Helping Kids with Hemiplegia CIMT Camp 2024

Summer camp is a quintessential childhood experience. But motor impairment may make traditional programs out of reach for your child. That’s why UNC Health offers Helping Kids with Hemiplegia - CIMT Camp, a therapeutic day camp for kids ages 4 to 10 with a diagnosis of hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

The camp was founded in 2005 by UNC Health's Holly Holland, OTR/L, ATP, who serves as co-director with Kerry Blazek, PT, DPT, PCS, CNT.

Camp is staffed by licensed occupational and physical therapists and student volunteers. Camp programming incorporates modified constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT), ) bimanual intensive therapy (BIT) and structured interventions with therapeutic handling into fun, goal-oriented games and activities. Since 2005, more than 450 children and their families have attended this annual summer program.

If you are interested in attending camp please submit the online application by March 15, 2024.

During Helping Kids with Hemiplegia-CIMT Camp, your child will participate in fun, creative activities. Please be aware that days can be long and strenuous. That’s because constraint-induced movement therapy immobilizes your child’s dominant arm, placing it in a cast while rehabilitating the affected arm through focused activities and exercises. You and your child must be able to commit to attending all six days of camp.

Parents and caregivers, please consider whether CIMT in a camp environment is right for your child. These are fun yet long and strenuous days for our campers. Not all children enjoy sensory stimulating environments such as Helping Kids with Hemiplegia CIMT camp. If you have questions about your child, please contact us. UNC does offer alternative treatment options for participation in CIMT in the clinic setting.

Helping Kids with Hemiplegia is for children ages 4 to 10 who:

• Have been diagnosed with hemiplegic cerebral palsy
• Are able to walk independently without an assistive device
• Can demonstrate the ability to open and close their fingers
• Are able to follow directions
• Can wear a cast for the whole camp day
• Can participate in group activities for 6 full days, while casted
• Can participate in camp without a parent present. (Please consider your child’s temperament in group settings such as daycare and school.
• Are not subject to uncontrolled seizures

Helping Kids with Hemiplegia-CIMT Camp does not charge a registration or program fee thanks to the generosity of private and corporate donors, camp fundraising events, grants and time donated by our all-volunteer staff. A $100 tax-deductible donation is encouraged to help sustain our program.

Other costs include:

• Pre-camp evaluation – Your child will need a pre-camp occupational therapy evaluation which may be billed to insurance.
• Food – You’re responsible for providing lunch for your child.
• Housing – You’re responsible for your own lodging during camp. Upon acceptance, hotel information will be shared with camp families.

If you are interested in attending camp, the online application will be available starting February 1, 2024. All applications must be submitted by March 15 to be considered for camp placement.

Video Submission - In addition to our online application we require applicants to submit a 10-30 second video of the child sitting at a table and attempting to independently open with two hands either a film covered snack (ex: apple sauce, yogurt, etc.) or sealed Ziplock bag. Once we have received your application, we will send detailed instructions on how to submit the video. Please contact us prior to the application deadline if you are unable to submit a video.

Helping Kids with Hemiplegia-CIMT Camp receives a large number of applications each year that often exceed the spaces available for campers. We do our best to accommodate all applicants. If this is not possible, NC Residents will receive preference in the application process. Please know our selection team carefully considers each child while also creating well balanced and age appropriate camp groups to ensure a positive experience for all campers. If your child is not accepted, they will automatically be placed on the waitlist.

Application

Solicitud del Campamento

You know the saying, “It takes a Village”, and well it truly does at the Helping Kids with Hemiplegia CIMT Camp. Our camp is fully staffed by volunteers. Check out this video to get an inside look at the camp experience and hear testimony from our volunteers about their experiences. This is an invaluable, hands on opportunity for PT/OT students, undergraduate students interested in related fields or, those interested in working with children.

Volunteers must be 18 years old, attend a pre-camp training and orientation session which includes camp set up on June 17, 2024. Volunteers MUST commit to working all days June 17-23. Time commitments for volunteers during the camp week are 7:45am – 4:00pm. Camp is held at a local elementary school in the Southern Village neighborhood of Chapel Hill. Housing is not provided. Volunteers are required to complete HIPAA training and have a criminal background check prior to camp. 

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please complete the Volunteer Sign-Up Form by May 1, 2024.

Additional camp information can be found here.