The British Columbia Association of People Who Stutter (BCAPS) is sponsoring a subsidized camp for BC children who stutter and their families, from July 10 to July 13, 2009. If you live out of the province, full camp fees apply. The camp will be held at Siverlake Forestry Centre in the Okanagan, BC. This camp is open to “all” members of the family of the child/children who stutter with a camp registration fee of $50.00 per camper and parent, which will be refunded upon attendance, or may be donated to the camp if desired. Subsidy for the camp is up to 85% based on family income. Unfortunately, we can no longer offer a FREE camp until we find sponsors who will commit every year. Until then, we will do our best to subsidize as many families as we can based on first come- first serve basis. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
Camp attendees are open to children ages’ 7yrs to 16yrs. Youths who are both stutterers and over & including the age of 16 are welcome to volunteer as Camp Helpers, with their parent’s permission of course; only requirement is standard CPR. Look for the Volunteer brochure and application posted on our website. Parents are expected to participate in camp activities and seminars. Three meals a day and snacks are served (no additional cost). Cabins for the children (7-16yrs) are separated by gender and will have two Camp Leaders per cabin. Parents are also separated into cabins based on gender. Parents with young children (younger than 7yrs) will be accommodated together in a separate family cabin. Please view our BCAPS Camp video.
We have room for 50 campers, so please mail in your registrations early. We are hoping for a full turnout. Deadline for registration has been extended to July 1, 2009. Camp sign-in begins July 10th between 1 and 4pm at main lodge. Please call BCAPS Camp Coordinator, Mia Austinson (250-434-5368) if you are late sending in your registration, expect to arrive before 1pm, or after 4pm. Departure takes place July 13th, 1pm. Thank you.
If your child who stutters has a special friend who he/she plays with on a regular basis, that friend is also invited to attend the camp. Camp costs applies to the number of children attending, where as the parents are free because we expect your participation. The camp setting will not be a therapeutic camp for stuttering therapy, but the camp does focus on socializing the children through games and educational activities. More importantly, the children learn that they are not alone and there are others who stutter just like they do. Many children feel isolated and alone because they cannot communicate efficiently like other children, thus they miss out on just having fun with their peers. This feeling of ‘not fitting in’ can create emotional scars in a child’s social development that is all too often carried on throughout his/her adult life.
Parents and children discussion groups
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At the camp, we encourage the children to talk about their feelings in a supportive, non-threatening environment, safe from ridicule and judgment. By the end of the camp children say things like, “I feel safe to be myself here”. Last camp one parent had said, “I can’t shut the kid up…what a beautiful sound”!
For the children there will be short, daily seminars about what stuttering is, that it’s okay to stutter, and that it’s not their fault. Bullying and teasing will also be addressed and discussed to encourage the children to speak out when they are being teased and bullied rather than retreat into a withdrawn and silent world of their own. Furthermore, there will be presentations on various subjects and get-together for the parents in the evenings (keep in mind that if your bringing young children to the camp, it may be difficult to participate with the adult evening activities). CAMP BCAPS has been set up so the children will be in a group setting at all times; to encourage ‘free’ communication skills and to discourage withdrawal. The most important feature of the camp, of course, is to have fun and enjoy the outdoors!
All in all the camp will be a fun adventure with opportunities for learning and building lasting friendships. For further information, or if you’re interested in volunteering at Camp BCAPS 2009, please use our attached application form or contact the camp coordinator below.
More camp information, application and registration forms. (printable PDFs) Registration deadline has been extended to July 1, 2009.
Mia Austinson
2316 Valleyview Drive
Kamloops, BC, V2C 4E1
Ph. (250) 828-0224
E-mail: maustinson@shaw.ca
Study of pond insects
Counselor and parent meeting
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