Carolyn's Camp 2009
Although I had not updated our website in a while I am proud to announce that we have not been “sleeping” through the past few years. I want to list a few things Carolyn’s Causes has been doing and tell you about our future plans.
- We have held 5 successful Carolyn’s Camps the past 5
summers. The format is: It is a day camp over the last
weekend in July. We target children with special needs in the age
group 3-8 although we are flexible. It is a family affair and free
to parents and siblings. The parents attend a seminar given by
occupational therapist that focuses on recognizing sensory
integration dysfunction, coping with issues, diagnosis and
treatment and of course an amazing support group with shared
stories.
- The children get the benefit of an all day therapy session with
their own therapist. It is structured to be a day of fun with
children their own age and a mix of children with disabilities,
therapist’s children and volunteer’s children. The day involves
crafts, physical stimulation on a trampoline, rope climbing wall,
loft swing, therapy dogs, a puppet show and water play. The goal
is for everyone to have fun as well as therapy and observations by
the therapists.
Look at the pictures on the website for a better understanding of
the camp.
- The University of N.M. School of Occupational Therapy gives
an award every year to the graduating O.T. student who has done
the most in the area of community service. The award is called
the Carolyn Thurman Rustvold Community Service Award. The
award for 2008 went to Alisha Blackburn. Alisha helped set up
a website for Dogwood Therapy Services which is an
Albuquerque therapy dog service.
- Carolyn’s Causes has worked with occupational therapy
students on projects for their classes. Every year we have
student volunteers help at the camp. It is a great real world
experience for the students and a way for us to stay connected
to the O.T. school and new ideas.
- Our plans for the future include making our website more user
friendly with links to resources, pictures of our activities, ways
to contact us to make a donation or volunteer for Carolyn’s
Camp. We also need to develop some fund raising activities. We
currently receive donations through the United Way of
Albuquerque as well as private donations. We send sunflower
necklaces to those who donate.
Carolyn’s Causes is alive and well. It continues to be a way to
honor Carolyn Thurman Rustvold’s memory and to work with the
children she loved. It is also a way to heal her family after the
tragic loss of a very special young woman. Our motto:
- Live life with passion
- Treat others with compassion
- Believe you can make a difference
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