The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-07-06
Camp Easter Seal Is Specialized
Camp To Help Crippled Children

b tensive therapy which has been
I found to be equivalent to a
I years work in q out-patlent
I clinic.
Therapy Important
| Physical therapy is concerned
primarily with helping the child
| to learn to walk through the use
of exercises, braces or artificial
limbs. and clutches. Last year,
| for example, one 13-yearold
cerebral palSied girl walked for
the first time from the therapy
building OF her cabin with the
aid Of a counselor about the
distarce of a city block. Such
accomplishments are announced
i'll the dining hall and arc APP
plauded heartily by campers,
couiselors. and staff alike.
/ Occlpational therapy. which
deals with activities of daily
living such as feeding. dressing,
and tipping. is offered in con-
junction with arts and crafts. III
arts and crafts the children
learn to make = thing out
OF leather, wood, clay and pap
err mache. Besides learning to
coordinate and strengthen their
muscles, they also have the sat
isfaction of seeing thing which
they themselves have made or
helped to make and the expert
ence Of cooperating with 9TH
ers in a. common endeavor. OPP
| pOrtunities which are frequent
| IL denied the handicapped.
Swimming is usually the ia
vorite activity of the children at
Camp Easter Seal, Just as it is
at any other summer camp. Be
sides being great fun, it is an
Invaluable aid to muscular CO.
ordination and relaxation, 1t
also HEIRS to build self CON
fidence. At the end of the first
threeWeek session of camp last
year, is children had made def
mite progress in learning how to
swim. Other recreational activ-
tiles include nature study. boat
ing. baseball. croquet. pony rid
ing. quiz contest. and masquer-
ade parties. all activities are
carefully supervised by staff
members and counselors, and
each child is mdae to feel that
he is a part Of the group and
sharing in the fun even though
he may be unable to be an act
ual participant in every event.
$4,000 Operation
The nine weeks of camp are
divided into three sessions of
three weeks each, and most of
the campers say only one SEES
sion. The cost ascending a child
to camp is usually borne joint
| ~ by the Virginia Society for
Crippled Children and adults.
which operates the camp as one
of its % centers and services,
and a local civic organization
which provides a "campership.
Last summer it cost about $50
900 to run the camp for nine
weeks.
All types of disabilities are
represented at Camp Easter
Seal Last year there were 70
| campers with cerebral palsy, 81
! with polio, IS with speech and
hearing disorders. 25 with gen
eral orthopedic conditions. eight
with epilepsy. five with cardiac
conditions. three with muscular
ulSCfopny, ana 70 with INSECT
laneous disabilities.
Each afternoon Just before the
evening meal the campers.
counselors, and staff gather
while the flag is slowly lowered.
After supper there are usually
informal games until seven
when the group assemblies for
an evening program followed by
vespers. About a half hour later
the campers return TO their
cabins. Soon the lights are turn
ed cut. and the sound of crickets
replaces the happy noise of
children. Another day is over at
Camp Easter Seal.