During the final two weeks of June, our therapists had the pleasure to provide Virtual Camp services to some of our wonderful clients.  At Eyas Landing, we are committed to adhering to the Illinois state guidelines to ensure safety and best practice.  When we determined that in-person camp would not be feasible during this two-week period, our committed therapists sprang into action to adapt our camps to the virtual format. 

Virtual camp started with our Zones of Regulation Camp, which ran from June 22nd to June 26th.  Children participated in three 30-minute rotations, spending each rotation with a different therapy discipline (occupational therapy, speech therapy, and social work). Each therapist taught a different lesson from the Zones of Regulation curriculum, assisting the children in navigating their thoughts and feelings.  The Zones of Regulation curriculum is a wonderful way to allow children to acquire a better understanding of their feelings, and also provides valuable tools to utilize when “in the red zone.”  These lessons also addressed the Size of the Problem, allowing the children to figure out if they are having an appropriately sized reaction to whatever problem they are facing. 

Our second week of virtual camp continued with Social Skills Camp, running from June 29th to July 2nd.  Again, the kiddos participated in three 30-minute rotations, with each day focusing on a different social theme, including Whole Body Listening, Taking Turns, Think With Your Eyes, and Thinking Thoughts and Feeling Feelings.  Each session provided the children with valuable lessons in social reciprocity as well as appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication.  The children learned about Whole Body Listening, a lesson which teaches individuals to use different areas of the body to focus on, and listen to, what is being said.  For example, our friends understand that we are listening when we have a quiet mouth, our eyes are looking at them, our brain is thinking about them, and our hearts care about what is being said.  The Think With Your Eyes lesson taught the children how to understand what others are thinking about by noticing where they are looking.  Thinking Thoughts and Feeling Feelings is a lesson that solidified all areas taught throughout the week, further exploring and validating the children’s feelings, understanding that it is “okay” to feel many different feelings.  

Throughout the week, the therapists were able to see the children’s social skills continue to bloom through the use of role play, turn taking games, and emotional regulation techniques.  We are so happy that this camp was such a wonderful success and will continue to navigate the world of virtual services! 

Learn more about our therapeutic camps here. We’re still accepting new campers!