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OT students committed to children by Cindy Abole Public Relations Fridays in July offered something more meaningful than just summer fun and games for a dozen visually-impaired youngsters and some occupational therapy students. The students doubled as camp mentors during the second annual Summer Sensations camp sponsored by MUSC’s Student Occupational Therapy Association and the Association for the Blind. The partnership encourages children to react using interaction and stimulation through activities.   MUSC Occupational Therapy students serve as mentors to low-vision child participants, ages 5-10. The camp allows them to perform many fun activities including reading, crafts and games.  “This is an excellent partnership,” said Bettye Dorn, executive director for the Association for the Blind. “If it were not for these students and their commitment towards children, we wouldn’t have children’s programs at all because of lack of funding and staffing support.”    The program is an offshoot of an adult rehabilitation program established in 1999 for low-vision adults. It’s success spurned several hands-on programs for children last year including a Fall Sensations Camp, held during the Fall Festival and the Beeping Egghunt, held last spring. According to Dorn, the festivals offer parents a real chance to sit back and watch their children at play within a care-free environment. It is also one of few opportunities parents can relax and use their time to comfortably network with others concerning their child’s needs.   “It has been a wonderful experience so far,” said Jessica Yount, a third-year occupational therapy student involved in the program. “It has given me a chance to experience working with a special pediatric population and learn to respond to their needs.”   '01 Summer Sensations camp participants and mentors enjoy a visit to the Christian Family-Y Pool on George Street.  Yount and her co-students prepared items and arranged equipment required for each week’s activity. Attention to detail and preparation were pre-requisites to help ensure that each session meets the group’s activity goals which center among other senses including touch, smell and hearing. Kids were encouraged to play games using balls with bells, scented play dough,  etc. Part of this year’s mission was to promote increased socialization between peers.    The third-year students worked within four groups, each led by a pair of group leaders who actively planned for each session and prepared activities using specific themes. In addition to the planning, the students successfully solicited Lowcountry businesses for donations collecting food, snacks, craft products, etc.   At the group's first meeting on July 13, the children beaded and created their own aquarium-themed necklaces. Later, they splashed around the Christian Family-Y indoor pool on George Street. The following week, the kids participated in “Furry Friday,” a time that allowed kids to meet and handle puppies and kittens. This event was sponsored by Pet Helpers of Charleston.    “So far, our hardest challenge seems to be just getting the word out,” Dorn said. “Promotion of our activities has been strictly through word-of-mouth. We’re hoping to develop our database of youngsters as more participate.”    This year's Summer Sensations camp mentors include OT students: Brittany Byron, Kristi Kaiser, Cindy Carroll, Trina Britton, Joy Allsep, Jenny Little, Prentice Dobson, Kristen Pollard, Kimi Long and program supervisor Stasi Gormley. MUSC faculty coordinator for the program is Michelle Woodbury.  For more information about next year's program, contact the Association for the Blind, 723-6915.