Letter to the Editor, Photo Gallery: Kids On the Go Summer Camp

Kids on the Go celebrated its 13th year this past summer. Kids on the Go, an affiliate of St. John Providence Community Health, is a pediatric nonprofit that relies on sponsors to provide special needs children with therapy during the summer break from school.

The as they work with the latest, most reliable therapeutic tools. The therapy comes at no cost to often already overburdened families, and it comes at a crucial time, after school-provided therapy has ended.

For these children the learning can't stop just because the school year --and their school-based therapy--has. If it does, words go away, the thrill of catching a ball is lost, the triumph of drawing a picture fades and the ability to socialize with classmates dwindles.

We honored our generous sponsors on Aug. 11, 2011 at . More than 350 people were in attendance and helped make this evening one that will be remembered well into the new school year!

Sponsors, camp participants and their families, and Kids on the Go Staff were all invited for an Ice Cream Social, where a variety of entertainment was available:

• Wally’s Frozen Custard Party Fire Engine
• a Bounce House Castle from Fergie’s Rentals
• rides on Dan Dan the Choo Choo Man Train sponsored by Schena Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc.

Music Entertainment was provided by:

• Grosse Pointe’s Barbershop Chorus Quartet
• Michigan State University Community School Music Therapist Jody Stark
• Music Therapist Emily Schienke.

Members from the Kohls Cares for Kids Team were on hand to register guests and provide books to all children attending the event. Sponsors were grateful for the opportunity to meet the child/children they sponsored over the summer and to see the difference they made in that child’s life. 

Kids on the Go formed in 1999 as a way to help families of special needs children with medical costs not covered by insurers. As the years went on other programs were added, new age groups were included, and more and more parents and children came forward needing help. Since its beginning, more than 750 children needing physical, occupational and speech therapies have been helped by Kids on the Go.

The need is great. In 2007-2008, the number of pupils receiving special education programs and services in Michigan was 244,030. There are many children requiring summertime therapy but unfortunately there are many parents who unable to pay for private services all summer long--if at all.

The summer camp, which runs for six weeks, is held at Assumption Cultural Center in St. Clair Shores. Classes were also offered in Rochester and in Detroit. While the camp is targeted to 3- to 6-year olds, the separate enrichment classes such as Little Sluggers, Art Therapy, Music therapy, Bike Riding, My Chance to Dance, YogaEd, Once Upon a Story, and Better Letters benefit children from ages 3 to 12.

Thank you for your time and for whatever you can do to keep the learning--and progress--going.

Sincerely,

Kristy Piana Schena, MS,CCC-SLP
Founder/Executive Director, Kids on the Go