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About Camp Kentwood Children have many needs… love, understanding, a sense of belonging, and achievement. Unfortunately, there are many children who do not experience this positive cycle, and therefore cannot adjust to family, school, and/or society’s demands. These children, despite their intelligence, march to the beat of a different drummer. Kentwood Summer Camp Programs are designed specifically for these children and adolescents. All Kentwood programs are Co-ed and are comprised of weekly sessions. - Summer Camp (K through 7th) - Young Adult Camp (7th to 12th Grade) - CIT / JR Counselor Programs (8th Grade and above) - Overnight Summer Camp (All Ages) Kentwood summer programs offer a special experience. Our goal is to build confidence in campers as they grow to organize their world and build positive relationships with peers. Our program and staff help campers develop respect for rules and authority figures (including family), exercise sound judgment, take responsibility for their actions, and have fun. Who are our campers? No two children are the same. Every child is a person and every person has their own unique set of skills and deficits. Some of our children have been diagnosed / misdiagnosed with ADHD, Aspergers, Autism, Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities, or related diagnoses. Many of our campers do not have a diagnosis; they simply prefer a smaller, safer, and more structured camp environment. Our campers have some or all of the following characteristics. They:
Who We Are The Kentwood Summer Camp Program is a branch of Kentwood Preparatory School, a leading program catering toward children, adolescents, and their families who are not being successful in the traditional school environments, socially, and/or at home. The camp staff is comprised of the same multidisciplinary team who service our full time program during the school year. These specialists have been trained by our administrative team in the Kentwood Preparatory Approach. This means we ensure a fun summer and also understand the year round system the camper must adhere to. Our camp program, therefore, teaches life skills and life management techniques for the camper to integrate back into the home, family, and school. Counselor Guided Activities Our guided activities, based around a unique theme each summer, focus on innovative life management programs. Each camper receives individual assistance and instruction within a group framework. These activities teach the camper to gain self worth, take on responsibility, follow instructions, develop organization skills, control impulsivity, adhere to social norms, and of equal importance – HAVE FUN!
Art We encourage campers to use the most important art tool that they have to create great art – their imagination. The campers make art they can hang, they can wear, they can give as gifts, and art that shows off their name and who they are. They will even use food items to create edible masterpieces. A special art project is done every week to accompany the weekly theme. Each group has a scheduled art activity at least twice a week.
Information Technology Campers visit our state-of-the-art computer lab several times each week. During IT, campers perform various tasks and are assigned activities including:
Each camp room is also equipped with computers allowing students to continue their computer based projects when the lab is in use. Music Incorporates the popularity of the latest games including Rock Band, Guitar Hero, karaoke, and music videos. Campers are also given an opportunity to showcase their individual skills during talent contests throughout camp. Campers are introduced to various genres of music beginning with 50’s 60’s and ending with modern Rock and Rap. Each week at Color War, different music is played in accordance with the theme. We end the summer with individual cabins performing camp songs which they wrote. Sports Sports and activities focus on teaching the camper to be a part of a group, wait and take turns, and learn the effect that one person can have on a whole team (as is the foundation to being a member of a family, a neighbor, or a student in the classroom). In addition to working on sequencing skills, organizational skills, and memory skills, sports and activities programs teach campers good social judgment, how to follow directions, and to pay attention. The campers have scheduled P.E. sessions throughout the week, as well as, some sort of physical activity every day. These sessions are held both indoors and outdoors. During P.E. time, campers play traditional team sports such as basketball, kickball, dodge ball, volleyball, soccer, or hockey (always a favorite) or new games created by the counselors designed to remove the advantage of experience campers have and give every camper a chance to succeed. Our sports program is designed to promote:
Science and Invention These sessions tap into the campers’ natural curiosities of exploring life’s mysteries while having fun. Campers focus on nature, magic tricks, kitchen chemistry, and physics. Example activities include blowing up a balloon with every day items from the kitchen (baking soda and vinegar), making silly putty a.k.a. goop, cultivating a butterfly garden, and developing photographs using the sun. Games The campers play a variety of board games, computer games, card games, educational games, guessing games, logic games, lawn games, and table top games. Some of these games are commercial and some are created by our counselors. These games are chosen to:
Swimming Campers swim several times per week at a local pool, beach, or water theme park. ** All campers are swim-tested the first day the camper attends swimming ** Campers enjoy free swim time while monitored by certified lifeguards as well as our counselors. Camp War Competitions Each camper is assigned to one of two teams (Blue Sharks or Green Gators). Campers will remain on their team for the duration of summer camp. Semi-weekly, the campers gather, divide into their teams, and compete against each other (and sometimes even against counselors!) in a myriad of unique games including:
Campers have opportunities to earn points for their team every day through competition, sportsmanship, effort, and team spirit. Counselors keep a visual running score for each team in their camp room allowing campers to track their team’s progress. In Color War, the activities are designed to help campers learn:
Field trips Field trips are used as an opportunity to exercise social skills, make friends, and practice following directions. Field trips may include:
Young Adult
Summer Experience Through the intensity of the experience, level of personal challenge, and level of accountability, the program encourages individuals and groups to brainstorm, plan, take risks, and support one another. Participants are exposed to concepts such as collaboration, empowerment, trust, cooperation, acceptance, and personal growth. Activities during the program include: Organized Sports o Kickball o Dodge ball o Basketball o Volleyball o Wrestling o Archery o Floor Hockey
Arts and Crafts o Woodworking o Models o Painting o Designing
Field Trips o Snorkeling o Scuba (optional), o Ropes course o Professional Sports Games o Rock Climbing o Laser Tag o Driving Range o Swamp Buggy o Go Karts o Rapids o Canoeing o Boating, o Horseback riding o Water skiing / Hydro sliding o Beaching o Biking o Fishing
These activities also serve as a constructive forum where communication is enhanced, and participants are able to learn more about themselves and each other. This is an experiential education program. Through the intensity of the experience, level of personal challenge, and level of accountability, the program encourages individuals and groups to brainstorm, plan, take risks, and support one another. Participants are exposed to concepts such as collaboration, empowerment, trust, cooperation, acceptance, and personal growth. The program is designed to allow participants to focus on their strengths and weaknesses in order to enhance their performance. Activities allow counselors to address issues such as team building, communication, problem solving, decision making, leadership, conflict resolution and many other skills. Participants will also be taught preparation, organization, and utilization tools and strategies. Participants will learn how to plan/pack for activities, how to stay on track and schedule, and how to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan and strategy (for future benefits). While each camper has different needs, possible benefits and outcomes include:
Camp Kentwood has an exciting overnight program. It also represents a milestone for many campers including: · First time away from home without family · Experience living in a community, sharing, caring, and respecting · Formation of lifelong bonds and friendships · Learning to be more independent, mature, and self confident
Campers stay in clean, spacious, air conditioned rooms - helping to provide an atmosphere conducive to comfort, forming friendships, and learning. Campers attending Overnight Camp receive all the benefits from the day camp programs plus a whole set of additional skills including:
Evening activities (from BBQ at the beach to Movies and the mall) provide a summer full of fun. The camp culminates with an overnight trip to Disney World or Bush Gardens. **Overnight Camp includes enrollment in any one of Kentwood’s summer day programs **Nutritious menus are planned and special dietary considerations are available.
CIT This program is specifically geared towards young teenagers / adolescents and is designed to teach maturity, responsibility, leadership, and independence. Instead of being a camper, the youth is assigned to a camp group as an assistant to the Teacher/Head Counselors. As an assistant, they are given a variety of responsibilities and duties. Counselors in Training are monitored daily by the staff members and receive a score based on performance, reliability, and efficiency. The scores then translate into a base salary that is actually paid to the campers at the end of each week. It is the first time that many of our campers experience working and earning money. This program instills a sense of pride and achievement, which becomes one of the many foundation blocks for lifelong success. Jr. Counselor Program This program is only open to campers who have spent at least one year as a counselor in training. Jr. Counselors must apply for the position through the Camp Director or Coordinator. Jr. Counselors are paid an hourly wage and are expected to conduct themselves as any full time staff member would. They are held to the same high expectations and accountability as our professional staff.
Skills Learned in our System
Kentwood feels most children and adolescents should be given the opportunity to enjoy their summer without schoolwork. However many children and adolescents need to enroll in summer school or have tutoring. They:
Kentwood Summer School and Tutoring program offers a wide array of services to accommodate every camper / student’s needs. Full Day Summer School Summer school students attend summer school from 8:30 to 3:30 every day. This program is designed for students who are trying to earn credits or make up work they have missed during the year. Half Day Summer School Students attend either morning sessions or afternoon sessions. This program caters to students who do not need the amount of credits, makeup work, or intensity of the full day summer program. These students have the option of attending one of the Summer Camp programs either in the morning or the afternoon. Tutoring For students needing or desiring tutoring in specific core subjects, individualized programs are available during the summer. Through individualized tutoring, campers can gain a competitive edge, fill in the missing gaps, or even reinforce concepts already learned. Tutoring also allows the campers to participate in Summer camp, providing the best of both worlds - academics and fun.
Transport Kentwood offers transport within a 20 mile radius of each campus. Pick up points and door to door services are available. If a student lives outside of the 20 mile radius, special arrangements can be made through the camp.
Uniforms Kentwood requires campers to wear Kentwood camp shirts on all field trips. Kentwood’s summer camp uniforms are purchased through a uniform store in the local area.
Hours - Monday through Friday Pre Care – 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Camp Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Afternoon Program: 2:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Aftercare Program Parents needing to pick up their children late in the afternoon may enroll them in the Aftercare Program. Campers will be monitored as they participate in activities and games. Additional Aftercare Field Trips are also offered twice a week, to such places as the movies, laser tag, bowling alleys, arcades, etc.
Lunches & Snacks Catered lunches are available. Lunches can be purchased by the day or by month. Students are also welcome to bring their own lunches. All students have a mid morning break (10 to 15 minutes). We encourage students to pack a snack which they may eat at this time.
Medications Kentwood will ONLY dispense/administer medications provided there is a signed note or a copy of a prescription from a licensed Medical Doctor.
Therapy & Counseling Kentwood works closely with Music, Occupational, Speech, Language, Cognitive, Individual, and Family therapists throughout the area. Therapists and Doctors who have applied for and received visitation privileges at Kentwood may see students on campus during the day, before school, or after school
Admission Process The majority of children / adolescents who attend our summer camp are either enrolled in our year round program or have applied for admission for the following school year - therefore they have gone through the admissions process. Campers who do not go through the admissions process as described below are accepted to summer camp on a trial basis.
This process consists of:
If student is accepted to Kentwood, the admission process moves to the finance department.
Kentwood will also assist families in finding an appropriate school / camp placement if their child is not accepted.
Financial Admission Process Parents who cannot afford full tuition must: · Fill out scholarship request / financial aid forms · Provide all required documentation (Tax returns, Personal Financial Statements)
Kentwood Summer Camps provide children and adolescents with a safe and nurturing environment. Campers are free to discover their identities, develop self-esteem, earn self respect, learn how to lead, know when to follow, make friends and HAVE FUN.
When campers return home they are more caring, understand the importance of giving, are better equipped to stand up for what they know is right, and are willing to be more responsible. These qualities insure individual success, instill happiness, build successful nations, and promote civil and compassionate societies.
See you at Camp Kentwood!!! |
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Kentwood Preparatory School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Read More.
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