Tagged with 'PE'

10 Tips for PE Summer Camps

Create a safe, inclusive, well-organized, and fun summer camp experience for every student. With an incalculable number of games and activities, every individual can get active and interact with their peers. These tips are specifically designed to enhance the physical education experience of every participant all summer long! 

1. Plan Dynamic Activities: Prepare a diverse range of physical activities that cater to different skill levels, interests, and abilities. Ensure you have all necessary equipment ready and in working condition.
2. Promote Teamwork and Sportsmanship: Design activities that encourage teamwork, cooperation, and fair play. Students should foster a sense of community and mutual respect among students and staff.
3. Encourage Inclusivity: Design activities that are accessible and enjoyable for all students, regardless of their physical and emotional abilities. Promote a culture of respect, kindness, trustworthiness.
4. Be Flexible: Prepare to adapt activities based on weather conditions, student energy and interest levels, or other unforeseen circumstances. Flexibility is crucial to maintaining a positive and engaging summer camp experience.
5. Prioritize Safety: Conduct safety checks of all sports equipment in all facilities. Train staff in first aid and educate them on emergency procedures specific to physical activities. Establish clear rules to reduce the risk of injuries and offer treatment if needed.
6. Stay Organized: Maintain detailed records of student information, including medical histories, allergies, and emergency contacts. Checklists can help ensure all equipment is accounted for, activities run smoothly, and even allow an easy way to share plans.
7. Conduct Pre-Camp Training: Provide comprehensive training for staff on proven instructional strategies, injury prevention, and effective communication with children and parents. All parties should know proper protocols.
8. Effective Communication: Maintain clear and consistent communication with students, staff, and parents. Provide detailed information about daily schedules, activity rules, and emergency contact procedures so that everyone can be kept in the loop.
9. Evaluate and Improve: Regularly ask feedback from students, parents, and fellow staff. Use this information to continuously improve your summer camp activities, organization, and overall experience.
10. Make It Fun and Engaging: Create a positive and energetic atmosphere where students feel excited to participate and play. Incorporate games and challenges to keep the experience enjoyable and motivating.
     

Remember, the most important part of summer camp is for everyone to have fun! Students and staff should have an enjoyable experience making memories and staying active. There are many ways for everyone to participate safely, while engaging in exciting physical and educational activities that will help build healthy habits for life.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Gabriel Ryan, School Health Blog Writer and Contributor

A couple of years ago, I was intrigued when I came across a workout video online with all the participants seated using wheelchairs, and the most enthusiastic, positive, encouraging fitness trainer I’d ever seen! I was glued to my screen. My initial feeling was shock, and I said to myself “this… is awesome, an engaging workout for people that use a wheelchair.” My feeling quickly turned to wanting to be a part of this experience and in no time, I was stretching, reaching, and moving with the music. This workout session was part of an Abilities Expo Conference. The trainer was Justin Graham with W.O.W. Wonders on Wheels. Recently, I learned that W.O.W. offers this wheelchair-friendly fitness class live online, so I signed up for a fitness pass. This was my first week participating and it was great fun! This experience prompted me to focus this month’s Access Angle on encouraging exercise and fitness for all.

The Commit to Inclusion video beautifully highlights aspects of inclusion in fitness and beyond. Great video! Commit to Inclusion is a campaign that supports guidelines and programming for people with disabilities to empower and promote healthy and active lifestyles through physical activities and nutrition. 

A few related Access Angle blogs full of ideas to learn more about fitness and creating realistic goals for yourself or children/students you work with:

• Access Angle: A Fitness Focus: The First Step to Get Started is to START – Fitness goals and websites with sections dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle for people with disabilities.
• Access Angle: Stretch Yourself to the Limit: CanDo Multi-Grip Exerciser – Multigrip resistance bands with large and small loops for easy grip

Don’t forget to incorporate hydration! In previous posts, I have written about the Giraffe Bottle Handsfree Drinking System, which I use. No matter how you hydrate, keep in mind you may need to increase your intake as you increase your activity.

School Health has numerous fitness resources and supports. Browse through the School Health website under categories such as Sports Medicine, Special Education, Early Childhood, and Physical Education to find products and ideas to support a variety of fitness goals. School Health Physical Education is your one-stop shop for all things PE, including equipment and programs for those with differing abilities. For example, the Visual Exercise System offers a variety of premade, color-coded visuals that look like real people doing real exercises. The visuals facilitate communication and provide structure in exercise programs. The Exercise Buddy Pro is also a great tool that incorporates evidence-based practices, videos, and progress monitoring. These tools can help diverse learners better participate in physical education programs and stay engaged! 

Fitness goals are different for everyone. Find an activity you love and most importantly…remember to have fun!