At Camp Free To Be, children grow social, motor and life skills through therapeutic recreation :
The Journal Star : By KYLE DILLER : June 8 2011
PEORIA — While Simon Says is a game many children participate in purely for fun, it is used to make a difference at Camp Free To Be.
The staff at the camp, 8727 N. Pioneer Road, uses Simon Says as a tool to help develop motor skills in children with disabilities, but that's only a small part of what they do.
The 10-week summer camp, part of the Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Association, is designed to teach important social and life skills through a method known as therapeutic recreation. The experience allows the children to have fun and participate in typical childhood activities with the aim of also imparting necessary skills for them to function and interact in life.
"Each activity that we do is based precisely on everything the kids need. It's adapted to certain kids," said MacKinzee Smith, 20, who has worked at the camp for four years. Her involvement helping children with disabilities began with her sister, who is autistic.
Smith has worked closely with Michelle Tudor, 20, since before their time at Camp Free To Be, a relationship which goes back seven years. Tudor as initially shy as Smith pushed her in her wheelchair away from the group playing Simon Says, but with a little encouragement her excitement for camp became apparent.
Speaking of how much fun she has at the camp, Tudor, with a big smile, said, "A lot."
It's two simple words, but the reaction on her face tells the story. Right beside her, Smith quickly added, "Too much fun for words."
The connection the two have was abundantly clear as Smith helped Tudor talk about her favorite activities at camp - swimming, gym, scouters, art and using her walker.
The staff's desire to make a difference is the most striking element of the camp. The camp has more than 75 employees and 30 volunteers looking to help the kids and create a fun experience. The camper-to-staff ratio is so low that often each camper has his own staff member, allowing for closer, more personal attention and interaction.
"We laugh every day. I think that's probably the biggest thing I take away, is that it's so much fun to watch these kids succeed every summer," said Smith. "I mean, every day is just a new adventure. Honestly, just watching them learn and grow is really cool."
The camp's executive director, Katie Hogan van Cleve, 35, greets each of the campers by name. It makes it clear that each camper is important, she said. She is not there just to oversee the camp, she is excited to help and to have a staff that shares that enthusiasm for teaching the children the skills they will need for life.
"I'm really lucky that I come to my job every day and I get to interact with really exciting people and help them have fun and maybe different thing that they wouldn't normally get an opportunity to do," said Hogan van Cleve. "I also get to interact with this really amazing group of staff who are passionate about what they do and just really want to affect people's lives in a positive way."
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