Helping Kids with Hemiplegia - CIMT Camp 2025
UNC Health offers Helping Kids with Hemiplegia - CIMT Camp, a therapeutic day camp for kids ages 4 to 10 with a diagnosis of hemiplegic cerebral palsy. What is more fun than working with friends in a classic camp setting?
Camp programming incorporates modified constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT), bimanual intensive therapy (BIT), and structured interventions with therapeutic handling into fun, goal-oriented games and activities. Since 2005, more than 485 children and their families have attended this annual summer program.
The camp was founded over twenty years ago by UNC Health's Holly Holland, OTR/L, who serves as co-director with Kerry Blazek, PT, DPT, PCS, CNT and Hillary Markham, MS, OTR/L. Camp is staffed by licensed UNC Health occupational therapists, physical therapists and speech language pathologists. Community therapists and student volunteers also volunteer to help staff camp ensuring our 1:1 camper to counselor ratio.
Before you apply, please review the “Is camp right for my family?” section below and review the eligibility requirements before completing your application materials.
The application includes:
- Online Application
- Application Video
- Referral for “OT Evaluation for CIMT Camp”. All application materials are due by March 15, 2025. Incomplete or late applications will automatically be placed on the waitlist.
Is Camp Right for My Family?
During Helping Kids with Hemiplegia-CIMT Camp, your child will take part in fun, creative activities. Please note that camp days can be physically demanding for campers, as constraint-induced movement therapy involves immobilizing your child's dominant arm in a cast. This process allows for targeted rehabilitation of the affected arm through carefully designed activities and exercises.
Parents and caregivers, please consider whether CIMT in a group setting is right for your child. These are fun yet long and strenuous days for our campers. Not all children enjoy sensory stimulating environments such as Helping Kids with Hemiplegia CIMT camp. If you have questions about your child, please contact us.
Who is Eligible?
Helping Kids with Hemiplegia is for children ages 4 to 10 who:
Required
- Have been diagnosed with hemiplegic cerebral palsy
- Walk independently without an assistive device (crutches, walker, etc.)
- Follow directions in a group setting
- Can wear a cast for the entire camp day
- Can take part in group activities for 7 full days, while casted
- Can participate in camp without a parent present. (Please consider your child’s temperament in group settings such as daycare and school.)
- Are not subject to uncontrolled seizures
- Can commit to the full week of camp
- Can attend a pre-camp casting and assessment appointment. Please be aware that this appointment is billed to your insurance and will require a separate trip to our clinic in Chapel Hill, NC. Appointments will be scheduled between April 15 and June 13, 2025.
Preference is given to children who:
- Will not take part in any CIMT interventions in the six months prior to camp
- Demonstrate the ability to open and close their fingers
- Are residents of North Carolina
Helping Kids Camp Is Free
Helping Kids with Hemiplegia-CIMT Camp does not charge a registration or program fee thanks to the generosity of private and corporate donors, staffing support from UNC Health, Hope for Hemiplegia, the RTI Community Partnership grant, and time donated by our volunteer staff. A $100 tax-deductible donation is encouraged to help sustain our program.
Other costs include:
- Pre-camp evaluation and casting appointment with our camp team at UNC Health – This appointment will be billed to insurance.
- Families are responsible for any food, transportation, and lodging needs during camp. Upon acceptance, area hotel information will be shared with camp families.
How Do I Apply?
To apply, please submit the following application materials by March 15, 2025 - 11:00PM/EST:
Helping Kids with Hemiplegia-CIMT Camp receives many applications each year that often exceed the spaces available for campers. We do our best to accommodate all applicants. Please know our selection team carefully considers each child while also creating well-balanced and age-appropriate camp groups to ensure a positive experience for all campers. If your child is not accepted, they will automatically be placed on the waitlist.
Application
Solicitud del Campamento
How Do I Become A Volunteer?
Helping Kids with Hemiplegia - CIMT Camp is a therapy-based day camp that uses constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT) and bimanual intensive therapy (BIT) for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
Mornings start with hands-on training related to movement facilitation and intervention ideas for all volunteer staff. Throughout the day campers rotate between stations: art, games, fine motor, sensory and activities of daily living. Each day ends with a group song and send off! Some days have a theme, and all volunteers are encouraged to participate!
Check out this video to get an inside look at the camp experience and hear testimony from our volunteers.
Volunteer Therapists from the community and UNC Health are essential in supporting students and campers to optimize interventions while at camp. We welcome OT, PT and SLP practitioners who work with kids or adults to support our volunteer students.
Benefits of Volunteering at Camp!
- Training in CIMT and BIT techniques
- Opportunity to practice techniques and receive feedback
- Work with and support students
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Ability to bring back knowledge and techniques to your own practice
- Network with other local therapists
- Maintenance hours toward license renewal
- Free T-shirt!
Sign-Up Today!
If you are interested in becoming a Therapist Volunteer, please complete the Therapist Volunteer Sign-Up Form by, May 1.
*Camp is in Chapel Hill, NC. Volunteers are responsible for food and housing.
Student Volunteers
The camp experience is an invaluable, hands-on opportunity for OT/PT students, undergraduate students interested in related fields or those interested in working with children. Student volunteers have many different responsibilities that range from working directly with a camper, directly supporting camp groups, and facilitating group activities by organizing materials and spaces. Students working directly with a camper for the week will develop a home program for their camper that will be reviewed with the parents on the last day of camp.
Benefits of Volunteering at Camp!
- Training in CIMT and BIT techniques
- Opportunity to learn and practice techniques while receiving feedback from licensed therapists
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Free T-shirt!
Student Volunteer Requirements
- Must be 18 years old
- Attend the pre-camp training and orientation session prior to the start of camp (TBD)
- Must commit to working all days, June 16-22. (8am-3:00pm)
- Complete online HIPAA training
- Complete a criminal background check
Sign-Up Today!
If you are interested in becoming a Student Volunteer, please complete the Student Volunteer Sign-Up Form Submit form by, May 1.
*Camp is in Chapel Hill, NC. Volunteers are responsible for food and housing.
