Volunteer at Mountain Therapy/ Early Start Therapy Camp

Volunteer at Mountain Therapy/ Early Start Therapy Camp. APPLY Call us: 303.563.8290

Therapy Camp

Therapy Camp Volunteer (16+) – Summer in the Mountains

Our mountain therapy summer camps are held at Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA of the Rockies. Explore and enjoy the great outdoors with campers aged 5-18 years old. Volunteers assist dedicated teams of therapists focused on each child’s strengths to provide individualized, goal-directed, outcome-based treatment. Synergy, focus and extensive time dedicated specifically to enhancing skills make this a unique and powerful intervention and a volunteer experience like no other.

Volunteers are an integral part of the therapy team supporting this multidisciplinary (PT, OT, SLP, music and art) therapy process. You will have the opportunity to build relationships, develop leadership skills and ensure that campers have the best week ever!

Volunteers stay at Snow Mountain Ranch for the entire week.

Volunteers are required to attend training prior to camp. Dates TBD.

Therapy Camp

What Does a Mountain Therapy Camp Volunteer Do?

Volunteer duties include but are not limited to:

  • Helping with set-up and break-down of equipment
  • Greeting families in the morning
  • Maintaining therapy equipment and space
  • Participating in indoor and outdoor activities with the children
  • Taking pictures and editing, downloading and organizing them for therapy reports
  • Providing childcare during parent/therapist conferences
  • Conferencing with the therapists after therapy sessions and helping with therapy reports

What Does an Excellent Therapy Camp/Early Start Volunteer Look Like?

Therapy Camp is looking for volunteers age 16+ for Mountain Therapy Camp who:

  • Are considering or are already in school for PT, OT, SLP, MT, AT, special education and/or behavior therapy, etc.
  • Desire to be at camp for the campers and experience (and not just the community service hours)
  • Enjoy the beautiful outdoors and all of the activities Adam’s Camp offers
  • Are great role models for the campers and their fellow volunteers
  • Will be team players, always willing to go above and beyond
  • Aren’t afraid of hard work and assuming leadership when necessary
  • Understand that this will be the greatest week/weekend ever, but also the most exhausting

A Sample Day in the Life of Mountain Therapy Camp for Pathfinder Groups

Morning Midday Afternoon

8:30-9:00 Music Circle

This structured music group has been well thought-out. Campers are challenged in every conceivable manner, from the way they are “seated” in group to how they “hold” instruments and interact with their peers. 1:1 support ensures full participation, while teaching focus is on the Music Therapist, similar to how a school group would be run for children this age.

9:00-9:30 Occupational Therapy

Campers are met where they are with fine motor, sensory needs, and activities of daily living, and then challenged to move to the next level in a structured, supportive play environment.

9:30-10:15 Speech Therapy

Whether a camper is verbal or non-verbal, each child is tasked to expand upon their system to improve their overall communication competence. A child’s current system is reinforced, while new systems might be investigated.

10:15-10:30 Snack Time

Therapy continues with mealtimes. Posture, stability, fine motor abilities, appropriate requesting and socialization are emphasized.

10:30-11:30 Physical Therapy

With two separate Motor Rooms containing stairs, swings and balance beams (to name just a few), campers are supported through activities designed to challenge every aspect of their gross motor needs: core, balance, coordination, stabilization and endurance

11:30-12:15 Art Therapy

Shaving cream, paint and clay, Oh My! The Art Therapist will help each camper improve their ability to self-soothe, self-regulate and benefit from multi-sensory approaches to learning.

12:15-12:45 Lunch

With PT, OT, & Speech focus, mealtimes are great opportunities for campers to generalize the skills they learned from their individual therapy sessions.

12:45-1:30 Music Therapy

Through instrumental play and movement, the MT incorporates all goals through musical involvement to, enhancing gross & fine motor skills, communication, and social-emotional development

1:30-2:30 Closing Activity

Campers might recap their day, highlighting their successes in a musical format, or they may move through an obstacle course to locate their backpack and leave for the day

A Sample Day in the Life of Mountain Therapy Camp for Pioneer Groups

Morning Lunch Afternoon Evening Night

8:00-9:30 Make Breakfast, Clean-Up, Prep for Day

Start the day with a large portion of independence and a side of responsibility. The “Set-Up Crew” helps prepare the meal, with the “Clean-Up Crew” making sure the kitchen and dining area are ship-shape and ready to start the day.

9:30-10:00 Travel to Grand Lake

Vans are used for all transportation needs.

10:00-12:00 Canoe, Kayak, Paddle boarding on Shadow Lake

With the assistance of NSCD, campers are challenged to independently maneuver various water sports and equipment.

12:00-12:30 Lunch

As with all our teams, independence is promoted. Campers are met where their individual skill-set exists and then challenged to increase their personal best. Sufficient time is always provided, so campers can spend as much time as they need to complete tasks of daily living on their own.

12:45-1:45 Go-Karts & Bumper Cars

Campers ride next to a staff member around a fun track, seeing who the ultimate winner will be. Campers are given the chance to ride the bumper cars on their own in a protected area.

2:00-3:30 Hike Adam’s Falls

One of the prettiest hikes in Grand County, the falls themselves are breathtaking. A hike worth the effort!

3:30-4:00 Van Ride Back to Snow Mountain Ranch

4:00-5:30 Set Up Tents

Adequate time, instruction and support is provided for campers to put up three tents that will house the team for the night. Overwhelming pride is felt once these campers see what they’ve achieved!

5:30-6:00 Down Time (Rest/Group Game)

6:00-7:00 Cook Dinner on Campfire

After the staff builds the fire, campers roast hot dogs, warm baked beans, and enjoy a true campout dinner.

7:00-8:00 S’mores & Clean-Up

What’s a campfire with out S’mores? Gluten and dairy free options also are available.

8:00-9:00 Bedtime Prep

9:00 Lights Out

At the end of the camp day, volunteers meet with their teams to debrief, plan for the next day/s and help prepare reports.

Dates Campers Location Apply
June 12-17, 2022 Developmental Disabilities Snow Mountain Ranch, Granby, CO Register Here
June 19-24, 2022 Autism Spectrum Disorders Snow Mountain Ranch, Granby, CO Register Here
June 26-July 1, 2022 Developmental Disabilities Snow Mountain Ranch, Granby, CO Register Here
July 10-15, 2022 Down Syndrome Snow Mountain Ranch, Granby, CO Register Here
July 17-22, 2022 Developmental Disabilities Snow Mountain Ranch, Granby, CO Register Here

Therapy Camp Volunteer (16+) – Early Start

Early Start, for campers ages 6 months – 4 years old, is similar in style to Mountain Camp, but takes place in the metro area and other areas of the state. Instead of six hours of individualized therapy at camp, these young kiddos receive three hours of individualized therapy. The program includes sibling care as well as educational and respite support for parents.

Volunteers work each day, M-F, from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm, in addition to a 3-hour orientation the Sunday before. Training occurs some weeks prior.

A Sample Day in the Life of Early Start

Morning Mid Morning Noon

9:00-9:15 Music Circle

This is a well-planned activity where campers are challenged in the way they are “seated” in group, how they “hold” instruments and how they interact with each other. 1:1 support ensures full participation.

9:15-9:45 Speech Therapy

The camper’s communication goals are worked on through play therapy.

9:45-10:15 Occupational Therapy

Fine motor as well as sensory needs are addressed.

10:15-10:30 Snack Time

The PT decides seating, the OT works on opening containers, etc., and Speech encourages socialization, just as in any mealtime activity.

10:30-11:00 Music Therapy

Through instrumental play and movement, the MT incorporates all goals through musical involvement from enhancing gross and fine motor skills to communication and social-emotional development

11:00-11:45 Physical Therapy

With a separate Motor Room in which to spread out, campers’ core, balance, coordination and endurance are challenged.

11:45-12:00 Closing Circle

Similar to Opening Circle, campers recap their day, highlighting their successes in a musical format.

At the end of the camp day, volunteers meet with their teams to debrief, plan for the next day/s and help prepare reports.

Early Start Therapy Camp Dates

Dates Location Apply
March 28-April 1, 2022 Denver Area Applications open in January 2022!
June 6-10, 2022 Denver Area  
July 18-22, 2022 Denver Area  
August 1-5, 2022 Denver Area  

Campers and Parents Love Adam’s Camp

I really feel that the volunteer program is great. They do a good job of explaining what is expected of you and providing you with the tools needed to do a good job.

Lyndsy Johnson
Therapy Volunteer

My team had several physically involved kids, and as a DPT student, it was a learning experience for me every day!

Sydney Lash
Therapy Volunteer

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