USA’s Carmen Hughey :: Experiential Learning about Therapeutic Recreation at Camp ASCCA
Posted by Robert on 20 May 2007 at 8:56 pm | Tagged as: Education, Leadership, News, Ropes Course, Therapeutic Recreation, Video, Volunteers, Weekends, Zipline | Printer/Text Reader Friendly Version: Print This Post
As a part of her college studies at the University of South Alabama (USA), Carmen Hughey joined Camp ASCCA and Shepherd Center for our annual weekend camp.
…Carmen and other students from around the US volunteer to gain experience in therapeutic recreation…
Carmen was one of dozens of students from several universities seeking hands-on experience in a dynamic therapeutic recreation (TR) environment.
This interview is a great example of the experience students gain from weekends at Camp ASCCA. You’ll see that, despite some awkward - even uncomfortable - experiences along the way, she actually found out that therapeutic recreation was the career choice for , through her weekend exposure to TR at ASCCA
Carmen relates her experiences helping out at the high ropes course during the weekend. To begin their experience, Carmen had to do some role-playing. She took the role of camper in a wheelchair while other counselors and program staff put her through the paces of the high ropes course. This type of exercise helps to assure that the counselors are ready to participate and allows ASCCA to emphasize safety in all activities.
Carmen experienced a slightly uncomfortable experience (her climbing harness may have been a wee bit tight) as she was placed in the hands of other volunteers. They put her safety harness on. They hoisted her up the tower’s traverse line. The traverse zipline puts the rider in a reverse position - you can’t see where you’re going. And, because in this exercise, the counselors were hoisting her up there, she couldn’t control the experience. This is part of the trust and confidence building aspect of high ropes activities. It is also one aspect of what we call “reverse mainstreaming” - where people without disabilities find themselves in the position of someone with a disability. The student is required to be empathetic and consider the viewpoint of our campers.
Carmen was really nice and took it all in stride. She learned - and had a great time, too. We enjoyed having her visit Camp ASCCA. I’ll post the photos of Carmen going through all of this tomorrow. Please watch the interview. The video is 3:16 in length and an 8.7 mb download.
Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA. This way you may keep up with what we’re doing all the time. Join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.
