With summer sunshine, many kids are ready to shake off and out of the classroom and clinic to move, explore and play outside – and make new friends! A number of DIR®/Floortime clinics and programs offer just that! But don’t wait – enrollment is limited and filling up fast.

Here are a sample of summer DIR® programs, spanning the states and abroad:

AUSTRALIA

• Kids play in Australia!  Kids World Pediatric Occupational Therapy Center in Lane Cove, Sydney, Australia, is offering DIR® small play groups focusing on regulation and spontaneous social interaction with adults supports.  Sessions are 7/7-7/11 and 7/14-7/18.  Phone: Georgina Ahrens at 02-9418-9995 or on line at georgina@kidsworldtherapy.com.au 

CALIFORNIA

• Harnessing the power of relationship to inspire and grow, the Oak Hill School Summer Day Program offers a unique therapeutic summer program for children and teens with autism and other developmental differences and their siblings, in Marin County, CA. Summer fun and recreation are offered at two sites. Walker Ranch features swimming, canoeing, hiking, barnyard animals, organic gardening, a challenge course, games and crafts and lots of room to run and explore.  Oak Hill School offers farm day, games and activities, creative arts, music and dance, festive theme days and fun learning activities, plus two field trips each week. Weekdays, 6/30 through 8/1.  Contact: www.theoakhillschool.org or (415) 331-7601.
• Find your child’s star quality at a “Summer Theater Workshop” sponsored by Pasadena Child Development Associates Inc, in Pasadena, CA, with Diane Cullinane, M.D., Director and Felicie Standley, Workshop Coordinator. Children ages 7-13 years old will be introduced and involved in theater workshop activities including: costuming, makeup, singing, acting, and dancing. Using a DIR®/Floortime approach, the Summer Theater Workshop offers a great opportunity for children with special needs to improve social-emotional growth through supported peer interactions and team building. Working together children enjoy creative expression to support higher levels of symbolic thinking and action.  Children will work together to create and present a special performance on the last day of the workshop. Session 1: 7/7-7/18/08; Session 2: 7/21-8/1/08. Hours are 9am-noon. Contact Felicie Standley at (626) 793-7350, x 257 for more information.

GEORGIA

• Outdoor adventures are featured at Learning on the Log – Sensory Based Floortime Summer Program for Exceptional Children Atlanta, GA.  Armann Fenger and friends are offering traditional summer camp activities, including hiking, gymnastics, canoeing, rafting, swimming, arts and crafts, group games and music for children ages 6-12.  The focus in on using Floortime based movement, and sensory-motor activities to promote your child’s self-esteem, individual growth and build relationships with peers and facilitating adults.  They offer a low child-to-adult ratio ranging from 1:1 to 5:1, depending upon individual need.  8 weekly sessions, begin the week of 6/9 and ends 8/7, Monday through Thursday, 10 am to 3 pm. Go to www.learningonthelog.com or contact Armann Fenger at (404) 579-3048.
• Social Thinking Groups for elementary age children, ages 5-10, will be featured at Blackstone Centre in Atlanta, GA. Children will be provided with opportunities for child-directed interaction, problem-solving, semi-structured cooperative games and projects with adult supports. Children will gain a new understanding of themselves and their feelings, and identify with the feelings of others. Utilizing DIR® Floortime principles in a small group format will foster a foundation that will facilitate each child’s growth in engagement, cognition and interaction with peers through play.  Groups will be meeting in June and July.  Contact: Julie Carnes at (404) 329-5020 or at j_carnes@bellsouth.net; or Shelly Marcus at (770) 335-4200 or at shelleymarcus@yahoo.com.

ILLINOIS

• Community outings keep the kids active and engaged at AZMC Community Summer Camp in Libertyville and Northfield, IL.  They offer a therapeutically dynamic experience for children ages 4-9, to explore and grow socially and emotionally beyond the clinic setting. Bridging the clinic experience to activities in the community campers will visit a new setting each week and explore new experiences.  These include rock climbing, hiking, biking, bowling, swimming, boating and miniature golfing.  Each child will receive a trophy and a picture book with stories and highlights from the summer.  There will be two 4-week sessions, 6/16-7/10 and 7/14-8/7. Enrollment is limited.  For more information contact Camp Director, Megan Carrick, OTR:  megan@amyzier.com or (847) 573-9236, x 13.
• Summer Floortime playgroups abound at Beth Osten and Associates Occupational Therapy clinic in Skokie, IL.  Their Floortime-based groups include the Penguin and Puffin groups, plus a Parent/Tot Messy Art group.  Call (847) 663-1020.
• Club 4 KIDZ offers a summer “Peer Buddies” experience that aims to help children form successful social interactions and peer relationships through play.  What makes this program unique is that each therapist will support the growth of peer relationships, while fostering social-emotional development, self-esteem and communication. Functional developmental levels of each child will help determine the placement and size of the group that will best facilitate peer interactions, learning and enjoyment.  Peer Buddies provides children with the opportunity to engage in play activities with peers that result in positive and robust outcomes.  Northbrook, IL. Contact:  Alyssa Kligman at (847)480-8890, ext. 21, or allyssaslp@cawn-krantz.com.
• Kids take to the arts and the stage at Leepforward, a unique children’s art and theater camp in Chicago, IL. Lorell Marin has partnered with Kids Project Outreach Program of Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble to create a fresh opportunity for kids with an ASD to learn and practice basics social skills through the creative arts, including dance, movement and art.  Utilizing DIR® and Floortime principles the kids will enjoy a safe supportive and fun environment adapted to their individual specific needs. Individually, each child will be able to explore their untapped talents and abilities to perform theatrically while gaining more comfort with essential life/social skills.  As a small group, they will work together to participate in creating and preparing their own performance, which will culminate with a performance at the end of camp at a local theater. The session runs 7/17-8/7, with a maximum of 6-8 children with 3-4 adults.  Contact Lorell Marin (773) 255-8155 or on-line at leepforward1@aol.com.

NEW JERSEY

• Celebrate summer at Celebrate the Children, (CTC) with Monica Osgood and Lauren Blaszak, at CTC’s “Developmental Summer Camp,” in Budd Lake and Stanhope, New Jersey.  Children ages 3-18 are provided with a real summer camp adventure, with arts and crafts, outdoor water play, music, dancing and more, in an inclusive playful atmosphere with “typical” peers.  The program weaves in DIR®/Floortime supports to help each child develop better social skills, communication, motor skills and self-regulation. CTC offers two programs. Older children meet at their Budd Lake Center; younger children will attend camp at the main CTC School in Byram. The dates are 7/9-8/5/08, 9 am to 1 pm.  For more information call:  973-448-7529 or www.ctccenter.com.
  

OREGON

• Kid fun is what it is all about at Rosemary White’s Pediatric PT and OT Services in Seattle, WA, and Pacific NW Pediatric Therapy in Portland, OR.  Both locations feature a four-week DIR®/Floortime Summer Camp for children, ages 3-9.   The goal of this specialized Floortime summer camp program is for children to experience fun and growth in the context of small group peer play.   Interventions are individually tailored to promote each child’s functional social and emotional development. The camp features a semi-structured three-hour day, with an emphasis on spontaneous “free play,” inside and out. Trained staff will facilitate peer engagement, new friendships and playful interaction, using the DIR®/Floortime approach. Parents meet weekly with staff to learn more about Floortime and how parents can enjoy this model with their child at home.   In Seattle, both morning and afternoon camps are available starting 7/21 through 8/15/08. Contact Pediatric PT and OT Services: 206-367-5853 or www.pedptot.com.  The Portland office offers morning sessions, start from 6/24 to 7/17. Contact Pacific NW Pediatric Therapy: 503-232-3955 or pnpt1@comcast.net.

VIRGINIA

• Camp WeeWanna in Arlington, VA, sponsored by Occupational Therapist Myania Moses and Associates invites your child to participate in play, crafts, music and merry-making at their developmental summer camp! Camp WeeWanna is appropriate for children ages 4-6 with difficulties processing sensory information, delayed gross or fine motor skills, communication challenges, and children who need more peer interaction with adult supervision. Kids enjoy crafts, music, free play, outdoors and indoors and sensory play stations and motor skill building activities to help learn self-regulation skills and how to play with others.  Staff to camper ratio is 1:3.  Sessions run 6/23-6/26 and 6/30-7/3. Call: (703) 533-8870, or go to: www.myaniamoses.com
  

WASHINGTON STATE

• Kid fun is what it is all about at Rosemary White’s Pediatric PT and OT Services in Seattle, WA, and Pacific NW Pediatric Therapy in Portland, OR.  Both locations feature a four-week DIR®/Floortime Summer Camp for children, ages 3-9.   The goal of this specialized Floortime summer camp program is for children to experience fun and growth in the context of small group peer play.   Interventions are individually tailored to promote each child’s functional social and emotional development. The camp features a semi-structured three-hour day, with an emphasis on spontaneous “free play,” inside and out. Trained staff will facilitate peer engagement, new friendships and playful interaction, using the DIR®/Floortime approach. Parents meet weekly with staff to learn more about Floortime and how parents can enjoy this model with their child at home.   In Seattle, both morning and afternoon camps are available starting 7/21 through 8/15/08. Contact Pediatric PT and OT Services: 206-367-5853 or www.pedptot.com.  The Portland office offers morning sessions, start from 6/24 to 7/17. Contact Pacific NW Pediatric Therapy: 503-232-3955 or pnpt1@comcast.net.

Have a great Floortime summer!