdfs/camps_special.pdf LINC’s Summer Arts Camp – This arts camp is an inclusive camp for children with and without disabilities ages 7-14. This camp offers a chance for children with and without disabilities to work together in developing computer based art activities. They will also use adaptive technology, go on trips, and meet artists who have disabilities. This will definitely be both an enjoyable and learning experience. http://www.linc.org/TextOnly/projects_text.html Department of Recreation and Parks in Howard County – The summer camp guide will be available in February which will lists the available camps in full detail. You can contact the administration office at (410) 313-4700. http://co.ho.md.us/rap/rap_generalinfo.htm#anch16790 Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission in Prince George’s – Provides day camps for children with and without disabilities in an inclusive setting as well as in therapeutic programs. You can contact MNCPPC at (301) 699-2480. Look for the guide in February. http://www.pgparks.com Family-Networks Resources: Camps – this website provides a wealth of information on summer camps throughout Maryland and beyond. http://family-networks.org/camp.cfm

Summer Camp

Now that summer is around the corner it’s time to get your child and yourself ready for summer camp. This tip sheet provides eight quick tips to help you begin your search for the best summer camp experience for your child. With quick answers to questions with topics such as: whether your child wants to go to camp; if your child is ready for a camp experience; how disciplinary issues are taken care of; and determining the training levels of the staff, you will have a starting point to begin your search for the best camp. This tip sheet also provides a link to the American Camping Association, which gives guidelines on staff to camper ratios and other valuable information. If you want to get a jump-start on the finding the right camp, click on the link below:
http://www.saferchild.org/summcamp.htm

Ask Lots of Questions to Find Right Camp

In locating a camp for your child who has a disability, it is pertinent to ask all the right questions to help you determine if that camp will be a good fit for your child. Whether you are searching for a camp which includes both children with and without disabilities, a camp for specific disabilities, a day or overnight camp, or even an out of state camp, this article gives helpful information in helping you determine what type of camping experience would be most beneficial for your child. You will also find a toll-free number in the article for the National Camp Association, which is available to help you with this venture. For further information, please click on the link below:
http://www.ican.com/news/fullpage.cfm?articleid=BFA49CF6-ED8C-4D2C-A79D9000CD9322A4

Two additional articles include:

Don’t Be Afraid to Send Your Child To Camp – this article is a discussion of one family’s positive experience in sending their child with a disability (described as having cerebral palsy and many needs) to an overnight camp for the first time. To read the entire story, click on the following link:
http://www.ican.com/news/fullpage.cfm?articleid=D79A1907-9750-4A74-9E7145B5C9039063

Tips for Packing for Summer Camp – this article provides information on necessities needed to have an enjoyable and safe summer camp experience for children with disabilities. Click on the link below for the full article:
http://www.ican.com/news/fullpage.cfm?articleid=D99E043D-8737-4102-B86555ECF513BF0C

Spotlights of the Month!

Children’s Developmental Clinic:
The Children’s Developmental Clinic is a program, which provides special services to children with various developmental disabilities and their families. The program is conducted in conjunction with the Prince George’s Community College’s Continuing Education Program and the University of Maryland’s College of Health and Human Performance. The Clinic offers programs during the fall, spring, and summer semesters at both campuses. The program consists of: fun movement activities; group learning sessions in reading and language; as well as individual attention with a one-to-one clinician in the motor development session. Also offered is a parent class in which relevant and essential topics are discussed while the children are at play. If you would like to sign your child up for the summer program or any of the other sessions, please contact Dr. Paul Hahn or Kathy Hinkal at (301) 322-0519. To read more about the Children’s Developmental Clinic you can check out the link below, and scroll down to through the alphabetical list to the Youth classes and you will find the clinic’s information:
http://www.pgcc.edu/schedules/2004/spring/noncredit/I-Z.html

Camp Invention:
Is your child really into science, math or history? If so, Camp Invention is just right for them. Camp Invention has a week long camp in an inclusive environment, which is ideal for children with disabilities who can bring a buddy or be paired with a typical peer. This camp is offered throughout Maryland with locations in such cities as Ellicott City, Hyattsville, Westminster, Fort Washington, and more. This camp will help youngsters in the second to sixth grades explore with their imaginations to create and invent. To learn more about this camp, click on the link below at:
http://www.invent.org/camp_invention/2_1_0_camp.asp

We currently offer training and technical consultation to businesses, churches, and other community organizations to help make them more welcoming to families and children with special needs. If you know of a business or other organization that would like to take advantage of these services, please e-mail us at: communityconnections@umd.edu
OR
If you know of a business that is already welcoming to children with special needs and their families and you would like to share this information with other families and professionals, please send us your name as well as the name and contact information for the business with a brief description of why you believe they are welcoming to families. If appropriate, we will post the business on our website and we may even feature it as a 'Spotlight if the Month'. E-mail your submissions to: communityconnections@umd.edu

*Questions or Suggestions about our newsletter? Have an idea you would like to submit? Please feel free to contact us at communityconnections@umd.edu

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Unless otherwise noted, all referenced articles are available at no charge to you. Community Connections provides this for informational purposes only and cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided by linked sites. The opinions and views expressed at these web sites do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of Community Connections. Any personal information requested by any of the web sites will be governed by the privacy policy at the site, and any questions you have related to the sites' use of information should be directed there. The information contained in this newsletter is not intended to make any offer or commitment to purchase, subscribe to, provide or sell any service or product or to provide any recommendations on which readers should rely.

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