Recreational Therapy Intern

The Bradford Woods Recreation Therapy Department seeks to empower individuals of all abilities by providing recreation therapy in a traditional camp environment where participant needs are always put first. In partnership with Riley Children’s Foundation, Riley Hospital for Children, and other non-profit agencies, we offer this unforgettable outdoor experience in the summer and year-round by serving youth and adults with various diagnoses and chronic illnesses. 

Our Therapeutic Summer Camp program is designed to support each group medical, social, emotional, and physical needs. Camps are group by either diagnosis or level of care needed to ensure that each child has their specific needs met. This also provides a unique opportunity for youth to form social connections with and receive support from others who have similar life experiences. 

Our guiding philosophies are what we call the 3 E’s: Empathy, Engagement, and Empowerment. We seek to empower all individuals that come to Bradford Woods by providing an accessible space for individuals to discover their strengths and overcome barriers to meet their goals. We follow Recreation Therapy practices and philosophies to achieve these outcomes and also conduct research to further our field to create a lasting impact. 

In our Therapeutic Summer Camp program, we hire 60+ staff members – typically students in health related fields such as medicine, recreation therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, child life, art therapy, social work, pre-med, speech and audiology, music therapy, and nursing. All of our programs and services focus on meeting the individual needs of participants. Our low staff-to-participant ratios promote engagement, empowerment, and of course FUN! Our staff are well trained in person-first language, disability awareness, and individualized medical/personal care while being supported by various medical professionals such as nurses, doctors, and Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRSs). 

Our programming is very intentional and is focused on the goals of each camper. Each camper has a specific care plan that is created at the beginning of the camp session to ensure our campers are meeting their preestablished goals while also gaining independence throughout their stay at camp. During our summer season we partner with state organizations such as Riley Hospital for Children, Little Red Door Cancer Agency, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Easter Seals Crossroads, and Champ Camp. 

Throughout all our therapeutic programs, we utilize the APIED Process. We review each campers’ history and assessment forms filled out by caregivers to create individualized goals and objectives. Every activity that our campers participate in are planned and implemented based on their previously identified goals, objectives, and needs. After the completion of each program, we both formally and informally evaluate our programs by asking for client input, filling out evaluation forms, and writing discharge notes for each camper.