Day Camping for the Trainable and Severely Mentally Retarded

by S. Annette Keck, Constance R. Curry, Gale Salzman, Carol Arslaner

DAY CAMPING

FOR THE TRAINABLE AND
SEVERELY MENTALLY RETARDED

GUIDELINES FOR ESTABLISHING
DAY CAMP PROGRAMS

Written by

S. ANNETTE KECK
GALE SALZMAN

CONSTANCE R. CURRY
CAROL ARSLANER

DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
Albert J. Glass, M.D., Acting Director

Division of Mental Retardation Services

Richard B. Ogilvie
Governor

APRIL 1970

DAY CAMPING FOR THE TRAINABLE
AND SEVERELY MENTALLY RETARDED

• S. Annette Keck • Constance R. Curry • Gale Salzman • Carol Arslaner •

• Cover design by William Davis

• Editorial assistance provided by G. W. Moss

• Prepared for publication by the Division of Mental Retardation, Illinois Department of Mental Health

March 1, 1970

Foreword

In the last decade, there has been an ever-increasing interest in developing appropriate recreational activities and programs for the mentally retarded. This trend has been very evident in the 18-county area in East Central Illinois served by the Herman M. Adler Zone Center of the Illinois Department of Mental Health. In 1964, two summer programs served a total of 45 trainable and severely mentally retarded children, but by the summer of 1969, 13 community programs were serving well over 400 children and adults.

A variety of community agencies and organizations have contributed a great deal of effort toward the development of these programs, but there remains an ongoing need for assistance and consultation. During the summers of 1968 and 1969, the Adler Zone Center, in collaboration with the Zone VI Advisory Council on Mental Retardation, sponsored several three-day workshops for community agency staff with follow-up consultation in the field. Although these services proved fruitful, there was an expressed need for the development of a handbook for community recreation staff.

Day Camping for the Trainable and Severely Mentally Retarded, prepared by regular and consultant staff of the Herman M. Adler Zone Center, is an attempt to meet this need. It is not designed as an answer for all problems and situations, but has been written as a guideline and a resource for community agency personnel.

J. Gregory Langan, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Herman M. Adler Zone Center

Contents

page

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

iv

ADMINISTERING A DAY CAMP ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

1

Program Structure ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

2

Organization ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

3

Camp Evaluation ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

4

Evaluation ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

8

Tips and Essentials of the Trade ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

9

Day Camp Models ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

10

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

13

Games ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

14

Teaching Swimming to the Mentally Retarded ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

22

Recommended Reading ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

24

ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITIES ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

27

Simple Toys ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

28

Noise Makers ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

32

Nature Crafts ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

34

Miscellaneous ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

36

Recommended Reading ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

38

MUSIC ACTIVITIES ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

39

Music and the Retarded ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

40

Action Songs ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

40

Singing Games ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

49

Mealtime Songs ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

51

Just Songs ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

52

Recommended Reading ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

56

APPENDIX A - Schedules ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

57

APPENDIX B - Camp Forms ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

61

APPENDIX C - Job Descriptions ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

71

APPENDIX D - List of Materials ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

75

APPENDIX E - Ideas ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

79

APPENDIX F - Selected Bibliography ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

81