What is Recreational Therapy?

“Recreational therapy, also known as therapeutic recreation, is a systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions, as a means to psychological and physical health, recovery, and well-being.

The purpose of the recreational therapy process is to enhance or maintain physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and spiritual functioning, thereby facilitating full participation in life. Services are provided or directly supervised by a “Certified Therapeutic Recreational Specialist” (CTRS).

 

Recreational therapy encompasses a range of services and activities, including therapeutic pursuits and recreational activities, utilizing various techniques such as arts and crafts, animal therapy, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, music, and community outings. Recreational therapists treat and help maintain the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of their clients by seeking to reduce depression, stress, and anxiety; recover basic motor functioning and reasoning abilities; build confidence; and socialize effectively. "Recreational therapists should not be confused with recreation workers, who organize recreational activities primarily for enjoyment.”-NCTRC.org website

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What is a Recreational Therapist?

Recreational Therapy is an evidence-based healthcare profession led by Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists® (CTRS®). These highly educated and nationally certified professionals design individualized, goal-based sessions to support overall health and independence.

Recreational Therapy addresses many areas of life, including:

· Physical: strength, coordination, mobility

· Emotional: stress, anxiety, depression

· Cognitive: memory, focus, problem-solving

· Social: communication, relationships

· Functional: independence and quality of life

With specialized training and certification, CTRSs ensure that every session is purposeful, professional, and focused on improving well-being.

 

What are the benefits of Recreational Therapy?

Through activities such as crafts, games, swimming, cooking, and community outings, Recreational therapy provides opportunities to learn, play, and achieve individualized goals while having fun at the same time. Individuals can build confidence, independence, and important life skills. Our recreational therapists collaborate with families and other team members to create personalized plans that focus on physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and functional goals. Most importantly, our recreational therapists work to build trust-based relationships to help instill confidence and independence. Join us and see how Recreational Therapy can make a difference!

 

How to Register: Interested in participating? Simply visit "Register Now" to join our waitlist. We actively pull individuals from the waitlist on a first-come, first-served basis, while also matching schedules between our recreational therapists and clients. Don’t wait—add your name today!

 

Payment Options

Camp Red Cedar’s recreational therapy accepts payment through the Indiana Medicaid Waiver or private pay.

 

What does Recreational Therapy at Camp Red Cedar look like?

At Camp Red Cedar, our Recreational Therapy program helps individuals grow, learn, and thrive through meaningful activities and one-on-one support. Our team of five Certified Therapeutic Recreational Specialists (CTRS) works directly with clients, both on our beautiful 57-acre property and out in the community. Whether it’s a trip to the movies, a visit to the zoo, swimming at the YMCA, grooming or riding horses, hiking at a local park, or volunteering with a local non-profit, each experience is designed to provide evidence-based outcomes toward reaching the individualized goals.

During the summer months, participants have the opportunity to enjoy classic camp activities, including swimming, fishing, archery, gardening, and special themed programming. Throughout the year, our facilities also provide opportunities for cooking and baking in the kitchen, creating seasonal crafts, playing interactive games, or helping care for our horses.

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Our recreational therapists bring decades of combined experience to their work. Their expertise, combined with Camp Red Cedar’s welcoming environment, ensures that every participant has the opportunity to learn, connect, and work towards reaching their individual goals.

Camp Red Cedar is proud of the strong reputation we’ve built in the community, and we are grateful for the positive feedback we receive from individuals and families who take part in our program.

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What others are saying:

“The Recreational Therapist has been a wonderful catalyst for [our participant] to branch out and feel confident trying different things. She trusts the Recreational Therapist, and so do we!”

 

“The Recreational Therapist has been great at getting me out into the community and helping me adapt to different social situations.”

 

“CRC Recreational Therapy is so helpful for my daughter. She loves being able to interact with the horses and learning how to care for them. This helps her in thinking about caring for herself. She's also enjoyed some group interaction with others, working on socializing and reciprocal conversation."

 

“The Recreational Therapist and all the staff are amazing with meeting [participants] needs. Very happy with his therapy and how much he thrives with it, and he absolutely loves it”

 

“[My daughter] feels comfortable there and around the Recreational Therapist. [My daughter] has huge anxiety issues, so that she can walk into any of the buildings there, no matter who might be in there, and not stand behind me or hold my hand because she is nervous, and has actually walked before me instead of me guiding her, which is a huge deal. She loves all the activities … and looks forward to her time with her weekly.”