The Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies held their second annual CHAMP (Camp for Health Activity and Motor Skill Promotion) Camp this past summer. This burgeoning program serves local children ages 6 through 12 with autism spectrum disorder and language, learning, mild intellectual, and physical disabilities, allowing participants to have a summer day camp experience in an educational, nurturing, and supportive format.

Campers learn about healthy nutritional choices and participate in fun, physical activity opportunities, including sport skills, recreational activities, games, and special surprise events such as visits from Roomie.

The department has partnered with community businesses and organizations to help make the camp a success, including Downtown Yoga and Chappapeela Sports Park, and hopes to continue to extend and strengthen these area partnerships for future camps, providing the community with a way to directly get involved and give back. Participants are also able to enjoy access to University facilities, such as The REC and the kinesiology pool, through campus-wide partnerships.

The program is also part of an adaptive physical education course practicum, with Southeastern students majoring in physical education or seeking an APE add-on to their teacher credentials helping to directly run the camp and mentor the young participants.

For more information on becoming a partner or enrolling your child, contact the program’s director at
kristen.morgan@southeastern.edu.