Successful Transitions: The Over 21 Club Story Parents and their children with special needs often experience a difficult time transitioning from the public school environment to their post school life. This transition can become a time of great opportunity and learning. Seeking out programs that offer this support can be vital to a successful transition. The Over 21 Club programming at R.O.C.K., Ride on Center for Kids began with a pilot program in 2008 in response to the awareness of these challenges. The program seeks to provide a community atmosphere to facilitate building social and communication skills as participants build relationships with their equine and human partners. Participants also work on functional life skills as it relates to their needs as a young adult. Engaging in community programming that continues developing the leisure time skills of these young adults is vital to the quality of life and continued personal growth of these precious individuals. Heidi Derning, TRS/TXC PATH International Registered Instructor
[email protected] Cindy Schwake PATH International Registered Instructor
[email protected] R.O.C.K., Ride On Center for Kids P.O. Box 2422 Georgetown, TX 78627 512‐930‐7625 www.rockride.org
_____________________________________________________________________________________ Heidi Derning and Cindy Schwake Successful Transitions: The Over 21 Club Story R.O.C.K., Ride On Center for Kids, Georgetown, TX 2012 PATH International Conference & Annual Meeting www.rockride.org
Over 21 Club Mission and Basic Schedule Our mission includes the building of recreational skills that these young adults can use as they spend their hours of leisure time. Both the enhancing of social skills and the building of leisure time skills can enhance the quality of life and purpose in these young adults’ lives. In addition, this program can become a bridge which ideally supports and prepares these young adults as they transition to other programs and communities which serve the young adult population. Two Hour Regular Program Example (in order) Meet and Greet: (~ 10 minutes) This activity is simply time set aside for students to meet in one area as they arrive and get oriented to the program at their own pace. They greet other students, volunteers and staff (sometimes with prompting) with their own way of communication i.e. iPads, signing, voicing, etc.. We allow as much time as needed for this part of the program‐ no rushing or watching the clock! Each student is expected to greet at least three other people. One or two early students sometimes act as “official greeters “. Music and Movement: (~ 20 minutes) Need iPod (with portable speaker) or CD Player with Over 21 Club playlist. Favorite Tunes: Footloose, Bohemian Rhapsody, Thriller, Dancing Queen, Windy, Surfin’ USA, Brown Eyed Girl, Billie Jean, We Will Rock You, Hakuna Matata, You’re the One that I want, Bad, I Like To Move It Dancing is done individually or with partners. Students can also pass a ball back and forth between themselves and volunteers. Activities to Support Theme: (~ 50 minutes) (Example of themes: Super Heroes, Olympics, Cooking, Gardening, Arts & Crafts, Photography) Horse Bingo (custom made bingo board with nine squares, each square has photos of tack, grooming tools, and horses): increases eye/hand coordination, facilitates learning names of horses/equipment Uno: builds social skills, new leisure activity Table Soccer: social skills, team work, motor skills Scrapbooking: eye/hand coordination, making choices, communication, fine motor skills Container gardening: eye/hand coordination, making choices, fine motor skills, sensory integration
_____________________________________________________________________________________ Heidi Derning and Cindy Schwake Successful Transitions: The Over 21 Club Story R.O.C.K., Ride On Center for Kids, Georgetown, TX 2012 PATH International Conference & Annual Meeting www.rockride.org
Over 21 Club Mission and Basic Schedule (continued) Horse Activity: (~ 50 minutes) Mounted Activities: ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐
Groom and tack horse with assistance as needed Warm‐up Exercises (music optional) Relays Scavenger Hunt Trail Rides Trail Patterns (music optional)
Non‐Mounted Activities (Ground): ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐
Pulling hay cart Putting hay in feeders Sorting carrots and apples, then placing them in feed bins Grooming pony or miniature horse with adapted brushes Leading mini or pony
Challenges of the Over 21 Club Program Having enough time to fully develop the theme ‐ Nature of this program, slow and steady progress, remember that the socialization and overall joy of this program (quality of life) is in itself accomplishing goals. Engaging all students and working toward each student’s goals in a group setting ‐ Recruit, train, encourage volunteers and staff that LOVE this group. This is the key! Students arriving late or cancelling due to many reasons ‐ Keeping in touch with family members helps with this, but we will always have students that show up late or have to cancel.
_____________________________________________________________________________________ Heidi Derning and Cindy Schwake Successful Transitions: The Over 21 Club Story R.O.C.K., Ride On Center for Kids, Georgetown, TX 2012 PATH International Conference & Annual Meeting www.rockride.org
Over 21 Club (Regular Session) Sample Lesson Plan – Cooking Unit
Time
Activities for Group A Mike, Aaron, Ted
Activities for Group B Susan, Joe
(These students are able to participate in equine mounted activities.)
(These students are not able to participate in equine mounted activities.)
Supplies and Prep Needed
Goals
1:00 – 1:10 pm Meet and Greet: Student shakes the hands of 3 other students and/or volunteers hands and introduces themselves, making eye contact! 1:10 – 1:30 pm Music and movement: Students will dance/move to music.
Same as Group A
Chairs in a circle in the breezeway
Objectives: 1) Give eye contact to 3 people 2) Shake hands with 3 people 3) Sign or say a greeting to at least one person
Same as Group A
MP3 player with portable speaker or CD player
1:30 – 2:10 pm Classroom Activity: Main Activity – Make Julia’s Cool Cake Additional Activities ‐ Have snack (water, goldfish) Play Bingo or Uno, Pass Ball
Same as Group A
Cake ingredients, mixing bowl, measuring cups/spoons, wooden spoon for stirring, make recipe poster board; Snacks, Prizes
2:10 – 3:00 pm Mounted Horse Activity: Shopping Scavenger Hunt (Riding around arena collecting cooking items)
Ground: Ride Sonic (Panasonic mechanical horse), Sort carrots into a container, take carrots over to horse stall and place in feed pans
Apple (cut up), carrots, and applesauce (for horses who can’t have carrots
Objectives: 1) Students will make music choices. 2) Students will increase endurance and flexibility by moving continuously for 3‐5 minutes. Main Activity Goals: 1) Be able to identify key ingredients. 2) Read ingredients on recipe poster. 3) Work as a team to put ingredients into bowl. 4) Mix ingredients together. 5) Pour into cake pan. 6) Susan and Joe will put in oven as partners Additional Activity Goals: 1) Hydrate 2) Learn cooking words 3) Increase eye hand coordination 4) Increase communication skills: choose next week's recipe 1) Increase endurance 2) Increase fine motor skills
Heidi Derning and Cindy Schwake R.O.C.K., Ride On Center for Kids, Georgetown, TX www.rockride.org
Successful Transitions: The Over 21 Club Story 2012 PATH International Conference & Annual Meeting
Over 21 Club (Summer Camp) Sample Lesson Plan – 2012 R.O.C.K. Summer Olympics Monday, July 30 ‐ Practice Opening Ceremonies And Competition
Monday, August 6 Parade of Athletes, Competition, Closing Ceremonies, Awards
Blue Team (classroom): ‐ Overview of schedule ‐ Partner goal interviews ‐ Continue work on torch ‐ Continue work on scrapbook Red Team (arena): ‐ Groom and tack horse ‐ Mounting and warm‐up exercises ‐ Practice relay
Blue Team (classroom): ‐ Overview of schedule ‐ Practiced torch ceremony ‐ Demonstration of Wii game ‐ Continue work on scrapbook Red Team (arena): ‐ Practiced torch ceremony ‐ Groom and tack horse ‐ Mounting and warm‐up exercises ‐ Practice relay
Blue Team (arena): ‐ Groom and tack horse ‐ Mounting and warm‐up exercises ‐ Introduction to English Equitation skills Red Team (classroom): ‐ Puzzles ‐ Basketball ‐ Continue work on scrapbook ‐ Carrot sorting and barn walk
Blue Team (arena): ‐ Groom and tack horse ‐ Mounting and warm‐up exercises ‐ Practice English Equitation skills Red Team (classroom): ‐ Puzzles ‐ Basketball ‐ Continue work on scrapbook ‐ Carrot sorting and barn walk
Blue Team (classroom): ‐ Overview of schedule ‐ Parade of Athletes / Torch lighting ceremony ‐ Wii Fit exercises ‐ Finish scrapbook ‐ Attend Red Team’s Competition Red Team (arena): ‐ Introduction to horses ‐ Parade of Athletes / Torch lighting ceremony ‐ Mounting and warm‐up exercises ‐ Relay Competition ‐ Medal/flag ceremony – Star Spangled Banner Blue Team (arena): ‐ Groom and tack horse ‐ Mounting and warm‐up exercises ‐ English Equitation Competition ‐ Medal/flag ceremony – Star Spangled Banner Red Team (classroom): ‐ Basketball ‐ Finish scrapbook ‐ Attend Blue Team’s Competition
Monday, July 16 ‐ Introduction to Olympics
Monday, July 23 ‐ Prep and Training for Olympics
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Blue Team (classroom): ‐ Overview of schedule ‐ Decorate nametags ‐ Write recreation goals with partner ‐ Work on Olympic torch ‐ Begin scrapbook Red Team (arena): ‐ Introduction to horses ‐ Groom and tack horse ‐ Mounting and warm‐up exercises ‐ Practice relay
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Blue Team (arena): ‐ Review of grooming ‐ Groom and tack horse ‐ Mounting and warm‐up exercises ‐ Review riding skills and ride to music Red Team (classroom): ‐ Puzzles ‐ Decorate Olympic torch ‐ Begin scrapbooks
Time
Summer Camp was split into two teams (Blue and Red) according to level of independence.
Heidi Derning and Cindy Schwake R.O.C.K., Ride On Center for Kids, Georgetown, TX www.rockride.org
Successful Transitions: The Over 21 Club Story 2012 PATH International Conference & Annual Meeting
Over 21 Club Summer Camp 2012 Equine‐Facilitated Growth & Learning Program 2050 Rockride Lane • Post Office Box 2422 • Georgetown, Texas 78627 • (512) 930‐7625 • www.rockride.org
Weekly Progress Report Name of Student:
*Susan Love
Date of Session: 08/06/12
EFL Educator or LMHP: Heidi Derning, TRS/TXC , Cindy Schwake
Volunteers: Clarissa, Shelby
Session : Summer Camp Week 4 Horse: Mancha
Attended? Y/N Yes
Lesson Objective: Susan will increase her physical endurance and usage of her hand during participation in the Over 21 Club Camp Olympic activities. Classroom Activity: 1. Torch Lighting Ceremony 2. Scrapbook Equine Activity: 1. Groom Peggy Sue 2. Lead Peggy Sue Program Goals: Increase communication skills, overall strength/endurance and specific skills related to class and riding activities. 1. Increase effective communication using voice and communication board during both equine and classroom activities. Progress Toward Goal: Susan effectively used her voice and her pathfinder today. She also interacted with other students and volunteers today both in the classroom and during her horsemanship activities. Weekly Progress: [X] positive [ ] neutral [ ] negative 2. Increase endurance and upper body strength while participating in horse feeding and grooming tasks. Progress Toward Goal: Susan brushed Peggy Sue as well as led her without assistance today (once the lead rope was placed in her hand) during competition. Susan’s endurance has definitely increased during the last four weeks, demonstrated by her ability to tolerate the three hours of activities during this program. Weekly Progress: [X] positive [ ] neutral [ ] negative 3. Utilize left hand to participate in equine and classroom activities. Weekly Progress: Susan continued today to use her left hand to communicate while using the pathfinder. She also used her hand to both brush her miniature horse and lead her horse while the lead rope was in her left hand. Weekly Progress: [X] positive
[ ] neutral
[ ] negative
Additional Notes: Susan completed all four days of camp (3 hours each) without having to leave early. This was a big accomplishment for Susan in that she had been in bed prior to the beginning of class for 6 weeks because of Doctor’s orders.
Person completing form: Heidi Derning
Title: Over 21 Club Camp
Signature:
Date: 08/06/12
*The name of the student has been changed for the purpose of privacy.
Heidi Derning and Cindy Schwake R.O.C.K., Ride On Center for Kids, Georgetown, TX www.rockride.org
Successful Transitions: The Over 21 Club Story 2012 PATH International Conference & Annual Meeting