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Camp exposes college students to hands-on therapy
Photo by James Nix
Alex Peterlin rides Trooper with the help of Sara Baucom, left, Jordan Dejaco and Lauren Cannon during a therapy session at the at the Wings of Eagles Ranch summer camp Thursday afternoon. The volunteers at the summer camp are Occupational Therapy Assistant students from the Cabarrus College of Health Sciences.
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Published: June 19, 2009
CONCORD - Students from Cabarrus College of Health Sciences not only learned that anything can be done when you put your mind to it, they watched it happen this week. Twenty occupational therapy assistant program students volunteered at Wings of Eagles Ranch and worked with 4- to 8-year-olds attending a summer camp designed for children with special needs.
"This is a great experience, to help (children with disabilities) do normal things, like ride a horse," said Ashley Williams, 20, a college student from Concord. "It's taught me to treat people the same."
The college students stayed with their assigned child for the entire four days there, as they participated in horseback riding, crafts, swimming, climbing a rock wall and other activities.
Wings of Eagles Ranch is a therapeutic horseback riding facility that operates through the school year and offers summer camp. Its mission is to give children with special needs the opportunity to have a safe camp and participate in the same activities that other children do at camp.
"The kids have been surprising," said Carrie Holloway, 34, a college student from Indian Trail. "Whatever we say we're doing, they're right there with us."
Holloway said the best part of volunteering with the children was spending time with Maggie Turney, 7, the child she was partnered with who has cerebral palsy.
"Even though she has limitations, it doesn't stop her," Holloway said.
The Cabarrus College of Health Sciences has partnered with the ranch for five years and has used this opportunity for the last three years as a part of the curriculum for occupational therapy assistant students.
Students receive class credit for the 30 hours of volunteering and clinical experience.
"It's so great for the students," said Nancy Green, coordinator for the occupational therapy assistant program. "It's all hands-on, and no one is critical. (The students) learn so much and are exposed to different ages and children with different abilities."
Whitney Howard, 22, a college student from Sherrills Ford, said it was her first time really being around children, since there are not many in her family. Howard said she enjoyed having one-on-one time with Skyler Arnold, 4, and watching the other children.
"I find it amazing that the (children) can do this stuff I never would've thought children with disabilities would do," Howard said.
Howard had not been around children much, but even Toni LaVanway was surprised at what her daughter, Lindsay, 4, who has Down syndrome, accomplished at camp.
"On the first day, I followed (Lindsay and the other children) around and thought, 'there's no way my child would do this,'" LaVanway, of Concord, said. "I'm seeing her do things I never thought she'd do. She's gaining more independence, I think."
Not only was LaVanway pleased by watching her daughter take on rock climbing and obstacle courses, she was also pleased that the occupational therapy assistant students were there.
"Having the experience of the occupational therapy students has been tremendous," LaVanway said. "It's not just the camp experience. (The children) are getting real, true therapy with each activity."
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