Roughing It in the Bush: A Camp Experience

Duncan McGregor
Jean Huehn
Janet McAdam

York Region District School Board
Vision Services Department
300 Harry Walker Parkway
Newmarket, Ontario
L3H 8E2
(905) 727-0022, ext. 3324

Presented at the AER International Conference, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Saturday, July 20, 2002.

Rationale and Benefits to Students:

Students with visual impairments have many educational needs that are not addressed by the core (academic) curriculum taught to all students. The Extended Core Curriculum for students who are visually impaired addresses these needs. However, some aspects of the Extended Core Curriculum are often best taught outside of the school environment.

At camp, we give students the opportunity to develop:

Daily living skills
Social skills
Orientation and mobility skills
Physical fitness
Independence and responsibility

This is done by:

providing students with an opportunity to interact with other students who are visually impaired
developing appropriate social skills in a variety of settings
assigning positions of responsibility in the areas of daily living and personal hygiene
providing a wide range of outdoor experiences, that engage the senses and allow students to expand their repertoires of recreation and leisure activities.
promoting physical fitness

Camp Activities:

Daily Living Skills

food preparation
table setting
clean up
washing, drying and putting away dishes
unpacking personal items when arriving at camp, and packing them to return home.
organizing and caring for personal items
personal hygiene

Social Skills

group interaction
peer tutoring, modelling of appropriate behavoiur
leadership training

Orientation and Mobility

hiking
orienteering
scavenger hunts

Physical Fitness

hiking
running
snowshoeing
cross-country skiing
horseback riding
canoeing, rowing, paddleboats
ball games and activities: soccer, softball, t-ball, soccer baseball, “catch”
relays
tug-of-war

Independence and Responsibility

chores
organizing and caring for personal items
giving students the opportunity to organize activities themselves

Things to Keep in Mind When Organizing a Camp

Book facility well in advance of the dates you want.
Information package for parents should include:
- address and phone number of camp, and map showing how to get there
- list of things to bring (and to leave at home)
- medical information form—include food allergies/religious dietary restrictions
- permission forms, as required by school board
- field trip insurance forms, as required by school board
Plan kid-friendly meals—things kids like to eat, and can either help themselves to (e.g. sandwich bar) or prepare themselves.
Be sure to have suitable alternatives for students with food allergies or dietary restrictions.
Think out safety plans in advance.
- emergency contact numbers for students
- phone numbers and locations of nearby medical facilities.
- orientation to camp upon arrival should include fire drill, emergency exits, and where to gather outside in the event of an emergency.

Sample Student Checklist
(3 days, 2 nights—fall camp)

Sleeping bag and pillow
4 shirts and turtleneck
3 pairs of pants
socks
3 pairs of underwear
2 sweatshirts or sweaters
warm jacket suitable for rain
change of outdoor footwear, including boots
indoor shoes (sneakers)
hat for cool weather
mitts or gloves
towel and face cloth
zipper bag containing soap, comb/brush, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste
a book to read
board games/cards (optional)
minimal spending money for snacks and small souvenirs

Important:

Please put your name on all belongings.
All gear should be packed in one soft-sided duffle bag due to space restrictions.
* We request that Walkmans and electronic games remain at home.

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Last Revision: October 2, 2002