{"id":3039,"date":"2013-03-05T21:18:40","date_gmt":"2013-03-05T21:18:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/?p=3039"},"modified":"2023-11-08T10:23:06","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T18:23:06","slug":"california-camp-invites-kids-with-special-needs-to-zoo-fest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/financial-resources\/state-resources\/california-camp-invites-kids-with-special-needs-to-zoo-fest\/","title":{"rendered":"California Camp Invites Kids With Special Needs to Zoo Fest"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_3043\" style=\"width: 802px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/?p=3039\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3043\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3043 lazyload\" title=\"Children and nature\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/NEEF-CNI-Infographic.jpg\" alt=\"Children and nature\" width=\"792\" height=\"1224\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/NEEF-CNI-Infographic.jpg 792w, https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/NEEF-CNI-Infographic-194x300.jpg 194w, https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/NEEF-CNI-Infographic-662x1024.jpg 662w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 792px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 792\/1224;\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3043\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: eco-smartparent.blogspot.com<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Kids (and adults) with special needs in Cupertino California can get up close and personal with nature this weekend, March 5-8 with a three-day Zoo Fest from Via Services. For children in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/parents\">speech-therapy<\/a>, a chance to get out into the community is the best way to generalize and learn new skills. With Via Services, trips like this one to the zoo provide stimulation for both the mind and body in the great outdoors, away from the distractions of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.instant.ly\/blog\/2013\/02\/playstation-mobile-is-sony-edging-out-ahead\/\">Playstation<\/a>, Youtube and iPads.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><strong>Via Services<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Via West: Highlights of the Summer\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Qe2g2HiW2Wk?list=UUOSaiJXb66BItHyDYilR3kA&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;playerapiid=ytplayer\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.viaservices.org\/\">Via Services is a private, independent non-profit organization<\/a>. Their mission is to help individuals with disabilities and special needs achieve greater self-sufficiency and lead richer lives. The organization provides a first step early intervention program, respite services, day and residential programing under the theme, \u201cliving healthy,\u201d which advocates emotional and physical well-being for persons with disabilities. Their Via West Campus offers year-round day and residential programs for adults and children, ages 5 and older, with physical and\/or developmental disabilities and special need. Week-long summer programs include specialty sessions for specific groups such as: Autism, for ages 8 \u2013 20 that focuses on communication and skill development; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/speech-therapy-techniques\/speech-difficulties-in-down-syndrome\/\">Down syndrome<\/a>, for participants ages 8 \u2013 20 with a focus on skill development and recreational activities; Young Adult Leadership Development, for ages 18-30 which seeks to develop leadership and independent living skills. <a href=\"http:\/\/viawestblog.blogspot.com\/2013\/01\/wild-science-weekend-recap.html\">Weekend programs in the spring\/fall<\/a> offer a variety of life skills and community integration opportunities, including Zoo fest!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Past events have included themes for everyone: Its Harry Potter Halloween, Jingle Bell Rock and Be My Valentine.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Zoo Fest<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>During zoo-fest, participants will enjoy a day-long field trip to Happy Hollow Park and Zoo. Topics include visiting the animals (of course) and lessons about ranching, farming, and our environment. Zoo Fest is a new event for persons with mild-moderate disabilities who benefit from respite. According to the website, this session is designed for 3:1 mainstreamed participants. Registration forms for respite can be downloaded online.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Happy Hollow Park and Zoo<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Happy Hollow | Sophia&#039;s Enrichment\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KZtSnpGn3S0?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;playerapiid=ytplayer\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Happy Hallow Park and Zoo, a sustainable, conservation-centered outdoor adventure for families with children, is located\u00a0 in San Jose, California. The park and zoo offers a variety of activities including puppet shows, rides, classes and, of course, the zoo. Visitors can enjoy mammals, reptiles, and birds.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Language Learning at the Zoo<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Though it might sound exhausting or a bit overwhelming, taking children with special needs to the zoo <em>can<\/em> be a great experience for language learning. Here are a few language-based tips for making the trip successful and stimulating:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Create a social story or Google a Youtube video of the facility before the trip. Share and discuss this with your child beforehand.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If your child uses assistive technology to communicate, prepare for the trip ahead of time by putting animal vocabulary into their communication tool(s).<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If your child struggles with naming all of the animals, review the colors they might be or are and have them label using those (\u201cPink\u201d is much easier to say than \u201cflamingo!\u201d)<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Create and play a game of, \u201cguess this animal\u201d using sounds or gestures. This is a great way to practice \u201cWH-\u201c type questions (Where does it live? What does it look like?)<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Read zoo books to carryover and reinforce concepts at home. Vocabulary might include: rides, tickets, cage, food, shelter, zookeeper etc. Try Goodnight Gorilla for younger kiddos.<\/p>\n    <span class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\" id=\"\">\n    <span class=\"hs-cta-node \" id=\"\">\n        <!--[if lte IE 8]><div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div><![endif]-->\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/speechbuddy.com\/guides\/communication-challenges\" ><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hs-cta-img lazyload\" id=\"\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 655px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 655\/211;border-width:0px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/533600a3-8950-4500-aa3b-fab8818be024.png\"  alt=\"Parent's Guide to Speech & Communication Challenges\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><\/a>\n    <\/span>\n    <\/span>\n    \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kids (and adults) with special needs in Cupertino California can get up close and personal with nature this weekend, March 5-8 with a three-day Zoo Fest from Via Services. For children in speech-therapy, a chance to get out into the community is the best way to generalize and learn new skills. With Via Services, trips [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[576],"tags":[1026,1134],"class_list":["post-3039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-state-resources","tag-california-resources","tag-respite"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3039","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3039"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3039\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12046,"href":"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3039\/revisions\/12046"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3039"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3039"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}