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| A camp for students with special needs |
With the assistance of 105 Gibson Centre, Markham and Aspiration
Academy, Given Life Special Need Services was able to run a successful Life
Skills Summer Camp in July this year for children with special needs.
The two week long camp was held at the modern and spacious facility of 105 Gibson Centre in Markham, Ontario.
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| 105 Gibson Centre's modern and spacious facility was a great venue for the 2015 Life Skills camp! |
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| Demonstrating a lesson for students |
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| One of the two quiet corners for campers to hang out or take a break |
This summer camp ran daily in the afternoon and was set up so that campers would have time to transition to their new environment at the beginning.
Below was our daily schedule:
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| A group lesson for campers |
1:00 – 1:15p.m - Independent Activity
1:15 - 1:45p.m - Group Play Group Activities
1:45 - 2:15p.m. - Functional Life Skills
2:15 – 2:30 p.m. - Preparing Snacks
2:30 – 3:00p.m. - Snack time
3:00 – 3:45p.m. - Gym Time
2:45 – 3:00p.m. - Washroom Break
3:45 – 4:00p.m. – Snack Bar Open/ Departure
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| Students learning to tie dye a t shirt |
The daily group activities included arts and crafts that would help develop the students' motor, listening and instruction following skills.
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| A template for setting table for one person |
To help campers to develop confidence and their ability to do things independently, the Life Skills camp offered some Practical Skills lessons for them daily.
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| Students putting cutlery on the template according to the pictures |
Some of the practical life skills taught to the teens included the following:
A. Table setting
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| Learning to make a nutritious fruit smoothie |
B. Preparing nutritional snacks such as a delicious fruit smoothies
C. Cutting and serving sliced fruits for desserts
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| Students learned to help with daily chores such as sorting laundry at camp |
D. Learning to help around the house with daily chores.
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| Using a token board to teach students to sweep the floor |
For this camp, we planned two chore activities for students: sorting laundry, sweeping and cleaning their living space
E. Developing future employable skills such as
categorizing and shelving grocery food items on the proper shelf space.
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| Parent volunteers helping in our camp |
Often, special need students take a bit longer for them to warm up to strangers and getting used to a new environment.
At this camp, we had many parent and student volunteers working with campers to get used to new learning situations.
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| Gym activities during our daily gym time |
One of our goals was to introduce our students to new activities and situations.
We provided them with opportunities to be engaged in some social interactions with their regular counterparts and people other than their own family members.
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| A staff member encouraging students to take part in gym activity |
An important part of
the camp was helping students to develop confidence and skills in
sports activities for their personal enjoyment.
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| Demonstrating an exercise for students |
To this end, one or two sports activities were introduced to students every day during gym time which was our students' favourite part of the program.
There were two rewarding moments for me that happened in the gym in this Life Skills camp.
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| Volunteers set up an obstacle course for gym activities |
1. The first moment was when our young volunteers showed a lot of enthusiasm and empathy for our special students.
The volunteers took the initiative and set up obstacle courses for campers in the gym.
Our volunteers did not just stand there and watched. They were interested and were actively engaged with students.
The Life Skills camp was benefiting not just our students but our volunteers as well!
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| Song and story time! |
2. Our proudest moments occurred when we saw students enjoying the activities and being engaged.
We did many things during the camp, of which two activities really stood out for me personally: singing and basketball.
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| Our students love to sin, clap and dance! |
I would never forget the huge smiles some of the students gave me when we started singing.
One of the students was smiling from ear to ear, enjoying himself, clapping his hands and moving his body to the rhythm of the music.
Another great rewarding moment was when we introduced ball games to our campers. At the beginning, the students were reluctant to participate in the games and as they were unsure what to do.
After repeated demonstrations and modeling for them, some of the students finally caught on how to throw and catch the ball.
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| D. practicing his basketball skills with one of our camp volunteers |
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| Dustin showed off the money he earned for good jobs! |
Dustin, one of the campers learned how to dribble and carried the ball, and enjoying himself with other players.
It was a triumphant moment for me, others and for the students when he finally scored and shot the ball into the basket after many attempts on his part!
Applause erupted from around the room and high- fives were given out from everyone present!
The most important part was the students actually started to enjoy the game. We felt such immense pride and satisfaction when we saw students and our volunteers interacting and playing so well together.
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| Using the money earned for good performances, students bought daily treats at camp. |
Yes, all students can learn!!!! This is the educational philosophy in Ontario. All students, including autistic students can learn and acquire some important life skills!
It takes a lot of planning, preparation, repeated instructions, numerous demonstrations, lots of praise, positive feedback and well thought out and implemented rewards.
Above all, we were very fortunate to have a team of very patient, loving and caring instructors such as the ones we had at this Life Skills camp!
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| We were grateful for the assistance of our volunteers and staff! |
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| Volunteers helping with a food preparation lesson for students |
We were very fortunate for the past two weeks as we have a group of very dedicated parents and volunteers providing assistance throughout the camp.
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| Cultural Cafe prepared delicious regular and gluten free snacks prepared for campers |
We were able to have all the important components assembled together and ran this camp smoothly!
To all the dedicated parents, volunteers and staff, staff of 105 Gibson Centre, VIPs at the Cultural Cafe, Rachel from the Aspiration Academy, we thank you for your great support. We
salute you for your outstanding efforts for the past two weeks!
R.T.
Life Skills Camp for Special Needs Students
105 Gibson Centre, Markham, Ontario
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