Communication camp helps youngsters learn self-expression / LJWorld.com

Archive for Monday, July 7, 2008

As temperatures sizzled outside today, about 90 youngsters learned about ice and snow as part of a communication camp.

By Karrey Britt

July 7, 2008

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On the street

What is a good way for children to work on their communication skills?

I think team sports are a great way. I think they help you learn good communication skills and how to work with other people.

— Sara Hilliard

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A small group of children passed around a stuffed toy penguin and chimed in as "Frosty the Snowman" played on a music box. When the music stopped, the person left holding the penguin shared what he or she liked to do when it's cold outside.

Sledding and building snowmen were popular answers - and wishful thinking for this time of year.

The children were participating in the eighth annual Sertoma-Schiefelbusch Communication Camp at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds. The two-week camp, which ends Friday, is for children ages 4-12. There are about 90 campers and two-thirds of them have a communication challenge.

"There are some youngsters who can't express themselves well. There are others who have communication challenges secondary to autism or Down syndrome or cerebral palsy. There are some youngsters who don't produce all of the sounds correctly. There are others who don't understand verbal language as well as their peers. So, it's a wide range of communication challenges," Jane Wegner, camp director, said.

As part of this year's theme, Explore Life, the children are divided into age groups and have names such as elephants, bears, bats, sharks and penguins. Each day has a different topic, and on Monday, as temperatures soared into the 90s, it was ice and snow.

"I think it is so funny," said Jessica Bartley, a Kansas University graduate student in speech-language pathology. "It was a perfect day for it, actually. They really enjoyed the popsicles."

In addition to snacking, the children listened to a presentation by ski instructor Herb Tuttle and passed around his snow gear. They also rotated through various activities such as making snowflakes, watching to a video about polar bears and sculpting "ice" with Play-Doh.

Four-year-old Luke Davis, Oskaloosa, showed off his creativity.

"Look at me," he said as a pink piece of Play-Doh covered his nose. Others in his group giggled, and a couple imitated him.

Bartley said she already had seen progress in some of the children.

"I had one kiddo who came in and wouldn't talk to anybody and today he will just go and initiate conversation with his friends," she said. "It's just great to see these kids interact with each other. They have so much fun and they don't always get to have that experience."

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8 July 2008
at 3:12 p.m.

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OldEnuf2BYurDad (Anonymous) says…

“Children with communication challenges participate in the eighth annual Sertoma-Schiefelbusch Communication Camp”And as soon as they all learn to pronounce “Schiefelbusch”, they can go home.
8 July 2008
at 3:32 p.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

Thanks again Jane, for doing so much for so many.And for standing up to 'evil-doer peers' for the sake of the child!Old Enuf…I know you're kidding,and the Speech group has probably already made a joke like that. Some of these kids can't say a word and are trying to figure out what part of their body works consistently to activate a computer for speech.Back when, I had to hire my son's USD497 para, to join us at Capper Foundation in Topeka for a camp like this. She said she learned more in one week, than in all the training she ever received from the school district as to how to make school work for my child, and how to program his computer on the spot to include him in school.LPS sucks at para/teacher training, and it's wonderful that KU now has this to help.(Capper disbanded their technology programs…bad news for Ks kids)