By Kim Hilsenbeck
A three-ring binder full to the brim sits on the desk of Barbara Bush, the admissions coordinator for Marbridge in Manchaca. Inside are schedules and information for the summer camps held at the facility.
Activities and events include horseback riding, swimming, games, arts and crafts, a Circuit of the Americas tour, a Round Rock Express baseball game and bowling. Campers also participate in drum therapy, music therapy, horticulture, and sports games in newly constructed gym.
“They usually have a Bar-B-Que before the [Round Rock] game; they help plan the menu, they go shopping with the counselors, and they help prepare the meal,” Buda said.
In weeks when the Round Rock Express is not playing, campers head to the Main Event glow in the dark miniature golf.
Who can attend this camp?
“Summer camp is for individuals age 16-30 who have an intellectual disability but are independent in their daily activities,” she said.
In essence, they can walk, dress, shower and feed themselves. They also must be free of medical issues and behavioral problems.
“Camp is for people that don’t live at Marbridge but maybe their parents are interested in having a loved one move here or are just looking for respite care for a week,” she said. “Also for the experience campers get. We have people that come year after year.”
Marbridge summer camp, now in its 13th year, uses two houses on the 170-acre property.
“The Davis House will hold eight and the Camp House holds nine people,” Bush said. During the non-summer camp seasons, Bush said, “We also rent out [the houses] to families of Marbridge residents who want to visit their loved one.”
During the eight-week summer camp program (though it was a nine-week session this summer), Bush said 17 new campers arrive and stay every Sunday-Friday. Each house staffs two counselors throughout the day and one overnight.
“That person at each house doesn’t sleep – his or her job is to upload pictures of the day’s events,” Bush said. “At the end of the week, they make a CD of all pictures for each camper to take home.”
Though all campers receive a t-shirt, Bush said returning campers will bring t-shirts from the past years.
“They wear one every day,” she said.
How do families hear about the Marbridge summer camp?
One way is word of mouth. Bush travels to transition fairs all over Texas; individuals in special education classes can stay in school until age 21. At those fairs, parents learn about resources available once their children age out of the education system.
“I’m always talking about summer camp,” she said.
In the drum therapy class, Mark Knox led the campers in a series of exercises meant to help with counting and differentiating between left and right. The materials he used are still the same ones given to Marbridge by Beach Boys drummer Eddie Tuduri. He had a surfing accident in 1997 that broke his neck and nearly left him a quadriplegic. Using kettle drumming, the cadence helped him learn to count and spell again.
As a result, he founded The Rhythmic Arts Project. The program strives to enhance the lives of people with disabilities utilizing rhythm, djembe drums, and other percussion instruments. Knox handed out maracas and symbols for campers to shake and play during songs.
“Tuduri came out to Marbridge, gave lessons to the teachers and donated the drums,” Knox said.
Assisting him with the lessons was Alexa, a resident of Marbridge.
Campers participating in the drum therapy followed Knox’s instructions. At the end of the session, he saved a few minutes for playing along with songs from artists such as The Beatles and Roy Orbison.
Alexa told the campers she thought they should all come back.
Bush said applications for the Marbridge summer camp open in February so parents need to start planning then.
“We generally fill up all the slots,” she said.
