Hearing impaired learn about marine life
Fifteen Charleston-area hearing impaired youths from ages 4 to 12 went to Camp Communication Vacation to “Catch A Wave, Summer 2000.”
Camper
Raven Washington, left, Ellison Davenport, CSD student, center, and Cindy
Leal, deaf education teacher, communicate with sign language during an
art activity. The art activity for that day was making an aquarium using
paper plates, blue saran wrap and construction paper.
The July 17 through 28 day camp, held at Second Presbyterian Church featured activities with an aquatic theme that included science experiments, art activities, story time and snack time. Snacks were “Octopops,” “Jello Aquariums,” “Mermaid Potion,” and “Beach in a Cup.” A newsletter called “Camp Tides” was written daily and sent home to summarize the day’s events.
On field trips, the campers learned about Lowcountry marine life assisted by marine scientists. They were able to touch and feel some of the sea life in the “touch tank,” examined sea life under microscopes and toured a research vessel.
Every camper was provided two posters of marine and wildlife of South Carolina as a souvenir.
Another field trip was a visit to the Charleston Aquarium and a viewing of the Dolphin movie at the IMAX theater.
Three deaf education teachers from Charleston County School District, an audiologist from Charleston Speech and Hearing Center worked with MUSC speech-language pathologist Laurel Hays and Communication Science and Disorders graduate students to guide and teach the children in their activities.
The camp was sponsored by MUSC, Charleston Speech and Hearing Center,
Ness, Motley, Loadholt, Richardson, & Poole, P.A., Second Presbyterian
Church, and the S.C. Department of National Resources. Hays, an instructor
in Communications Sciences and Disorders Program with the College of Health
Professions’ Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, directed the
camp.