2010 Youth Transition Summer Programs

Each year, the IDB Youth Transition Program offers a series of summer programs to enhance a blind or visually impaired teenager's summer activities. This year, the program will host five themed programs and one weekend retreat in Montour, IA.

Participants will experience new locations, meet new friends and learn about topics as independence, alternative techniques for dealing with vision loss, how to appreciate art, careers in science, and hobbies and recreational activities.

Registration for the programs are free, but teens must be signed up by mid-May to participate.

Each program will run from Mondays at noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, except Artful Antics, which runs from Wednesday at noon through Sunday at 2 p.m. Transportation to and from the programs will be provided upon request.

June 14-16: FUNdamentals
Learning life skills need not be boring. Have fun with old friends and new ones in Des Moines as we hit the streets to get a feel for traveling in unfamiliar places. Check out public transportation, how not to get ripped off at the grocery store by buying what is in season, cooking for your friends and family and using Braille when other means of gathering information prove impactical. Get ready for some great games and friendly competition!

June 23-27: Artful Antics
Join us for new experiences in the world of art. This camp is designed to show you how to use a variety of materials and experience activities including sculpture, painting, pottery, and landscaping. The emphasis of this camp is on interactive, fun learning with exposure to a wide range of artistic media and methods. You will gain a greater appreciation and understanding of art, as well as developing your own talent for self-expression. Several activities and opportunities of this camp will be led by nationally known tactile artist, Ann Cunningham. Additional events include attending the Des Moines Arts Festival, meeting with local artists, attending a theater production, swimming, and creating your own artwork to take home. Don’t miss this chance to broaden your experiences in the world of art.

July 19-21: Mission: Possible II – Learn how you as a visually impaired student can succeed in jobs which many falsely believe are difficult or impossible for you to enter. Get to know college students and learn about life on campus as we explore science, technology, engineering and math at Iowa State University. There is much more to look forward to at this camp than just the huge variety of food you will get to choose from! Learn about the science behind making the foods you love delicious and sometimes addictive. So much of our Iowa economy revolves around agriculture and believe it or not, farming relies heavily on science and engineering. We will learn about science in agriculture and the evolution of computers over the years from huge building-size machines to the microprocessors we have today. Other areas we may explore include environmental science, the science of sports, using forensic science to solve crimes, and helping animals through veterinary science.

July 26-28: Dare to Care – What could be better than spending time with other students and giving back to others at the same time? Join us for three days of unique opportunities designed to give you a broad look at the importance of community service. Not only will you have the chance to connect with friends from across the state, but you will be given a chance to gather skills and knowledge in the area of volunteerism. Through cleaning up, preparing meals, and collecting items for those in need, you will participate in a wide range of activities throughout these three days. This experience will be useful to you in the future as you prepare to write resume’s and fill out college and work applications. Additional activities include swimming, attending a sporting event, and participation in other community offerings. This camp will definitely give you a chance to make a difference.

August 2-4: Action Extravaganza – Get off your duff and join us for recreational activities for all fitness levels. Find out what kinds of activities you might enjoy in college and beyond. Learn about the art of gardening. Challenge fellow visually impaired students to a game of goal ball or learn the sport for the first time. Get to know members of the Des Moines Rowing Club as they teach you about the teamwork and technique involved in rowing. Learn the basics of judo. Tear around the bases for a game of beep baseball. Cruise Des Moines bike paths as a tandem bike stoker. Most importantly, socialize with old friends and make new ones as you teach each other about the sports and hobbies you enjoy.

August 13-15: The Great Outdoors Weekend Retreat – Join us at this weekend retreat to experience many exciting and diverse activities related to camping and enjoying the great outdoors. This program is guaranteed to be packed full of excitement. Test the skills you learned earlier this summer as you spend the weekend fending for yourself, cooking over a camp fire, hiking, swimming, and sleeping outdoors. Be sure not to miss your last chance to spend time with friends before the school year starts.

Housing will be provided at the AIB College of Business for all programs except Mission: Possible II, which will be at Iowa State University in Ames.

Other activities are planned to round out these experiences, including swimming, apartment parties, hiking, boating, shopping, touring businesses and colleges and attending local festivals. We will always be on the go, leaving no time for boredom.
 
Participants must be at least 14 years old and an active vocational rehabilitation client of the Iowa Department for the Blind. Contact Transition Specialists Keri Osterhaus at Keri.Osterhaus@blind.state.ia.us or Tai Blas at Tai.Blas@blind.state.ia.us or (800) 362-2587 for more information.