Camp Bennett

A Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Camp

June 14-July 2, 2010

Monday through Friday, 9a-3p

This camp will run for 3 weeks. Each day will include a half-day of intensive therapy combined with a half-day of social development & play (and a whole day of FUN).

We will include 8 participants aged 4-8 with a 1:1 adult to child ratio to ensure maximum success in each activity.

Camp FEE: $3,000

CAST FEE: $150

Held at:

Movement Discoveries

822 Mahler Road, Burlingame, CA 94010

650-652-1700

CONTACT:

             Audrey Vernick - Camp Program Director               audvern@yahoo.com, 415-377-1132

                Mary Ann Hauck - Administrator                  mh@movementdiscoveries.com   650-652-1700

What is CAMP BENNETT?

In light of CIMT research findings, we have developed a program that will provide this level of intensive therapy in a fun, day camp environment. At the camp, practice of specific functional and play activities will be provided that will target increased use of your child’s affected arm. CIMT has also proven to cause improvements in areas other than the solely the child’s upper extremity, such as language, or balance & coordination, so you may see results beyond that of the affected arm.

The goals of Camp Bennett are two-fold. The first is improving the child’s motor impairment; specifically, to increase functional use of the hemiplegic upper extremity and to improve bimanual coordination (using BOTH hands together better). The primary focus will be that your child has FUN while participating in this promising new model of delivering therapy services.

The secondary focus will be social/emotional development and identity. We want to provide your child with an opportunity to be with their peers, with other kids who are just like them, and to develop social and communication skills. We will address participation and interaction skills as well as social/emotional, communication, identity, and self-esteem goals.

An initial interview and screening will be conducted to determine appropriateness for the camp. Assessment before and after the camp will be completed to measure changes in functional use of the upper extremity. Individualized goals, specific to each child and family, will be established based on the initial assessment. Therapeutic activities will be designed to match the pace and ability of each camper. The camp will incorporate activities based on these goals that will be challenging but successful, with a constant emphasis on having fun.

This year, we hope to have 8 kids participating, aged 4-8. (We hope to expand the program in future years to include preschool, school-age, and teens. If you are interested, please contact us.) The ratio of staff to children will be 1:1. The camp will be staffed by licensed occupational and physical therapists in addition to OT and PT interns and volunteers.

Summer camp is a valuable experience for all children who benefit from a positive, structured environment. The objective of this therapeutic camp is to provide fun-filled activities while enhancing each child's identity as well as their social, communication, fine motor, and gross motor skills.

What will the day look like?

The children will have 3 hours of intensive therapy in the morning, followed with 3 hours of ‘therapeutic activities.’ The kids will remain in their casts for lunch, and through their afternoon activities. On Wednesday afternoons, the kids will be brought to a pool in San Mateo for Aquatic Therapy.

Camp Bennett will offer direct therapeutic group activities, which may include art and cooking classes, creative movement and yoga, music therapy, bike rides, playground time, soccer, and bilateral activities. Groups offer children an exciting adjunct to individual therapy. Group work helps your child prepare for classroom expectations, enhance communication skills, explore sensory experiences, develop motor skills, promote problem solving, foster social skills and facilitate community involvement.

At Camp Bennett, children will spend 3 weeks learning how to better use their affected arm and integrating that use into everyday bilateral activity.  At the beginning of each day, the children will don a removable cast on their unaffected arm, forcing them to use their affected arm to play games, sing songs, eat, carry toys, wash hands, and more.  By the end of each 6-hour day, the cast is off again and they are using both hands for these activities.

The playful, summer-camp feel keeps the kids engaged for long periods of intense therapy. The camp will have a one-to-one ratio of therapists/volunteers to kids to help ensure they are always successful in their efforts.  There is terrific camaraderie and normalcy, even peer pressure. All the participants wear a cast and struggle to do what typical kids take for granted. At Camp Bennett, the children will work, play and succeed together. They develop a sense of self and a sense of belonging by being surrounded by peers who are just like them.

The program will run 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, for three weeks (June 14 - July 2, 2010). Parents will drop-off their kids and pick up at the end of the day. We hope to have parent training sessions/lectures and possibly some parent or family outings throughout the week. On Friday afternoons before pick-up (2-3pm) will be time to review the activities of the week and talk about strategies for your child’s home program.

A more detailed camp agenda will be provided to families.

Registration:

Please contact us to request an application form.  A non-refundable deposit of $1500 must be received by May 14, 2010 with your application to secure a spot for the camp.  The deposit is applied as credit to the total cost and the remaining balance is due on the first day of camp.   To request an application please contact Mary Ann Hauck via email at mh@movementdiscoveries.com or call 650-652-1700.

About the location:

Movement Discoveries is located in Burlingame, CA, 10 miles south of the city of San Francisco.  The San Francisco Bay Area is known for its micro-climates, and Burlingame is one of the Peninsula cities that enjoys mild year-round weather with abundant sunshine.  The facility is a stones throw from the Bay Trail, a scenic trail which will eventually encircle the entire San Francisco Bay.

Movement Discoveries is near lodging facilities, restaurants, and car rental offices, and is 5 minutes away from the San Francisco International Airport.  It has easy freeway access and is minutes to shopping districts and public transportation.  It is a 20 minute ride to downtown San Francisco on the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART), 1 mile from Movement Discoveries.  Movement Discoveries has secured discounted rates with several lodging facilities for patients and their families, including the Stay Bridge Suites in San Bruno.

The facility has 4000+ sq. ft. of space with a spacious gym, innovative equipment, treatment room, offices, parent lounge and kitchen.  The front entrance is on Mahler Road. There is plenty of street parking, as well as ample parking behind the building where there is a rear entrance to the facility.

Funding:

The program accepts private pay only but following are some ways to get reimbursement or funding for your child's participation.

Insurance reimbursement:

At the end of the session, we will provide a complete receipt of all services for you to submit to your insurance company. We will do everything we can to ensure that you receive maximum reimbursement from your insurance, but keep in mind that reimbursement will depend on the type and provisions of your plan.

Foundation Grant:

For low-income families living in the counties of Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, and Contra Costa, please contact Mary Ann Hauck for a grant application.  Grant application must be received at Movement Discoveries by May 10th.  The foundation has set their own deadline and grant awards if approved may be distributed past the camp start date.   Participation is not guaranteed until we hear from the foundation regarding your application.

Ultimately, the investment of time and money to habilitate children early on can only produce gains in the quality of their lives by minimizing their motor deficits, thereby enabling them to be more confident and productive members of their community.