Discovered Treasures Day Camp
Most of us would agree that the most rewarding investment in our future is that of our children. Today more and more children and youth are becoming disenfranchised as a result of the lack of available social programs, especially for those who are challenged by a disability or an exceptionality including; ADHD, Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder and Learning Disabilities.
As a result, we at Main Street Community Services have been inspired to create an innovative program such as our Discovered Treasures Day Camp for children and youth to help bridge the gap. Research has proven that these programs can improve the quality of a child’s life through building self-confidence and positive self-esteem. More specifically, our Social Skills Day Camp and our Developmental Day Program can provide opportunities for skill development, healthy relationship building and recreation; all of which are critical for children with Disabilities.
Summer & March Break Camps
At Main Street Community Services, we run two camps throughout the year. First is our larger Discovered Treasures Day Camp which runs for 6 weeks in the summer and serves over 150 children each year. Our Discovered Treasures Summer Camp offers children a chance to enjoy a number of sports; recreation and liesure activities; Martial Arts; arts and crafts; as well as relaxation training to help the children improve skills in related areas such as mental imagery, focus and shifting focus. All elements of the program are inclusive of the cost of registration and are made available to every child over the course of the summer.
Social Skills Day Camp
Our Discovered Treasures social skills day camp provides a specialized therapeutic program to over 150 children and is run during March Break and the summer. We take great pride in a staff to camper ratio of between 1:3 to 1:4 at all times. The campers are primarily special needs students having Asperger’s Syndrome (a communication disorder), AD/HD, Learning Disabilities, delayed cognitive functioning, or Down’s Syndrome.
Developmental Day Program
Our Developmental Day Program was created to service children with higher complex needs such as non verbal children with Autism, Acquired Brain Injury and Developmental Disabilities. This program focuses on identifying the individual child’s needs and strengths. In a highly structured, supportive and predictable environment, children will have opportunities to develop qualitative play skills and daily living skills by enhancing communication, socialization and decreasing challenging behaviours. This program involves a 2:1 ratio, child to staff.
Camp Staff
All staff are university/college educated and trained (including dedicated Developmental Service workers, Social workers and Teachers) with several years of direct experience in this field. The Director, a clinical counsellor and a behavioural specialist are on hand at all times and have a Master’s level of education.
Social Skills Training
Social Skills training is the core foundation of our program. Each and everyday, children in our camp will learn many essential social skills such as, understanding and expressing feelings, conflict and resolution, and problem solving. Using a proactive, positive and cognitive behavioural approach to learning, daily sessions and all our activities will enable children to build self confidence and develop satisfying relationships by enhancing skill proficiency in areas that foster social competency.
Play Group
Children with high needs including non verbal children in the autism spectrum do not play in the same manner that is beneficial to skill development. The Play Group Model, which is based on aims to improve the social and symbolic play skills of children. In addition to addressing skill deficits, we also emphasize developing the intrinsic desire to play. With this group, it is important to differentiate between social skills training which involves direct skill instruction.
Recreation
Recreation is a critical component of our program. Throughout each day, the children will engage in ongoing recreational activities. They include: soccer, basketball, Frisbee, tennis, swimming and much more. Children with exceptionalities often find themselves with limited opportunities to fully enjoy leisure time. A lack of perceptual, motor, memory, linguistic, or organizational skills may cause them as much difficulty for leisure as they have at school or work. Fear of failure may limit their reaching out to access recreational activities. Just as we teach children with dyslexia to read, those with math disabilities to understand math, those with linguistic problems to better comprehend and use language, we must teach skills and provide practice so children with exceptionalities can achieve some recreational proficiencies.
Martial Arts
There are numerous and therapeutic benefits from martial arts. One reason martial arts may now be used for exceptional children is because its popularity is rising and many are becoming aware of its benefits including self discipline and control, faster thought processes, personal development, fitness, confidence, relief from stress, self-defence, and fun. For example, children diagnosed with ADHD or ADD are often unorganized. They also have difficulty following instructions or directions, struggle to maintain focus and often have social deficits that interfere with their ability to engage in sporting activities. By integrating Martial arts into our Camp, Children with ADHD and other exceptionalities will increase attention span, decrease distraction, develop motor and behavioural control, improve self-esteem, and build positive peer relationships. Martial Arts are povided to our camps by Focus Martial Arts.
Relaxation Training
Relaxation Training is provided on a daily basis. For children with exceptionalities, this is an important component to our program. By teaching relaxation, we are able to help the children improve skills in related areas such as mental imagery, focus and shifting focus. By developing these mental skills, children will be better able to positively influence their own health, mood, performance, and the direction of their lives. They will become increasingly aware that they have the capacity to control their own bodies, their own focus, their own stress and their own performance. They will also become more skilful at doing so in a fun filled, supportive and therapeutic atmosphere.