Case Study #2

Description

Camp Easter Seal serves children, youth and adults with physical and developmental disabilities throughout the summer. DO-IT provides an Internet Adventures open lab during several summer camp sessions.

Instructional and Technical Team

DO-IT staff members provide overall coordination and technical set-up of the Internet Adventures program. A special education teacher is the lead instructor. High school and college students provide technical and instructional assistance.

Goals

The goals of the Internet Adventures program are for campers to become familiar with a variety of Internet resources and to develop basic Internet exploration and communication skills.

Materials

Internet browser and filtering software are used to access Internet resources. A Web page with links to Internet resources appropriate for the ages, interests, and skill levels of campers is created for each session. As campers enter the lab, they are presented with this Web page and assisted in making selections. More advanced students learn to use electronic mail and perform Web searches. Staff take digitized pictures and help campers write bios to put up on a camp program Web page. Staff print copies of bios and pictures for campers to take home. Each camper receives a certificate of achievement.

Facility and Computers

Easter Seals owns the grounds and facilities where camp sessions are offered. A room in an existing camp building is used for the Internet program. Compaq Computer loans computers for the Internet Adventures program. Digital Vision, Inc., loans digital cameras and video capture boards. There are one or two campers at each computer station. DO-IT provides adaptive technology and other accommodations for campers who cannot use standard computer devices.

Internet Service 

Internet service to the camp is provided by a local Internet service provider. Dialup with extra phone lines is installed at the camp.

Program Integration

All campers have opportunities to sign up for the Internet lab during morning and afternoon sessions. The home page presented to them as they enter the lab and is tailored to camper interests, ages, and abilities. The page is dynamic and is changed over the course of the camp as new resources are found, interest in old resources is exhausted, and campers express their interests.

Publicity

The Internet Adventures program is publicized through regular Easter Seals camp mailings and newsletters and in the DO-IT News newsletter. No special registration for Internet Adventures is required of campers.

Camp Contact Information

Camp Easter Seal West
Andi Reed, Director
PO Box J
Vaughn, WA 98394
253-884-2722