2009 Respites and Camps set for Kids and adults with disabilities
A beauty weekend for girls. A Valentine party. A weekend of hiking and fishing with the guys. Local artists sharing their talents.
The lineup of Respite weekends for children and adults with disabilities at Stepping Stones’ Camp Allyn in Batavia reads like a combination social calendar and travel brochure.
That’s the idea, said Residential Programs Coordinator Tabbie Ross, who directs all of the overnight programs at the 47-acre Camp Allyn.
The Respite and Residential Camp programs that Stepping Stones Center offers are designed to enrich the lives of the participants, providing a combination of social interaction, independence-enhancing activities and pure fun. Children and adults with disabilities can have a vacation-like getaway in a secure environment that can meet specific health needs including special diets, medication needs and individualized assistance.
The facility, which is owned by the Rotary Club of Cincinnati, includes fishing lakes, a pool, dining hall, dorm residences, nurse’s station, a miniature golf area and nature trails.
Stepping Stones Center, a 45-year-old United Way partner agency, runs all of the programming at Camp Allyn, including year-round preschool for children with and without disabilities and the Adult Day Habilitation Program, providing social and daily living skills programs for adults with a variety of disabilities.
The residential programs include respite weekends from mid September through mid May and longer summer camp programs from June through mid August. Participants deal with an array of disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, learning delays, multiple disabilities and medically fragile conditions. “People who might have a hard time in other camps or settings do quite well here,” said Ross. “We give people the space and the staffing that is needed. Our staff is very creative and we really enjoy working with the participants.”
The first time John Green of Price Hill stayed overnight at Camp Allyn, his mother was apprehensive. John, 11, has autism and needs steady supervision and interaction. “I never wanted to let him stay someplace overnight. I worried that he would be allowed to wander away or get hurt. Camp Allyn is awesome,” said John’s mother, Sheila Hodgetts-Green. “I couldn’t send him to a typical camp. He wouldn’t make it there. Camp Allyn is giving him confidence and I know they’re watching him constantly. Someone’s always there to make sure he’s ok. They know where their kids are all the time.”
John’s room at home is decorated with treasures he’s brought home from Camp Allyn stays – a banner as tall as he is, a poster John created showing spring flowers and plants, a miniature fire pit he made from sticks, Camp Allyn T-shirts. At a summer camp session designed especially for children with autism, John followed a treasure map and hunted for caches of play money and jewels.
“At Camp Allyn, they’re not just watching them, they’re teaching them. My son is having fun while he’s learning. I really trust the staff. Camp Allyn is just part of our life now,” Hodgetts-Green said.”
Respite weekends serve more than the participant. The weekends provide families with a needed break from constant care while being assured their family member is enjoying a safe and fun weekend.
New programs in the 2009 schedule includes a Valentine party in February, a Girls Getaway including beauty shop, make-up and fashion in March and a weekend with local artists culminating in an art exhibit of participants’ works at the Eastgate Starbucks.
Most months include a Respite Adventure, for participants 17 and older, which includes a Saturday day trip off site to a community attraction or event. The cost for Respite weekends for children and adults is $400 or $450 for one-on-one assistance. Respite Adventures are $475.
The 2009 Respite Schedule:
Jan. 16-18, ages 5 and older
Jan. 23-25, ages 5 to 16
Feb 6-8, age 17 and older with prior approval, Respite Adventure
Feb. 13-15, age 5 and older, Valentine Weekend
Feb. 27-March 1, girls age 5 and older, Girls Getaway
March 6-8, age 17 and older with prior approval, Respite Adventure
March 13-15 – Respite
March 27-29, age 17 and older, Local Artist Weekend
March 27-29, age 5 to 16, Young Artist Weekend
April 3-5, age 17 and older with prior approval, Respite Adventure
April 17-19, guys age 5 and older, Guys Getaway. Dads and brothers invited to share a Friday night fish fry and baseball.
April 24-26, age 5 and older
May 1-3, ages 5 to 16
May 17-22, age 17 and older with prior approval, Respite Adventure
Sept. 25-27, age 5 and older, Fall Sports Spectacular
Oct. 2-4, age 17 and older with prior approval Respite Adventure
Oct. 16-18, age 5 and older, Fall Foliage Festival
Oct. 30-Nov. 1, age 5 and older, Halloween Bash
Nov. 6-8, age 17 and older with prior approval, Respite Adventure
Nov. 20-22, age 5 and older, Pre Thanksgiving Annual Feast
Dec. 4-6, age 17 and older with prior approval, Respite Adventure
Dec. 11-13, age 5 and older, Holiday Extravaganza
Dec. 27-Jan 1, 2010, age 5 and older, Winter Camp
Dec. 31-Jan 1, 2010, age 17 and older, New Year’s Eve Bash for adults.
The 2009 Summer Residential Camp Season
June 14-25, age 21 and older, 12-day session
June 28-July 2, ages 5 to 13, Sensory Celebration for children with autism
June 28-July 2, age 12-18, Sensory Celebration/Teens, for teens with Asperger’s
July 5-10, age 17 and older, Sports Camp
July 12-17, age 17 and older, Fine Arts Camp
July 19-24, age 17 and older, Nature Camp
Aug. 2-7, age 5 to 16, Sibling/Youth Camp, traditional camp fun
Aug. 16-21, age 17 and older with prior approval, Adventure Week. Details available in spring
Respites and residential summer camps are at Camp Allyn in Batavia. Stepping Stones Center also runs year-round and summer programs at the Stepping Stones Center site in Indian Hill. Summer Day Camp for children age 5 to 22 runs from June 15 through Aug. 14 at both sites.
Programs are subject to change. Families must complete a registration and application process. Financial assistance is available.
For information on Stepping Stones Center programs, call 513-831-4660 or see Web site www.steppingstonescenter.org