Therapeutic Recreation

Virtual Programs

Join us online for a variety of new TR programs! Participants will experience, learn, connect, and try new things from the comfort of home. An ideal way to get involved in programming if wearing a mask is difficult for your participant.

Pre-registration is required and the virtual link will be emailed to the email address within your registration account prior to the start of class. 

Upcoming Programs

Virtual Experience

• Virtual Leisure Club Fit Club
  Mondays, 5-5:30 pm
• Virtual Variety
  Tuesdays, 1-2 pm
• Virtual Cardio Drumming
  Wednesdays, 6-7 pm
• Virtual Variety
  Thursdays, 6-7 pm
• Virtual TR Zumba
  Fridays, 5-5:40 pm
• Virtual TR Karate
  Fridays, 6-7 pm

Camp Leisure Club

IN PERSON: 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. 

FEES:

• M,W,F: $51/day
• Tu,Th: $65/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.

VIRTUAL OPTION: Join us for a virtual day at camp with your friends.  Two hours of fun and exciting camp activities that include Zumba, Cardio Drumming, crafts, guest speakers and  more. It will be like being at camp, just from the comfort of your own home. You will have a camp counselor dedicated to our online group to help assist with crafts, asking questions of our guest speakers, and helping ensure interacting with friends that are in person at camp! 

Link will be sent one week ahead of scheduled camp date with instructions and supply pick up times.

Camp time for virtual camp may differ by the week, however, you will be given the opportunity for a refund if times change from originally planned schedule of 1-3 p.m. All time changes will be emailed one week in advance and posted on TR Facebook page.  You will have 48 hours to request a refund due to time change

CAMP A.B.L.E.
Achieve, Believe, Learn and Experience

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 three field trips per week (Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays), with two days of specially planned activities at the camp site, and swimming at The Summit Aquatics Center on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Participants may register for individual days of camp.  

Please be advised that space is limited.

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, Th, F: $65/day
• Tu, W: $51/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: $5, 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.

Important public health Program updates for therapeutic recreation

In response to the evolving public health care crisis, Canton's Therapeutic Recreation Program has experienced substantial changes and interruptions to regular services and operations. Despite these challenges, online engagement has remained strong thanks to the amazing staff and families that are the very heart of this program.

Please visit this page and the Canton Therapeutic Recreation Facebook Page often. A selection of virtual and physically-distanced outdoor programs will open for registration beginning in September. Smaller class sizes and other important safety protocol will help us begin to re-engage with the families and friends that we've missed so much. If you would like to learn more about our new program locations, weather, mask, and cancellation policies, and other important information, please visit 

• Keep Active During COVID-19
• Register for Programs

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.

Western Wayne County Therapeutic Recreation Grant

Special pricing is available to all qualifying residents of Western Wayne County because of a generous Western Wayne County Therapeutic Recreation Grant.

This ensures that individuals with disabilities residing in neighboring communities can take advantage of "Resident" rates for these specialized programs. This special pricing is currently effective through the end of 2015.

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.

• Program Withdrawal Form
• Camp Withdrawal Form (PDF) Opens a New Window. 

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 cantontr@canton-mi.org.

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.

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@canton-mi.org.

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.