Broadmoor Summer Program

OVERVIEW

Summer is a particularly difficult time for children with disabilities. Without the structure of the school day, skills that have been developed can diminish. That is why the Broadmoor Summer Camp in Lake County, started in 1989 is so important. New Avenues has been operating the program since 1999. This program fills a significant gap in the learning, therapeutic and socialization continuum for five weeks each summer for 90 young people, ages 3 to 21.

Activities during the five hours of each camp day (six hours per day for staff) include physical, occupational, speech, art, music and other therapies as well as swimming, gym, food fun, outdoor activities, and weekly special events. All of these activities occur in the context of teaching activities of daily living. An overarching goal of the program is to reinforce the goals of each participant’s Individual Education Plan (IEP). The summer program helps to maintain and improve skills and support priority needs for each participant. The staff to student ratio is 4:1.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Since 1999, New Avenues to Independence has offered a Summer Day Camp for 80 participants, ages 3 to 21. The summer program is directed by New Avenues with the approval of the Lake County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (LCBMR/DD), the home county for the project. The Lake County Board of MR/DD charges no rent to New Avenues to use its facilities during the five week, six hour per day program passing along only its custodial costs.

The purpose of the Summer Camp is to provide summer recreational and educational activities. Children with special needs benefit from staff (in a student to staff ratio of 4:1) who are trained to reinforce the goals of each participant’s

Individual Educational Profile (IEP). The summer program helps to maintain and improve skills and support priority needs for each participant. Physical, occupational, speech, art, music, therapies specific to participants with autism, and other therapies are available in addition to recreational activities such as swimming and gym. A nurse is on the grounds at all times.

New Avenues believes that a well-trained staff is critical to a quality and fun summer program. Therefore, all staff members, including summer volunteers, are trained in emergency safety procedures, positive behavior strategies, mobility issues, and communication techniques.

Objectives for the summer program are:

-To provide a structured activities program to bridge the time between the end of school and the start of a new school year

-To prevent regression of skills in children and young adults with multi-handicaps;

-To provided a respite for families during the summer;

-To provide opportunities in recreation, education and social learning;

-To build independence for participants;

-To reinforce IEP goals whenever possible;

-To continues to work on priority needs for each individual with special needs; and

-To improve skills levels.

Participants are grouped in classrooms. General programmatic themes include water safety and fun, health and physical activity, nature appreciation, weekly special events, and technology and computer applications. Based on individual needs, participants receive individual therapies. One classroom offers vocationally oriented training for older participants. Parents provide transportation and a bag lunch daily. Staff and participants prepare snacks through projects in the kitchen.

PHILOSOPHY

The Summer Day Camp at Broadmoor School has provided families in Lake and the surrounding counties with a fun opportunity for their children for many years. In 1999, the New Avenues to Independence (formerly called P.V.A.), a non-profit organization that provides support for people with disabilities, was chosen by the Lake County Board of MR/DD to direct the program.

The purpose of the Summer Camp is to provide summer recreational and educational activities for children ages 3 to 21 years old. The program is open to all children. Children with special needs benefit from staff who are trained to reinforce IEP goals when possible, maintain and improve skills, and support priority needs for each child. Physical, Occupational, and Speech, and Miller Therapy services are available, and a nurse is on grounds at all times.

We believe that a well-trained staff is critical to a quality, fun summer program. Safety is our top priority. Staff are trained in Emergency Safety Procedures, Rights, Positive Behavioral Strategies, Mobility Issues, Autism and Communication Techniques. We strive to hire people that are kind, energetic, and really enjoy children. Most staff also have college or teaching experience in the field of Special Education as well, bringing expertise to the summer program.