Camping!

Happy April 30th!

So, now that the weather is soon to be getting nice, my mind is wondering to the outdoors and camping. I love camping and being out in the woods surrounded by God's wonders. But what about people who have to move around in a wheelchair? What do campsites have for them?
http://www.smart-camping-guide.com/camping-for-disabled.html
This website hit on exactly what I was thinking. :}
I found out that there are many campgrounds that now offer wheelchair amenities such as flat sites and assessable wash rooms and restrooms.

This was a tent that the website gave as an example of an assessable tent. This is a two person tent.

This fun little logo is for a camping club that originates in the UK. Carefree is the club's international organization that has sites in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa, and Southern Africa.

http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/ 

The Club (as this organization calls themselves) assures that they are committed to accessibility. They have an ongoing program of improvements so that all Club sites are accessible.

This organization provides year-round recreational activities for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

In 1961 the organization known as Camping Unlimited became a tax-exempt corporation and in 1965, forty-five acres were purchased in the Santa Curz Mountains near Boulder Creek as a camp site. In the beginning, the camp was simply platforms with tents. Over the years with the help of volunteers and donations "Camp Krem" has been steadily improved with buildings, a paved road, hiking trails, and a large swimming pool specially adapted for use by the disabled. See the facilities section of the web site for a closer look.

Surrounded by towering redwoods and located in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains near the town of Boulder Creek, Camp Krem is 20 minutes from the Pacific Ocean, and two hours from San Francisco.

Camp Krem has ten rustic cabins, an arts and crafts center, specially designed swimming pool, campfire arena, a playground, miles of hiking trails and outdoor camping areas. Also on site is a dining/multi-activities center, and modern infirmary.

Woodlarks Camp Site Trust

www.woodlarks.org.uk

Here people discover unknown skills and abilities, have adventures and make new friends in an environment designed to meet their individual needs.

For equipment that one might want to bring while camping Adaptive hunting, fishing, and camping website (http://www.adaptiveoutdoorsman.com/) seemed to have some good information!

Well, I'm excited about camping and what is out there so that everyone can enjoy the great outdoors.

<3

Sarah

Who ya? NO, hula!! Huh? HULAHOOP!

Happy April 27th!

Who loves to hulahoop?! I DO!!!!

When I first heard that Ali was coming to give a presentation on hulahooping, I was very excited! I've seen her hooping before, and I was always amazed at her ability to walk around and act as though she was just standing around without a hoop rotating around her waist. However, I got even more excited when our class was told that we were going to be making our very own hulahoops!!! I had talked to Ali before about her hoops that she's made, but I couldn't believe how easy it truly is to make!

 The only three items that you need to make your own hula hoop are irrigation tubing (3/4 of an inch to an inch), connectors for the tubing, and as much duct tape as you desire for decoration.

Before the class started making our own hula hoops, Ali spoke about her love of hooping and the benefits. Hooping can be a great cardio workout and build your core and back muscles. If you incorporate your hands and arms, it will also tone them too! Ali really focused on the spiritual benefits of hooping and being intuitive to your mind, body, and soul. Although that is not something that I really support, I do believe that hooping can be a relaxing, repetitive action that can calm a person internally and help him or her to clear the mind in order to talk with God.

There are many exercise videos and classes that incorporate or revolve around (no pun intended) hulahooping. Some websites for hooping are Hoopnotica (http://www.hoopnotica.com/), Hooping.org (http://www.hooping.org/) which is a community of and for hooping, Hula Hooping (http://www.hulahooping.com/) has a lot of neat facts, Sports Hula Hoops (http://www.sports-hoop.com/), Body Hoops (http://www.bodyhoops.com/?gclid=CIvisIuovqgCFQbCKgodaFTbrA), and SO many others!

Ali also talked a little bit about HulaDance. I loaded some videos right on the blog that you can look at and see how awesome it really is! AND who said that you can only stand still or walk with a hoop? Check out Betty and what she does! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7oERD0HPPw&NR=1)

Ali said that she had a passion for women and improving self-esteem, so she really would like to work in corrections with women who are coming back from being incarcerated to the community and their children. She also suggested working with veterans and their families. I found a video of a young woman who went to New York City after 9/11 to help children, at-risk-youth, and those with PTSD (also loaded on the page). Hula Hooping can be a very effective therapy and of great use in Therapeutic Recreation. Making the hoops themselves can be a great part of the fun!

~Sarah

Hoop warriors

Jams - Hooping to Imogen

Hula Hoop Dancer - Lisa Lottie (song: Gotam Project - Diferente)

Paper tubes are used for more than just being eaten by gerbils?

Those are paper tubes?

;]

 Need a chair for your doll?

 So pretty..

 This is INSANE!!! (well insanely awesome!)

 Can you name them all?

 Need some Easter fun?

Now that's one cheap trash can

This is pretty awesome! I'm always and constantly surprised to see what people are able to find to create amazing, fun, and useful pieces of art. I love recycling or reusing and this is a perfect way to do so! I love this type of craft because there is nothing harmful or toxic when using and working with paper tubes (unless you get a paper cut!). This is one craft activity that I believe almost all populations can use for self expression, fine motor exercise, laughter therapy, some just plain recreation time, or so many others!

I would love to try this too!!

~Sarah

Toothpicks?

WOW!

WOW! That was my first thought. Who would have thought to create such masterpieces with a silly little thing like a toothpick? This gave me the idea of many different projects that a TRS would be able to do for a creative activity or challenge. It could be done individually or as a group. The activity could be to just be creative like the star and the little cities, or it could be something useful or that has a purpose like the lampshade or boat.
Safety precautions would have to be thought of though when working with small children, those with delicate skin, people within a corrections unit, some people who have cognitive disabilities, and some youth-at-risk. One adaptation could be to use wooden doles, cut the sharp ends off the toothpicks, or maybe even use pretzels instead!

To get some populations more involved or interested, one could use colored toothpicks too!

Just some fun crafty ideas!

~Sarah