Consultation * Adaptation * Rehabilitation * Education
Therapeutic Recreation
Therapeutic Recreation for children with disabilities provides many benefits including; cardiovascular fitness, and improved strength, balance, coordination, and muscle control. It also can improve self esteem, provide an opportunity to gain socialization skills and encourage fair play and sportsmanship. CARE’s goal is to provide fun activities, promote life-long fitness, and provide a creative and rewarding extension of traditional therapy services.
CARE offers different recreation programs monthly; please see the
CARE Kid News for more up-to-date information.
Some of CARE’s Therapeutic Recreation Programs:
Holiday Valley Ski Clinic
The adaptive ski clinic is held each year with instructors from Holiday Valley’s Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program, a chapter of Disabled Sports/USA. Certified volunteer instructors provide expert coaching and instruction to children of varying abilities. The Lounsbury Program also provides a wide range of adaptive equipment to meet the needs of participants. The Rotary Club of Port Allegany sponsors this annual event.
Lady Panther Basketball Mini-Camp
The University of Pittsburgh Bradford Lady Panthers sponsor an annual basketball mini camp at the Pitt Bradford Sports and Fitness Center. The Pitt Bradford Lady Panthers coaching staff and members of the Lady Panthers basketball team work with CARE kids on dribbling, shooting and passing. Each child attending the camp receives a t-shirt and basketball. Kids and family members are treated to lunch with the Lady Panthers following the camp. The Bradford Rotary Club, the Pitt Bradford Lady Panther’s Basketball Team and the University of Pittsburgh Bradford sponsor this event.
CARE/YMCA Day Camp
The Orak Grotto’s Annual Tag Days sponsors a week-long day camp at the Bradford Family YMCA for children with developmental and physical disabilities. During day camp CARE kids participate in inclusive activities with fellow YMCA day campers including games, crafts, and activities as well as therapeutic programming including Aquabilities (adaptive swimming), gross motor sessions, and field trips.
Team Jeep Trail Rides
The annual trail ride is hosted by the Elk Lick Trail Association (ELTA). ELTA maintains little traveled pathways through the Elk Lick Boy Scout Reserve. CARE kids with mobility limitations and/or that receive physical therapy services from CARE and their families are treated to a fun and exciting ride. All the members of ELTA are certified Jeep Drivers. The Rotary Club of Smethport sponsors lunch in the lodge.
Aquabilities
Aquabilities is an adaptive aquatics program which allows children (age 6 months to 21 years of age) to participate in pool recreation and therapy. Directed by a therapist and swimming instructor, Aquabilities is held at the YMCA and Pitt-Bradford during CARE Kid Fitness sessions and independently throughout the year.
Pine Acres Adaptive Golf Outing
CARE hosts an annual adaptive golf clinic at Pine Acres Country Club in the summer. Kids receive professional instruction on the driving range, putting greens, and then play a hole on the course. The outing is sponsored by Pine Acres. Lunch follows the outing and is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bradford.
Elusive Riders Program
Elusive Riders is a summer horseback riding program that provides disabled horseback riding for children with disabilities. The program is run in conjunction with the McKean County 4-H Club and CARE sponsors a staff physical therapist as an instructor for the program.
Halloween Party
The CARE for Children staff hosts a Halloween Party for CARE kids and their siblings at the Masonic Lodge in Bradford. Kids dress in their costumes, play games, dance, try some tricks and get some treats. This annual event is sponsored by the Bradford Rotary Club and the Orak Grotto.
Fine Arts and Crafts
CARE routinely sponsors activities that focus on fine motor skills including a photography class and exhibit; arts and crafts nights; water color classes; and build-a-friend where the children constructed their own teddy bears.
CARE Kid Cooking
Cooking has great therapeutic components for kids to work on their hand-eye coordination, life skills abilities and other cognitive skills.The occupational therapy staff at CARE picks kid friendly recipes, gathers the ingredients, and puts together fun activities for CARE cooking classes. Kids have made gourmet mini pizzas, corn dogs on a stick, “dirt” cups, cinnamon twists, trail mix smoothies, and holiday cookies. The cooking classes also feature tips for kitchen safety, kitchen hygiene and a basic introduction to reading a recipe.
Mighty Blaze Sled Hockey and Skate Nights
CARE hosts hockey and skate nights during the winter months at the Callahan Park Ice Rink in Bradford. Sleds and gliders may be borrowed by families with children with mobility limitations at any time through the equipment loan program.
Thank you to the following Sled & Skate Sponsors:
Ice Sleds
American Legion Post #108 (2001) 3 Sleds
McKean County Shrine Club(2001) 3 Sleds
Blaisdell Foundation(2001)
Ed Kuser, in memory of his wife Alice Kuser(2001)
Hoagies, Ellicottville, New York(2002)
In Memory of Donald B. Shaw (2002)
Larry McClanahan, in Honor of his Son, Michael(2002)
Kinzua Outdoors Fishing Tournament, Tom Means Director (2003)
Port Allegany Rotary Club (2003)
Ice Gliders (2)
Kinzua Outdoors Fishing Tournament, Tom Means Director (2007)
Ice Time
City of Bradford
Chip Comilla, Parks Director
Other Recreation Clinics
CARE's routinely holds clinics with volunteer support that provide an introduction to adaptive sports and recreation. Including adaptive bowling, karate kids, adaptive baseball, t-ball, and volleyball.
Respite
Respite is considered a “gift of time” for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities. CARE parents are able to bring their children to events and activities and be assured that qualified staff members are watching and playing with their children.
CARE Kid Fitness
Thanks in part to funding from HIGHMARK Blue Cross Blue Shield; CARE began offering a fitness program for children in June 2007. CARE Kid Fitness is geared for children ages 5 to 16 years old with disabilities, special health care needs and/ or at risk for obesity.
CARE Kid Fitness is a gym and swim program designed to promote lifelong health and fitness, combat childhood obesity, increase the self-esteem of participants, offer respite for the parents and caregivers and build an inclusive community.
Gym sessions are led by CARE physical therapists and community volunteers and the Aquabilities therapeutic swim sessions are led by a CARE staff member and/or a swim instructor. CARE partners with the physical education staff at the elementary schools in Bradford to offer adaptive PE classes to promote physical activity and fitness for children with disabilities.
CARE for Children has a limited number of camperships (camp scholarships) available for summer camp for children with disabilities. In the past CARE has provided scholarships for kids to attend summer camp at Camp Penn York, Camp JJ, the Woodlands, and camps that address specific conditions and disabilities. Camperships are limited to children receiving therapy services from CARE or children residing in McKean County with permanent physical and/or developmental disabilities. The Campership program is made possible by funding from the Orak Grotto Tag Days fundraiser.
Sponsorhip
CARE is appreciative for the wide-spread support of community groups, civic clubs, businesses, and individual donors that enable us to sponsor so many great, free programs for children of all abilities.
CARE’s therapeutic recreation programs are also sponsored in part by the United Ways of Bradford and Smethport and the United Funds of Kane and Port Allegany.
To sponsor a specific recreation program or volunteer for an event please call us at
814-362-4621 or email care@careforchildren.info.
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CARE for Children · P.O. Box 616, 20 Russell Boulevard, Bradford, PA 16701 · (814) 362-4621