Special Needs Camps, Medical Camps, Development and Skills Building Camps

 

Sioux Falls Kids 411 Directory offers information on camps for kids with special needs that includes ADHD, cancer, asthma, speech and communication difficulties, social skills, physical disabilities, spina bifida, and eating difficulties.  There are also specialty camps for children who experience the death of a parent, sibling or close friend, need help with hand writing, camps to promote health and wellness and more.

 

You can click on the camp name in the top list to take you to the website or look below the list for a description of each camp.

 

Children’s Care Camps
Speech Xtreme -  Speech

Social skills - building communication and social interaction skills

Hand Writing -  hand writing skills

Breakfast club - for children who have feeding and swallowing difficulties

Let's Talk- A camp using Augmentative & Alternative Communication devices

Helping Hands - camp uses constraint-induced movement therapy to help children with hemiplegia focus on using both hands and arms for everyday activities.

Power Mobility - experience the latest technology in power mobility

 

Sanford Health Camps
Camp Jess - An overnight camp for children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, grandparent or close friend.

Spirit Camp - A camp for children with spina bifida.

Camp Conquer - A camp for children with physical disabilities.

Camp Bring It On - A camp for children with cancer.

Camp Fuel - A week long , day camp for kids ages 9-12 to promote health and wellness.

Camp F.A.N. - a camp for kids with asthma.

 

Children’s Care Camps 

http://www.cchs.org/services/summercamps-siouxfalls
(605) 444-9700
All camps located at Children’s Care Rehabilitation Center
1020 West 18th Street

Insurance coverage may apply to medical-based camps.

Speech Xtreme:
Do you or others have difficulty understanding your child’s speech? Are there speech sounds your child struggles with? This fun and exciting speech camp, led by Children’s Care speech-language pathologists, includes an initial assessment of your child’s speech – then will focus on the development of clear articulation of speech sounds.
 

Social Skills:
Does your child have a difficult time interacting or playing with peers? This camp will focus on building communication and social interaction skills. Your child’s social awareness and skill level will be enhanced by learning social skills, social strategies and incorporating these acquired skills into “real life” situations. Registration deadlines are two weeks prior to camp start dates to allow our staff to personalize the camp for your child’s needs.
 

Handwriting:                                                                                                                        Do you have a child entering kindergarten, first or second grade who is having difficulty with printing? Or do you have an older child struggling with cursive? Our occupational therapists will help your child develop skills to take the frustration out of handwriting. (Children's Care has South Dakota's first and only Certified Level 1 Handwriting Specialists through the Handwriting Without Tears® program!

Breakfast Club:
This camp is designed for children who have feeding and swallowing difficulties. Children will participate in a group setting to address food aversions, sensory or oral motor difficulties, transition from tube-feeding or picky eating. Children will increase tolerance of textures and smells, while improving oral motor skills. Children will talk about and try new foods. This camp is led by an occupational therapist and/or a speech-language pathologist.

Let’s Talk:
A camp using Augmentative & Alternative Communication devices. Children will focus on peer interactions while communicating with a voice output device in fun and functional ways. Outings may include meeting at the zoo, a restaurant, the Sertoma Butterfly House, and even a game day at Children’s Care. If your child qualifies for medical speech therapy services, we can obtain a doctor’s prescription to allow your child to participate. The camp is led by highly qualified Children’s Care speech-language pathologists.

Helping Hands:
This camp uses constraint-induced movement therapy to help children with hemiplegia focus on using both hands and arms for everyday activities. Children will practice with dressing, feeding, toy exploration, make-believe, dress-up, arts & crafts, gross motor activities, and so much more! Participation in the camp also includes pre- and post-camp evaluations with Children’s Care occupational therapists.

Power Mobility:
Trained therapists offer exciting opportunities to experience the latest technology in power mobility in a fun and functional setting. We will focus on development of mobility skills in different settings, terrains, and situations in a casual atmosphere. New power wheelchair users will be matched with one of the power wheelchairs in the Children’s Care fleet!

 

Sanford Health Camps

 http://www.sanfordhealth.org/MedicalServices/SummerCamps
605-333-1000
1305 W. 18th Street
 

Camp Jess:
(Ages 6 – 17): Camp Jess is an overnight camp experience for children ages 6 – 17 that have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, grandparent or close friend. Camp Jess offers a unique blend of creative group work including: Music, Arts and crafts, Recreational activities, Small group discussions, Education on grief process. These activities are designed to promote opportunities to express feelings and learn healthy coping techniques. This is done with other kids who have experienced similar losses. Professional social work staff lead group activities and adult volunteers, many who have also experienced loss, provide individual attention to campers throughout the day. Children are grouped by ages for activities. Location: Our Saviors Lutheran Church 909 West 33rd Street. For more information call 605-312-5500.
 

Spirit Camp:
It is designed to enhance self-confidence and improve independence. Kids have fun while mom and dad breathe easier knowing their child is in a safe, barrier-free environment under careful guidance of highly trained staff. Spirit Camp allows children to discover they are not alone. Their disabilities are common to others and their situation is not unique. Spirit Camp activities promote self-esteem, creativity and self-expression in a therapeutic environment. For more information contact Marilee Kontz at Sanford Children’s (605) 328-7157

Camp Conquer:
(Ages 5 – 14)
Camp Conquer is for boys and girls, ages 5 – 14, with a physical disability. Campers with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, paraplegia or disabling injuries are eligible. Children with allergies, heart conditions or other special conditions are considered on an individual basis. A physician’s statement describing the precautions and limitations for your child’s safety is required. Camp Conquer activities include: Field Trips, Crafts, Swimming, Games and group activities, Outdoor extravaganza: fishing, archery, BB guns, paintball and boating. Camp Conquer Goals: Learn the importance of group recreational and leisure experiences. Grow in independence emotionally, spiritually and physically. Have fun. Specialized Staff: The Camp Conquer staff is specially trained to ensure your child’s unique and special needs are met. We take every precaution to provide activities which are adventurous but safe. Swimming is supervised by qualified lifeguards. Day camp staff receives extra help from community volunteers. For more information please contact Marilee Kontz at Sanford Children’s (605) 328-7157

Camp Bring It On:
Camp Bring It On is a unique escape for kids with cancer. It is designed to let kids have fun and feel like carefree kids again. Campers participate in a variety of events offered at traditional camps: arts and crafts, hold talent shows, shoot paintballs at targets, archery, eat meals together, go boating and fishing. There are Camp Bring it On Olympics and nightly s’mores round the campfire. For one week, they get to feel like normal kids. Which, for a child with cancer, is anything but normal. Camp Bring It On is staffed by trained medical professionals from Sanford Children’s Hospital. Staff include pediatric oncologists, certified pediatric oncology nurses, child life specialists and a host of specially trained volunteers. The staff works tirelessly to ensure each camper has the full camp experience, while still meeting their medical needs.

Camp Fuel :
Dispel myths and media messages targeted at youth about nutrition, activity, body image and acceptance to promote a positive self-image and understanding of how our bodies use the “fuel” we eat and burn. They will learn how to de-code messages they get from the media through interactive lessons, games and outings. The Goals of Camp Fuel are: Improve nutrition knowledge of portions, eating out and reading labels. Encourage behavior change to making healthier nutritional choices. Increase activity at all levels. Improve understanding of the importance of being physically active. Promote self-esteem and body image. Use skills gained to make better decisions with media messages related to nutrition, physical activity and body image. What activities will they do? Swimming, Yoga, ICycling, Freeze tag, Frisbee golf, Relay games, Trips to the park and picnic lunches, Create a health promoting media message, Tour the Sanford Health USD Medical Center kitchen, Tour local media stations, such as KELO and Results Radio, Visit a local organic food grower, And much more! For more information call (605) 328-1505

Camp F.A.N. :
Camp F.A.N. is an educational and fun summer camp where children with asthma learn to better manage and control their disease. A child, age 8-14, who has seasonal, moderate or severe asthma, is eligible for Camp F.A.N. The objective of camp is to improve the physical condition and psychological outlook of children with asthma as well as to educate campers and their families how to best manage their care. Highly skilled doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, practitioners, counselors and program leaders provide medical supervision and instruction at Camp F.A.N. 24-hours-a-day. Location - Camp Foster YMCA of the Okoboji’s, Spirit Lake, IA. Campers enjoy swimming, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, waterskiing, rope courses, arts & crafts, all-camp games, fishing and more while attending camp. For more information please contact Sanford Children’s (605) 328-7157.