SERC students gain valuable experience working with therapeutic day camp

This summer, students majoring in collaborative special education spent their days working with adolescents and adults with disabilities. The College of Education's Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, and Counseling, or SERC, has partnered with the City of Auburn and the Exceptional Outreach Organization for 15 years to give students the opportunity to complete their summer practicum at the Therapeutic Summer Day Camp. This camp provides a full-day experience with education and activities for young adults with various disabilities such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism. 

Under the supervision of Kelly Schweck, SERC assistant clinical professor, Auburn students taught small groups of campers. Students are responsible for their own planning and instruction, which is centered on camper interests and needs.

Madeline Howard, a student majoring in collaborative teaching K-12, developed lesson plans on both life skills and practical knowledge, covering topics such as social-emotional awareness, grocery shopping, social skills, gravity, and the solar system. Howard believes the experience gave her the confidence she needs to excel in her career after graduating. 

“This was my first formal practicum experience working with students in secondary school or older, and it solidified my interest in teaching older students,” Howard said. “I also found a true love for transition and life skills lessons. Watching students learn skills that they will use every day was super impactful and truly amazing to see.”

Because not all campers have finished high school, instruction varies from group to group. Concepts include social skills, daily living and health and wellness skills, job-related skills, and the Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards—a curriculum for students with significant cognitive disabilities—for those campers still enrolled in high school.                

“Although it is a lot of work for our students, every summer they experience tremendous amounts of personal and professional growth,” said Schweck.

Some of the biggest areas of growth for her students include the importance of planning and preparation, visuals in instruction, appropriate prompting, and building rapport with students, or in this case, campers.

Another major takeaway for Auburn students was gaining confidence and independence, both in planning and teaching functional skills, but also doing so independently without a mentor teacher’s example to follow at all times. The students benefit from the experience, but so do the campers they work with all summer long. 

“It’s important for the students to have practicum opportunities in an environment similar to a classroom setting so they can utilize the teaching skills from the classroom and problem solve in real-time,” said Elizabeth Kaufman, Auburn City Parks & Recreation Therapeutic Programs coordinator. “This will be so valuable when they have a classroom of students with varying abilities. It’s also such a great experience for our campers to have that interaction, educational and social opportunities, and opportunities to learn new skills and insights.”