AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Therapists, teachers and volunteers came together for four weeks during the summer to provide children with special needs with their own customized summer camp.
Camp Summer Fun brings these children together where they participate in games and other activities that train them to use the skills they need. From scavenger hunts to panning for gold, roping cattle heads to reading, simple relay races to bouncing around in an inflatable horse, both physical and mental exercises are given to the children, and they most definitely are up to the task. Carnival, water and space are the themes for the other three weeks of camp, so more activities and games will be added on top of what the kids get to experience this week.
"We have a variety of kids here, ages four to 11, that are involved in activities," says Turn Center Executive Director Chris Hale. "Growth motor, strengthening kinds of exercises, fine motor, development activities and communication exercises, and all these are in a camp format. Really, it's disguised as fun."
Previous patients of the organization have also stuck around to volunteer. 13-year-old Shelbie Kemp attended the camp last year and is now a counselor. Darlene Martin was a patient more th anthirty years ago when the organization was the Children's Rehabilitation Center. She formed a special bond with her therapist Kathy Hyatt, who continues to be a therapist at the Turn Center to this day.
"We're like Batman and Robin," Martin said. "She's my right-hand man."
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