Summer Camp: Fun with Listening and Language

Two weeks quickly came and went, and the first of what I hope will be just the beginning; Summer Fun with Listening and Language finished.  It was wonderful to see the campers each day and know they were having fun with mom, dad, or another family member.  It was even more wonderful to see siblings listening and coaching each other with language appropriate for letting their feelings known without getting frustrated.  It was wonderful to see them discuss and work things out with language and with listening.  It was even more wonderful to watch friends being renewed and friends being made.  But the most wonderful thing of all to watch:  babies smiling and laughing and listening, toddlers smiling and laughing and talking, and campers with siblings smiling and talking and telling me they want to come back and do this camp again.  Wow!  I have never had so much fun!  This was a great experience for me and now that I have done it - I am already thinking of how to make it even better.  Enjoy some more experiences with me!  Notice the fun?!......and notice it's all about family and friends.....the only way to have fun!! 

I have used this quote before, but I think it is very appropriate here again.....

'What families have in common the world around is that they are the place where we learn who we are and how to be that way."                                   ~Johann Georg Zimmermann

Summer Fun! You bet!!

Suffice it to say - camp rocks! Or should I say camp roars and quacks!!  I am soooo tired and having a grand time.  I know our campers are having the same great time - right now - let's just share a few pictures.

This is just a small taste of listening and language with dinos and ducks! Right now I need sleep and so much more this week!  Come back and see how much fun we can have.

Here We Go!! Life is Here to Enjoy!!

Life is Here to Enjoy         ~Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

What a concept! Such a simple quotation and such a simple mantra and we don't do it very often; but in the next two weeks, my coworkers and I are going to have a great deal to enjoy!  

Six days and Summer Day Camp-Listening and Language is happening!  So exciting!  

Here's just a little taste of the activities:

The 'Little Travelers' will be singing, listening to rhythms and durations, moving with the sounds, and playing an instrument; cooking – sharing the fun with the older campers in putting together their snacks; Ducks and playing in the water (buckets of water); Splash with other animals and playing in the water (buckets of water); Pop with bubbles and balloons.  The 'Little Travelers' will be doing this with the guidance of a parent.  Woo hoo! That's only the first week!

The 'Junior and Master Travelers' will also be singing, dancing, and cooking.  They will be Dinosaur excavating; discussing Dinosaurs and their Fun, Dinosaur Games! Generally become Dinosaur Experts!  

The older campers, or 'travelers', will have partners; and some of the partners are siblings.  They will be enjoying activities that help them understand each others actions and feelings.  Discussion within a game among the siblings and friends will target behaviors and emotions, so that they learn to listen to each other and understand what is being said along with understanding the emotion that goes with the behavior.  In other words - walking in another man's shoes.  

Overall, summertime and camp 'Here we go!'  

Youth comes but once in a lifetime.         ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

and I get youth for my whole lifetime!  What fun!

 

Get in Touch for Summer Camp

Summer Day Camp 2012 - Fun with Listening and Language is going to happen!  I am very excited about this!  A friend told me; 'Stop saying 'if this camp happens' and start saying 'when this camp happens'.
She was right - I started putting the word out, started having meetings and talking to people and asked for help and everyone said - 'Yes'.

We have put together a fun time and fun ideas and fun language activities.  We will talk, talk, talk, and sing, sing, sing, with Babies and Parents in the 10 mo. to 2 year old group.  This will run an hour a day.  We will learn some language while playing with activities dealing with Farm Animals, Water, and Dirt in the Toddler group; and we will continue to develop vocabulary and language when becoming scientists tracking around the world dinosaur bones with Little and Master Travelers.  Those three groups will run three hours a day and the camp itself will run for two weeks in June and two weeks in July.

The idea behind the camp is for our children not to lose the concepts and language they gained during the school year and continue to listen and to talk with help from teachers, professionals and family members.  Little ones who are not in school also continue to work with their parent in learning to listen and parents learning that auditory intake happens all the time. 

If you want more information, or just see whats happening - head on over to http://speakwithcathy.com
and get all the info.  For now, just know I am excited! yea!

Summer is Coming Together

I am so excited that my summer is coming together - and it's only March!  Only March?  I have so much to do ~ but I do want to savor the moment = )   My dream of developing and holding a summer camp is taking shape.
The summer fun of listening and talking will become a reality!  The community of people that I work with have graciously volunteered to help me put it together, and putting it together means time out of their lives to develop the theme and activities that will make it happen.  I am sooooooo excited - can you tell! 

I have spoken with people through various churches and owners of buildings, each have been willing to speak with me about using their facilities to hold the camp. 

Parents of children with language and speech disorder because of a hearing impairment and parents of children with a language and/or speech disorder because of slow development, have been very open to wanting this camp and would love to have a place for their children to spend some fun summer hours.  They love knowing they can attend with their child and have some fun, or they love knowing the children can attend with one other sibling and have some fun; and they love knowing their children will be building their speech and language skills. I am sooooooo excited - can you tell!?

Camp will take place for 2 weeks in June and July - two sessions a day.  There will be three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon.  

Social skills will be targeted in such a way that the focus will be on fun and the learning style of the child’s strength, then we will build from there.  After all, Play is a child's work!

I am overjoyed with this prospect and I will keep you posted on growth and development! Wish us Luck - cuz summer - here we come!

All degrees of joy reside in the heart.  ~Oswald Chambers

The joy for my heart will be watching this dream become a reality

If you'd like more information or just want to check out the prospect of fun, go to:

http://speakwithcathy.com

A Summer of Fun! Listening and Language

Another month....lots of ideas.....lots of work.....and lots to get ready for!!

I am putting together a summer camp!  A summer camp of fun surrounded by listening and language. 
I have always wanted to have a summer camp.  I have helped, attended, and worked in other summer camps and have enjoyed them thoroughly.  I have seen children have tons of fun with all kinds of activities and things to do.  Each one of these camps has been a special part of someone's memories or someone's summer.  Each one of these camps range from camps for children to learn new skills to camps for children with specific types of disabilities.  The camp I am putting together this summer is for children with a hearing impairment and/or language delay and their siblings.  This will be a family-centered camp with lots to do and there will be people involved that want to give the children the tools to continue to build their language over the summer and to another part of their lives. 

Stayed tuned for more details.  I have so much to tell you!