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Pine Tree Camp to offer Pine Tree Camp to You summer sessions

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Though we’re unable to gather around a campfire in person this summer, Pine Tree Camp will deliver a remote summer camp experience for Maine people with disabilities.  All campers need is a spirit of adventure, an Internet connection, a mobile device or computer and a free Zoom account. Pine Tree Camp will provide the rest.

“Our mission is discovering abilities together, and we’re going to continue that mission even when we’re apart,” said assistant camp director Mary Schafhauser. “As innovative camp professionals, we’re always thinking about what more we can do. This is our chance. Everything we do this summer will be meaningful and impactful. It’s such an opportunity.”

Pine Tree Camp Director Dawn-Willard Robinson continued, “We actually opened Pine Tree Camp two months early with the launch of Pine Tree Camp to You on Facebook in March. We have learned a lot over the past few months and have been able to incorporate what we have learned into our summer curriculum.”

Dawn and Mary pulled in a team of camp professionals, alumni, teachers, media specialists and outdoor recreation experts from around the United States to design an accessible curriculum that connects campers, creates opportunities for staying active, engages their imagination and develops their passion for trying new things.  Pine Tree Camp is a place to try new things.  And that can still be done virtually.

Here’s how Pine Tree Camp to You summer sessions will work:

Pine Tree Camp to You is a series of six, week-long remote summer camp sessions.  Each week will revolve around a theme like Nature, Drama or Science.  Registered campers will receive a curated activity box containing everything they need to participate in the daily activities.  Campers will come together via Zoom to connect for group activities and will also participate in self-guided activities at their own pace.  Self-guided activities will be delivered through paper instructions and pre-recorded video accessed on Pine Tree Camp’s website.

Campers can expect to participate in a wide variety of fun activities. For example, during the Nature themed-week there will be everything from a backyard nature hunt to virtually exploring the trails at Pine Tree Camp via video with an outdoor recreation expert.  During Science week, campers will learn how to make a lava lamp at home and explore how clouds form shapes along the shores of North Pond.  Music is always a Pine Tree Camp favorite so campers will also have opportunities to learn new music then show off what they learned by singing together around a virtual campfire.

“It boils down to one word: connection,” said camp director Dawn Willard-Robinson.  “We want to fill that need for connection in whatever way we can, even if that means we’re connecting virtually through a screen.  Keeping people connected is the very essence of what we do, and, during this time of physical distancing, that’s more important than ever.”

Registration opens on June 8.  Detailed information is available at this link.     

Cabin Challenge for Pine Tree Camp

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Calling all Pine Tree Camp campers, staff and alumni!

We know you love Pine Tree Camp and here is your chance to show it – while showing the world why YOUR CABIN is the BEST!  Join your favorite cabin’s Virtual Paddle for Pine Tree Camp team led by some very familiar faces.

All you have to do is join your favorite cabin team online.

Your cabin needs you! 

 

Register at this link (don’t forget to add in the notes which Cabin Team you’re joining!)

REGISTER:  https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/PineTreeSociety/2020Paddle.html

You can also donate directly to specific cabin teams at the links below.

Cabin 1 Team

Captains: Lori Chesley & Hunter Chesley

Donate to Cabin 1: https://give.everydayhero.com/us/pine-tree-camp-cabin-1-team

Cabin 2 Team

Captain: Kelly Williams

Donate to Cabin 2: https://give.everydayhero.com/us/pine-tree-camp-cabin-2

Cabin 3 Team

Captain: Dawn Willard-Robinson

Donate to Cabin 3: https://give.everydayhero.com/us/pine-tree-camp-cabin-3

Cabin 4 Team

Captain: Kat LeClair

Donate to Cabin 4: https://give.everydayhero.com/us/pine-tree-camp-cabin-4

Cabin 5 Team

Captain: Kyle Duelley

Donate to Cabin 5: https://give.everydayhero.com/us/pine-tree-camp-cabin-5

Cabin 6 Team

Captain: Mary Schafhauser

Donate to Cabin 6: https://give.everydayhero.com/us/pine-tree-camp-cabin-6

The Shack Team

Captain: Greg Chesley

Donate to The Shack: https://give.everydayhero.com/us/pine-tree-camp-the-shack

FAQ for Parents: Speech / Language Telepractice

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FAQ for Parents: Pine Tree Society Speech / Language Telepractice

How will a speech/language telepractice session help my child?

Pine Tree Society’s one-on-one video speech/language therapy sessions allow children to maintain and work on their speech and language goals and help prevent regression.

During this time of social distancing, our remote speech/language therapy sessions bring much needed consistency to children and their families. We strive to provide a service that is as close as possible to what a child would normally receive for therapy intervention.

How can you help my child cope and adapt to change?

Every day, we hear how lonely and sad kids are about not being at school.  By connecting face-to-face via video, in addition to providing continuity of services to help children retain the skills they’ve worked so hard to build, it gives them a feeling of social connectedness and a sense of security that we are going to get through this together.

A parent described it this way: “Both my mind and heart are at ease seeing my son adapt to change and his willingness to try something new without being able to understand why this is all happening.”

Which remote platform do you use for telepractice sessions?

Pine Tree Society’s telepractice services are provided via Zoom, a HIPAA-compliant, user-friendly video conferencing technology that is easily accessed from any device.

Is Zoom a secure platform?

Pine Tree Society adheres to Zoom’s recommendations to ensure a secure web conferencing environment through password protection of online meeting rooms by default, elimination of Meeting ID display, removal of the attendee attention tracking feature and implementation of a join flow procedure for web clients.

Is Zoom easy to use?

Zoom is a really family-friendly, easy to use platform and Pine Tree Society helps every step of the way.

What does a typical session look like?

In every session, we follow a similar routine so it’s consistent and both the child and the family knows what to expect.  Everyone participating is guided when it’s their turn in the activity and we do everything we can to adapt to what the family needs and feels comfortable with.

Sample session:

  1. The therapist begins the session with a schedule, either in text or in pictures, presented on the screen.
  2. Next, there is a check in about how the child is feeling, which is sometimes accompanied with a hello song.
  3. After the check-in, the therapist and child engage in a variety of customized activities that may include reading a book, taking a virtual trip to somewhere special (e.g. zoo, aquarium, etc.), playing a game, or using video tools for other interactive speech and language development tasks.
  4. Each session generally ends with a social closing, which may include a goodbye song.

Sessions sometimes include other supports in a child’s life, such as behavioral consultants.

How do I schedule a telepractice session?

To find out how Pine Tree Society’s Speech Language Pathologists can support your child through telepractice speech/language therapy services, please contact Linda Bonnar at lbonnar@pinetreesociety.org or 207-386-5931.

FAQ for Educators: Speech / Language Telepractice

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FAQ for Educators: Pine Tree Society Speech / Language Telepractice

How can you help my students?

Pine Tree Society has the technology and the expertise to help schools meet the very unique needs being presented to us all right now, including schools in rural areas or those that don’t have speech therapists at all. Our speech/language therapy sessions allow students to maintain and work on their speech and language goals and help prevent regression.

What services do you offer schools? 

Pine Tree Society offers individualized services, including:

  • Ongoing therapeutic intervention
    • Articulation
    • Language development
    • Social language and expectations in a distance learning environment
  • Educational coaching
  • Consults for Assistive Technology for Learning to support children who may have more challenges accessing the curriculum during social isolation

What does a typical telepractice session look like?

Sessions are typically one-on-one but we can also implement group sessions so students have the chance to see their friends too. Sessions may also incorporate other supports in a child’s life, such as behavioral consultants.

Which remote platform do you use for telepractice sessions?

Pine Tree Society’s telepractice services are provided via Zoom, a HIPAA-compliant, user-friendly video conferencing technology that is easily accessed from any device.

Is Zoom a secure platform?

Pine Tree Society adheres to Zoom’s recommendations to ensure a secure web conferencing environment through password protection of online meeting rooms by default, elimination of Meeting ID display, removal of the attendee attention tracking feature and implementation of a join flow procedure for web clients.

How do I schedule a telepractice session?

To find out how Pine Tree Society’s Speech Language Pathologists can support your students through telepractice speech/language therapy services, please contact Linda Bonnar at lbonnar@pinetreesociety.orgor 207-386-5931.

Parents: We’re in this together to support your child’s speech / language goals

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“Awesome.”  “Hitting it out of the park.”  “Superior.”

Those are some of the ways parents have described their child’s experience with Pine Tree Society’s Speech Language Pathologists remote speech/language therapy telepractice sessions.

These one-on-one video speech/language therapy sessions allow children to maintain and work on their speech and language goals and help prevent regression.

“During this time of social distancing, Pine Tree Society’s remote speech/language  therapy sessions bring much needed consistency to the child and their family,” said Linda Bonnar-Ivery, director of Communication Pathways at Pine Tree Society. “We strive to provide a service that is as close as possible to what a child would normally receive for therapy intervention.”

It’s important for parents to know that they are not alone.  Pine Tree Society staff is available every step of the way to coach, answer questions and help parents through the process.

“We work hard to make sessions fun and engaging,” Linda said. “One of the biggest things I hear is how lonely and sad kids are about not being at school.  By connecting face-to-face via video, it gives them a feeling of social connectedness and a sense of security that we are going to get through this together.”

Telepractice speech/language services are offered via Zoom, a user-friendly video conferencing technology that is easily accessed from any device.

“I tell parents that it’s not hard at all to connect with Zoom,” Linda continued. “Zoom is a really family friendly platform and we’re here to help right from the get-go if parents get stuck.”

Here’s what a speech/language therapy telepractice session might look like:

1.The therapist begins the session with a schedule, either in text or in pictures, presented on the screen.

2.Next, there is a check in about how the child is feeling, which is sometimes accompanied with a hello song.

“If they’re not feeling so great, we talk about that,” Linda added.  “We use every moment as a teaching moment.  Everything has a purpose and is as interactive as we can make it.”

3.After the check-in, the therapist and child engage in a variety of customized activities that may include reading a book, taking a virtual trip to somewhere special (e.g. zoo, aquarium, etc.), playing a game, or using video tools for other interactive speech and language development tasks.

4.Each session generally ends with a social closing, which may include a goodbye song.

“In every session, we follow a similar routine so it’s consistent and both the child and the family knows what to expect.  Everyone participating is guided when it’s their turn in the activity,” Linda concluded.  “We’re respectful of the fact that we’re virtually coming into people’s homes and do everything we can to adapt to what the family needs and feels comfortable with.”

Sessions sometimes include other supports in a child’s life, such as behavioral consultants.

“I received an email this morning from a behavioral consultant saying, ‘I don’t know who to be prouder of, the child or the parent,’” Linda said.  “The child we were working with has significant challenges and we weren’t sure how telepractice was going to work. Not only did it work, it was outstanding and both the child and the parent felt really successful because it was a team approach and we were all in it together.  The mother said ‘Now I really feel like I’m in the know.  I can see what he’s working on and take part in the process.’ That was a good feeling.”

To find out how Pine Tree Society’s Speech Language Pathologists can support your child and family through telepractice speech/language therapy services, please contact Linda Bonnar at lbonnar@pinetreesociety.org or 207-386-5931.

Literacy and Autism: Tips for building literacy skills at home

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Four way to build literacy skills at home 

By Linda Bonnar-Ivery, MA, CCC-SLP, ATP

Director of Communication Pathways, Pine Tree Society

For children of all abilities, literacy is a tool of personal empowerment, a means of social development and a form of expression.  Children with disabilities that impact verbal communication, like autism and intellectual disabilities, have as much need for literacy as typically developing children.  Yet it can be a challenge to find ways to engage kids who are non-verbal in literacy activities.

Like any child, a child who is non-verbal is not going to learn to read if they are never given the chance.  Children who are verbal learn to read and write by sounding things out, mostly out loud. Children who are nonverbal do not have that same opportunity, so helping them develop their inner voice so that they can work on these types of skills is very important.  Consistent exposure to literacy is critical in building this skill.

There really aren’t any prerequisites to learning how to read and write.  Some learning assessments for children with autism place reading and writing last, favoring a skill building process where other foundations are developed first.  I agree that there are some critical skills that may need to be the main focus of a child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), however, overall exposure and providing experiences in literacy is easy and powerful to include at any point.

Here are four things you can do at home:

1. Read to your child

There is no better way to introduce a child to words, fluency, and sequencing than to read to them daily.

2. Repurpose a favorite repetitive book

Taking books like “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” or “Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?” and adapting them by using the child’s name instead is a great way to build literacy.  For example: “John, John what do you see? I see a flower looking at me. Flower, flower, what do you see? I see green grass looking at me.”

3. Use familiar signs and logos

Every day, children see signs, logos, symbols and words that they recognize without being able to read them. For example, most children recognize that the Golden Arches means McDonald’s is nearby or that the red octagon on the street corner is a stop sign.  Create your own story together about favorite places and signs in your community.

4. Play with letters

Using a few sets of magnetic letters and an inexpensive cookie sheet can lead to loads of literacy fun. There are so many games, word building and phonemic awareness games that can be played with these.

Building speech and language skills can help support literacy development.  To find out how Pine Tree Society can support your child and family through telepractice services, please email lbonnar@pinetreesociety.org or call 207-386-5931.

Virtual connection reduces isolation of Maine people with disabilities

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It’s almost like we haven’t left

At this point in time when we’re all coping with the effects of social isolation, Pine Tree Society’s Adult Support Services team has launched remote programming to engage their clients in maintaining connections with friends, building healthy habits and independent living skills and staying focused on personal goals while at home.

People with disabilities are vulnerable to experiencing social isolation in the best of times.  In these challenging times of social distancing, isolation is particularly difficult for people with disabilities. The accompanying stress and feelings of loneliness can rapidly compound and lead to depression and increased health issues, including cardiovascular disease.

“Every morning, people who would normally attend any one of our community support programs now join together via video chat,” said Shelley Zielinsky, director of Pine Tree Society’s Adult Support Services. “It’s almost like we haven’t left.  The same rapport, big smiles, jokes and laughter now exist through technology instead of being together physically.  It’s something we all look forward to and it is so beneficial.”

Shelley Zielinski, Director of Pine Tree Society’s Adult Support Services brings people on a virtual walk via video conferencing technology.

A participant’s family member shared this feedback soon after this virtual program began:  “Jonathan has enjoyed your sessions this week and looks forward to seeing you all every morning. He plans his morning around it.”

Because it brings together people from all three of Pine Tree Society’s Adult Support Services programs, it also provides the chance to virtually meet new people, engage in different ways and find common interests.  People enjoy their morning beverage together and the conversation begins by checking in to hear how everyone is doing, then transitions to getting everyone moving with a series of stretches.

“The best part is that some of the people who already have familiar movement routines are leading the stretches and getting everyone limber and moving with only occasional support from our staff,” Shelley continued.

Next, the group participates together in a selected activity for the day.  From cooking to interactive games to money management, every activity is fully accessible and adapted to each individual’s unique needs.

“One activity could touch on several different things,” Shelley explained. “If it’s cooking, for example, we incorporate why it’s important to wash your hands and talk about stove safety. If it’s money management, we practice making a transaction and getting the correct change as well as how to not flash your wallet around in public spaces.  Some people have goals around learning how to say hello and have a conversation.  Even though this is all now happening virtually, we’re providing a tremendous benefit of reducing social isolation and offering the opportunity to build new relationships.”

Many people have the goal to get outside and explore nature so Pine Tree Society created a way for the group to do that virtually though Shelley bringing her cell phone outside to take everyone on a virtual walk.

“We enjoyed some virtual fresh air by walking together with the video on my cell phone looking at a river and where it had flooded, some patches of snow still on the ground as well as the sky, clouds, trees and birds,” said Shelley.  “Simultaneously, another person in our group walked their neighborhood with their cell phone which gave us the chance to see a new landscape and talk about who had already seen deer and turkey at their homes this spring.”

The daily video chats conclude by learning about something new in the world and how the larger world connects to home.  For example, the group toured the Cincinnati Zoo online and learned about a porcupine from Brazil and compared it to Maine porcupines and how they are similar and different from one another.

“It’s fun,” she said.  “We’re able to interact and engage with each other like we normally would and we’re really seeing how this brings a parallel level of enjoyment to being together.  If we can’t be with each other in person, this is truly the next best thing and keeps us connected during this challenging time of isolation.”

Sadie: Pine Tree Society’s Early Learning Center is her special place

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Thriving.  Confident.  Role model.

That’s how her parents describe their five-year-old daughter Sadie.

That wasn’t always the case.

“She had a hard time with anger and emotional outbursts,” her mother, Heather, recalled.  “She had a tough time building empathy and relationships.  She wasn’t able to express herself.  She’s completely different now.  Through the Early Learning Center, she’s learned the skills she needed.”

Karen McClure-Richard, director of Pine Tree Society’s Early Learning Center, recalled how when she and her team first met Sadie “We were seeing a lack of confidence and she had some speech and language issues that contributed to that.”

Together, Karen and the family worked with a Pine Tree Society speech language pathologist to create systems to for her to communicate.

“At first, we were the only ones who could understand her,” Heather continued. “Through her work at the Early Learning Center, her speech has come along so well, everyone can understand her.”

In particular, pronouncing the sound of the letter F had been really hard for her.  Just recently, she was able to pronounce it correctly for the first time and it was a major milestone.

“We could see on her face how hard she’d worked at that,” said Heather.  “The Early Learning Center had been working on her speech for a long time and F was the very last piece.  Every day she worked on that sound with her speech therapist.”

Her brother’s name is Fox and she had always pronounced it Box.

“One day he came home and she said ‘Hi Fox!’  We kept saying ‘Say it again, say it again!’ and clapping.  From that point on, she never had trouble with F again.  Being able to pronounce that correctly made her speech blossom because she had the confidence and didn’t feel like she had any limitations.”

Sadie is now attending pre-kindergarten.

Her father, Mark, recalled how “Within the first week, she was able to follow the school’s code of conduct.  Heather and I were both blown away.  We didn’t know if she was prepared.  That was really exciting and a good pat on the back for the Early Learning Center and a vote of confidence for us to keep doing what we’re doing.  Through the Early Learning Center, she’s learned to become a nurturer.  Her pre-kindergarten teacher shays she checks on all the other kids to be sure they are doing okay. She’s a role model to them for what they’re learning to do.”

The next step is kindergarten and Heather knows she’s ready.  “She has physical attachments with people now.  She’s learned empathy and nurturing.  It’s like getting to know a different version of her.  Now, I feel she’s ready to start kindergarten.”

Her father, Mark, agreed. “They have built a confidence for her that there are people who are there for her and who care about her.  She’s smiling and laughing when she runs in the door and she still smiling and laughing when I come to pick her up.”

Pine Tree Society’s Early Learning Center is her special place and it’s a special place for Heather and Mark too.

“With the Early Learning Center, we feel like we have a group of experts who help us to understand why she struggles.  We know there are other people looking out for her and helping us so we can get her everything that she needs and help her overcome her obstacles.  It is nice to have people so dedicated to her positive outcomes.”

COVID-19 consequence: Emergency funds needed

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I don’t normally make requests like this, but these are desperate times.  COVID-19 is already hurting Maine people with disabilities and their families in countless ways – and we are quickly working to respond.  Would you please make an urgent gift to help?

I just got off the phone with our Early Learning Center Director.  She is concerned about “her kiddos.”  Pine Tree Society’s Early Learning Center, our specialized preschool for children with significant disabilities, is closed, but “her kiddos” need our help more than ever. Though we are closed, our work does not stop – and as we continue, we receive no funding for our services.

Early intervention is critical for children like Sadie.  Early intervention is successful when it happens early and consistently. Thanks to Pine Tree Society, Sadie has been making amazing strides.  Her father recently told us, “She has confidence and doesn’t feel like she has any limitations.”  We can’t lose the incredible progress we have made.

You can help children like Sadie.

Your gift will help Pine Tree Society set up services now to meet this need – like speech therapy via video, sharing educational resources and individualized support to parents remotely, and case management services to implement and retain critical services.

For so many families, Pine Tree Society is their lifeline.  There are no extra funds in our budget to meet this unexpected need.

This is just one of thousands of children who are counting on us.  They need our help now.  Please send in your gift today and it will go right to use to help Maine people who need it.

We thank you for your continued support.  Words cannot express our gratitude to you.

Sincerely,

 

 

Noel Sullivan
President and CEO

P.S.  Your gift today will make a difference.  Please give today.