UCP Enables Children to Experience Camp

The United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville has enabled children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy to experience summer camp for the third year in a row.

The UCP’s Sensory Camp was available to children ages 5-12 and enabled them to get sensory experience while socializing with other children wtih cerebral palsy.

Going Above and Beyond

This year the campers enjoyed a space theme and counselors dressed up in astronaut suits while conducting various activities to help the children with their motor and sensory skills.

During the motor skill sessions, campers were given moon boots made of sponges and rubber bands, which proved to be a favorite.

Campers were also encouraged to assist in making the astronaut pudding that was distributed at lunch, and kids were given goodie bags with items donated from NASA.

A Day at Camp

Sensory camp is divided into three main sessions: art, computer technology, and gross motor development.

Kids paint on paper and decorate t-shirts during art classes.

During the computer technology portion, the children create online journals using Intellikeys from the Microsoft Accessibility Resource Center.

These keys allowed kids to communicate their feelings and the snack keys, which told counselors what they wanted to eat, seemed to be the most popular with the children.

How the Camp Works

The camp and its scholarships have been made available by the Jurenko Foundation, which was started by marketing exec. John Jurenko and his wife, Ruth.

Volunteers from across the country are responsible for making the camp function serving as counselors, story tellers, and cooks for the children.

“ It has been a great experience,” says Sarah Nokes, a student at Notre Dame, of her first year volunteering at the camp.

(Source: Madison Record)

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