Camp All Hands on Deck is a summer camp for children with hemiparesis, or weakness on one side of the body. http://www.chop.edu/rehab
The camp is held at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, with occupational and physical therapists as leaders.
Cerebral palsy and pediatric stroke are among the causes of hemiparesis, also called unilateral paresis. When a child doesn’t have control of one hand, day-to-day activities like eating and participating in sports and music or even playing video games become difficult.
This can affect emotional health and cause stress on the child and family.
Camp All Hands on Deck is focused on bimanual therapy, which encourages the use of two hands together during meaningful play and daily activities.
Activities are designed to improve fine and gross motor skills and include swimming, dancing, making beds, playing board games, cooking, and playing sports. Camp is six hours per day for two weeks. The intensive therapy can help kids improve. Meanwhile, they still feel like campers and have fun.
CHOP is seeking donors to help support the camp. https://www.give.chop.edu/page/contribute/center-for-rehabilitation