Fort building:
A prescription for
learning and fun

Adventure playgrounds offer a strenuous alternative for summer camp programs.

By Vemon Alexander

Adventure playgrounds and other physical activities are not new to the summer scene. Many agencies have offered and/or continue to provide a more strenuous option to summer day campers.

For the individual who is categorized as Learning/Behavioral Disordered (LD/BD), this option seems to be "just what the doctor ordered." Many of these participants are hyperactive, have short attention spans, find it difficult to share, want to be the center of attraction and so forth. The concept of fort building is an ideal activity that provides all the ingredients to not only deal with these symptoms, but also to provide a fun-related adventure.

Our agency has utilized this alternative for LD/BD during the last four years, and we are convinced that these individuals benefit more than if placed in our conventional camp.

Community involvement

All the materials/equipment are donated by local lumber, hardware, paint and related companies, thereby keeping the total cost within reason. Many have scrap lumber and old or outdated supplies that they are more than willing to donate. Our contact with these donors also increases their awareness of our Association and the recreational services provided to local disabled/handicapped persons.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 17 November/December 1986

Participant value

The participants are the main benefactor of this special program. The fun of building a fort seems to subdue their inhibitions and, in some ways, channels that excess energy into an obtainable project. The building process is an ideal activity that not only provides an energetic mystique, but also offers those special components that somewhat dilute the individuals' negative behavior patterns into a more workable arrangement.

It takes five weeks to complete the project, which for some is almost unbearable. The campers are usually placed in groups of five to ten persons. This fosters the foreseeable problems of decision making, leadership, sharing, design, planning and other related situations. The end result is usually any number of unlivable structures in which the campers and staff are committed to spend an overnight. Parents are invited to visit the camp on that night for the grand tour. Then they are treated to a brief camp social.

Focus on staff

The adventure playground is by no means a panacea to solving all the participants' problems or behaviors. It is simply a means to provide a fun-orientated activity and to help staff to "survive" the ordeal — and they all do! All the problems one could imagine do happen, and still some. Yet the program has been a complete success.

The key factor is having quality staff. You need staff who have had experience working with these particular disabilities so proper supervision can be maintained.

Participants, staff and parents have stated that the experience was not only rewarding, but it also modified the campers' behavior in a positive way.

Why not give it a try? They'll like it!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Vernon Alexander is executive director of the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 18 November/December 1986