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Therapeutic Recreation
Inclusive Recreation Services
Canton Leisure Services is committed to an inclusive approach to recreation, which allows for individuals with disabilities to participate in programs and activities as fully as possible, while providing reasonable accommodations.
Therapeutic Recreation (or "TR") accommodations typically include individualized techniques and resources that enhance participation without fundamentally altering a program.
Individuals participating in Canton's Therapeutic Recreation programming must be able to accomplish personal skills like feeding, toileting, and dressing themselves. Individuals who are unable to accomplish these skills on their own may participate with assistance from an aide, family member, or other personal resource. If an aide will be attending the program with your participant, please make sure he/she is registered too. This helps us better plan and cover any additional expenses that may be incurred.
FORMS, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION
If you would like forms, marketing and communication pieces, and handbooks made available to you in an alternative format (email, large print, audible, braille, or other), please call 734/394-5430.
- In Person Programs
- Camp Leisure Club
- Camp A.B.L.E.
- Policies
- Forms
- About our Staff
- Get Involved
- TR Photo Gallery
- A.C.E.
Year Round TR ProgramminG
Pre-registration is required for all programs online or by calling 734/394-5460. No on-site registration is available.
Zoom option available for most programs - just ask by emailing us at TR@cantonmi.gov.
Visit our online guide Version OptionsTherapeutic RecreationHeadline for program schedules, dates, times and registration!
Programs offered include:
- Fit Club
- Zoom Cooking
- Zoom Games or Crafts
- Dance Program with Dance Athletics Competitive Edge (DACE)
- Cardio Drumming
- Zumba
- Night on the Town
- Karate
- Saturday Special Events
Camp Leisure Club
June 19-Aug 11, 2023
Registration opens March 14th at 1pm
Join us this summer for 8 weeks of friends, fun, and exciting trips! Camp Leisure Club is our summer camp designed for campers age 15 years and older with special needs. This camp is offered Mondays through Fridays with field trips held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, are spent at The Summit on the Park participating in specially planned activities like swimming, crafts, sports, watering our butterfly garden, and taking trips to the Canton Public Library.
Please be advised that space is limited. Visit our online guide for registration, dates, times, and program information.
FEES:
- M,W,F: $68/day
- Tu,Th: $73/day
- $15 cancellation/transfer fee, per day. Two week notice required, form available at Summit Front Desk.
- Leisure Club Field Trip Aide: If your participant requires an aid for Leisure Club Field Trips, please call our TR Coordinator at 734/394-5367 to discuss availability BEFORE registering your participant for camp. Aides will be charged $10 per field trip.
- 1/2 day AM or PM Options are available M.W.F for $35
CAMP A.B.L.E.
Achieve, Believe, Learn and Experience
June 19-August 11, 2023
Registration opens March 14th at 1pm
Camp A.B.L.E. is our State Licensed summer camp designed for campers aged 8 to 14 years with disabilities. For 30 summers, this camp has been extremely successful and has set the precedent for Therapeutic Recreation camps to be modeled after throughout western Wayne County. Participants take part in a variety of activities throughout the day, interacting with their peers, enhancing social skills, gross and fine motor skills, and gaining independence. Camp A.B.L.E. runs Mondays thru Fridays and consists of two field trips per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) with three days of specially planned activities at the camp site, and swimming at The Summit Aquatics Center on Mondays. Wednesdays and Fridays. Participants may register for individual days of camp.
Please be advised that space is limited. Visit our online guide for registration, dates, times, and program information.
We are proud to announce that are scholarships through The Marion and Jerry Rozum Family Fund. Scholarship application forms are available at www.cantonfun.org/582 or by visiting the Summit on the Park.
FEES:
- M, W, F: $68/day
- Tu, Tr: $73/day
- Camp A.B.L.E. Field Trip Aide: If your participant requires an aide for Camp A.B.L.E. Field Trips, please call our TR Coordinator at 734/394-5367 to discuss availability BEFORE registering your participant for camp. Aides will be charged $10 per field trip.
- Additional Camp T-Shirts: $TBD, please pay at Camp A.B.L.E. Headquarters.
- $15 cancellation/transfer fee, per day. Two week notice required, form available at Summit Front Desk.
- 1/2 day AM or PM option are available M, W, F for $35
Important Policies and Program Information
How to Request a Reasonable Accommodation
- Written notification is required a minimum of two weeks prior to the registration deadline for each program. In some cases, a reasonable accommodation may take longer.
- The requester will be contacted within four business days by appropriate staff.
Inclement Weather Policy
If the Plymouth/Canton School District closes due to inclement weather during the school year (typically due to winter weather conditions), all Leisure Services Department programs/classes held prior to 4 pm will be canceled. For Leisure Services programs/classes that begin after 4 pm a determination to cancel will be made no later than 2 pm that day.
Zero Tolerance Policy
Therapeutic Recreation Zero Tolerance Behavior Agreement (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- If you would like the form made available to you in an alternative format (email, large print, audible, braille, or other), please contact the Recreation Supervisor at 734/394-5460 or by email.
Attending with an Aide/Assistant
If an aide, family member, assistant, or other resource will be utilized to help a participant accomplish personal needs like eating, toileting, and dressing while attending a Therapeutic Recreation program, they are always welcome, however, it is imperative that this individual is also registered for the activity. This will assist staff in planning, and will help to cover any additional expenses that may be incurred, especially in regards to tickets, transportation, meals, etc.
Requesting a Refund
Participants/Parents wishing to withdraw an individual from a class or program must complete a Program Withdrawal Form from the Summit's Front Desk at least seven days prior to the start of the program. If approved, participants will receive Leisure Services Program Credit on account.
Program Withdrawal Form are available at the Summit on the Park Front Desk or the links below.
Therapeutic Recreation Program Forms
Zero Tolerance Behavior Policy Agreement (PDF)
Cancellations/Refunds
To request a Cancellation or Refund, please complete the: Withdrawal Form
Please do your best to provide us with 24-hours' notice of a cancellation. In the event that you are unable to, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at TR@cantonmi.gov.
Multiple uncommunicated cancellations may result in program withdrawal by an administrator.
Therapeutic Recreation Program Staff
Interested in becoming a member of Canton’s Therapeutic Recreation Team?
We are often hiring both part-time and seasonal Therapeutic Recreation Program Leaders. Enjoy a flexible schedule while making a difference in the lives of our exceptional participants!
View current Therapeutic Recreation Leader Job Postings
What our staff has to say about working here...
"Canton’s Therapeutic Recreation Program supports the social, mental, and physical well-being of all participants and staff. Every high-five given, noodle-art masterpiece crafted, playground crossed, and friendship made contributes to the happy summer camp environment that I love being a part of. My favorite memories are the times when participants and staff laughed with each other, overcame their fears together, and helped each other. When I realized that those moments happened every day, I came to the conclusion that I had the best summer job ever."
- Erin (Camp A.B.L.E. Staff)
"It is a wonderful labor of love working with Leisure Club participants, and my fantastic co-workers too."
- Bonnie (Leisure Club)
Meet our Therapeutic Recreation Administrative and Supervisory Program Staff
Jennifer Girard
Jennifer Girard is a full-time Recreation Specialist with Canton Leisure Services. She oversees Therapeutic Recreation programming in addition to Enrichment programming and many of Canton’s Community Events. She is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and has worked for Canton Township for more than 20 years. In 2014, she became a Certified Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Instructor. Email Jennifer with and program questions.
Pam Holdridge
Pam has worked as an ASD Paraprofessional in the Plymouth Canton School District for 9 years. Her other love is being a member of the Camp ABLE staff for the last 5 years. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, camping, and reading.
Carly Miller
Carly graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor degree in Therapeutic Recreation and is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist(CTRS/Recreational Therapist). TR is her passion, and while she is a Water Safety Instructor teaching adaptive swim and adaptive gymnastics, she loves connecting people of all ability levels with their favorite leisure activities. Carly is a wife and mom and enjoys spending time with my family and friends. She also likes lake and beach trips, swing dancing, camping, and the outdoors.
Cheryl StecCheryl has worked with Canton Township for 13 years! Cheryl develops and implements year around programming for adults and children with social, emotional, and physical challenges. This is her passion and joy! Cheryl has BS in Psychology and Sociology from The University of Michigan - Dearborn. She also has three boys who keep her and her husband busy and laughing. Go Blue! Go Army Beat Navy! Go Warriors!
Taylor TyszkiewiczTaylor graduated in 2022 with a Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology from Wayne State University. She has worked for Canton TR since 2017 and considers camp to be her second home. In her free time, Taylor enjoys reading, going to country concerts, and spoiling her niece.
Justin Wagoner
Justin is one of our Program Administrators for Camp Leisure Club. Justin has been with Canton Therapeutic Recreation for 12 years. He is a graduate from Central Michigan University (Special Education and History) and has his Masters from Grand Canyon University (Reading). Justin currently works as a Special Education Teacher in South Lyon and is active in the school’s athletic department! Justin resides in Livonia, and loves being an uncle to Ava and Grayson.
How to Help the Therapeutic Recreation Program
Make a Donation to a Camp A.B.L.E. Scholarship Fund
Camp A.B.L.E., Canton Leisure Services summer camp designed to serve children residing in Canton and Western Wayne County between the ages of 8-14 with disabilities, is seeking donations to help offset some expenses related to important items like sensory integration tools and accessible transportation that are unfortunately not currently within the program's financial reach. Funds can also help enrolled families help offset some participation costs through the Marion and Jerry Rozum Scholarship program. Donations to the Canton Community Foundation are currently being accepted, and can help make the sun shine a little brighter at Camp A.B.L.E. all summer long!
Interested donors are encouraged to visit: Canton Foundation
Simply complete the online form and choose "Camp A.B.L.E." on the drop-down menu of available funds.
Checks can also be made out to:
Canton Community Foundation with "Camp A.B.L.E." in the memo line
Please mail them to:
Canton Community Foundation
50430 School House Road Suite 200
Canton, MI 48187
Become a Therapeutic Recreation Program Volunteer
Those interested in becoming a volunteer with the Therapeutic Recreation Program may email the Canton Township's Volunteer Coordinator or call 734/394-5360.
Donate Supplies or Funds to the Therapeutic Recreation Program
Individuals, families, businesses, churches, or other organizations that are interested in donating funds or supplies to the Therapeutic Recreation Program, should contact the Program Coordinator at 734/394-5460 or TR Program Coordinator Email TR@cantonmi.gov
Therapeutic Recreation Holiday Wish Tree
The Therapeutic Recreation Program's Holiday Wish Tree can be found in the Summit on the Park's lobby each December. It is adorned with festive gift tags citing items like noise cancelling headphones, sensory balls, bean bag chairs, rainsticks, and more. These supplies are utilized by TR Staff throughout the year as they work with participants in various programs. Many items serve as important interventions, especially when assisting individuals with limited communication or language abilities.
If the generous spirit of the Holiday Season inspires you to help those in the community with special needs, please take a tag, or two, from the Holiday Wish Tree. Financial donations are also welcome.
All gift items/donations can be dropped off at the Summit on the Park's Front Desk, Attn: Therapeutic Recreation Specialist through the first week of January.
A.C.E-Adaptive creative Expression
Village Arts Factory
- Who: Youth Ages 5-12
- What: Adaptive Creative Programming
- When: Monthly Workshops
- Where: Village Arts Factory-50755 Cherry Hill Rd.
- Why: To provide creative and expressive programming for children ages 5-12 with special needs and accommodations.
JUNE
Adaptive Chalk Art at the Village Arts Factory
June 10, 2023
2:00-3:00pm
Cost: $10 per child
- Parent must attend
- Call 734-765-7061 to register
Registration: program registration is available online and at the Summit on the Park front desk.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
If the Plymouth/Canton School District closes due to inclement weather during the school year (typically due to winter weather conditions), all Leisure Services Department programs/classes held prior to 4:00 pm will be canceled. For Leisure Services programs/classes that begin after 4:00 pm a determination to cancel will be made no later than 2:00 pm that day.
ACCOMMODATION REQUEST
Leisure Services strives to offer inclusive recreation opportunities for all participants. If you would like to request an ADA accommodation or to request that a form/information be made available in an alternative format (email, large print, braille, audible or other) please contact our Recreation Supervisor at 734/394-5460 or by email.