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Communication camp builds self confidence by Cindy Abole Public Relations The value of summer camps for children is regarded as both fun and positive in helping build a child’s self-confidence and other social attributes.        Lynn Cagle, a second-year graduate student with the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program in the College of Health Professions, helps Jeni Kim, 5, build a sand castle during Camp Communication Vacation July 17 - 21. Jeni has a cochlear implant in her right ear that allows her to hear only in that ear. Cagle uses auditory-verbal therapy when interacting with Jeni. For a group of 13 Lowcountry children who are hearing impaired, the experience of a weeklong activity camp to interact and play with others much like themselves and to reinforce educational skills was especially precious.      Each summer since 1999, Lowcountry children who are deaf or hard of hearing have been a part of Camp Communication Vacation, a summer camp organized by the College of Health Professions’ Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) program. The camp was held at Second Presbyterian Church in downtown Charleston. Transportation for campers was provided by MUSC Transportation Services.   For five days the children, ages 4 to 12, play and interact with other hearing-impaired children, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, deaf education teachers and CSD graduate students. This year’s theme was: “Seasons: Let’s hear all year.”   Amy Cario, a teacher for the deaf with the Charleston County schools, directs Jenette Clayton, a  hearing-impaired student, during a relay activity with other children. “This was a wonderful opportunity for children with hearing loss to come together and have fun,” said Nevitte Swink, speech-language pathologist with MUSC’s Cochlear Implant Center. This is Swink’s fourth year of involvement with the camp. “The camp focuses on activities that aid in developing the children’s listening and language skills.”      Both large and small group activities were incorporated to address the learning objectives and  seasons theme. A different season was introduced each day with season-appropriate activities and vocabulary. Each day began with a group welcome, announcements and review of the day’s activity schedule.      Activities were scheduled in 30-minute increments and included group games and sports, art and language activities, inventive and interactive snack time, and seasonal story time using puppets, role playing, etc. At the end of the day, the children gathered once more to review their accomplishments and honor two or three campers with special awards. Award recipients received a certificate and were encouraged to run a victory lap around the camp participants before departing. As a special feature, each camper receives a daily newsletter to take home to their parents summarizing the day’s activities and preparing them for the next day.      “Being involved with camp puts a realistic spin on what we learn in the classroom,” said Melissa Montiel, a second-year CSD student and one of 27 graduate students who helped with the camp. “It gave us a rare opportunity to work closely with a special patient group and learn from them.”      The camp’s final day is a showcase of activities coordinated by the campers and professional staff. It included skits, activities, awards and cake.      “Watching the parents’ reactions during the Friday Finale is rewarding,” said Laurel H. Hays, assistant professor and director of clinical education, College of Health Professions. “Each year, our goal is to provide a beneficial experience for the campers, their families and the CSD graduate students. It’s definitely a win-win for everyone.”   Other sponsors for Camp Communication Vacation included Mount Pleasant Sertoma Club and Advanced Bionics Corp. (manufacturer of cochlear implant devices), and the Department of Otolaryngology, Division of Audiology. Camp Communication Vacation Professional Staff Abby Connell, audiologist and coordinator of MUSC’s Cochlear Implant Team, Department of Otolaryngology; Laurel Hays, Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Health Professions; Jack King and Kimberly Snyder, Department of Otolaryngology, Division of Audiology; Nevitte Swink and Starr Carr, Department of Therapeutic Services, Division of Speech-Language Pathology; Amy Cario and Cindy Leal, teachers of the deaf, Charleston County School District; and Patti Weathers, audiologist, Aural Preschool, Westview Middle School, Berkeley County School District Friday, July 28, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.