Exciting programs have been developed for each age group of children and teens. These programs have been designed to entertain and enrich all children in the program, including children who use cochlear implants, those being considered for the implant, and their brothers and sisters. There are games, arts and craft activities, entertainment and field trips for the children to look forward to. There will also be free time for the children and their parents to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and amenities of the Sturbridge Host Hotel.
Responsible adult childcare providers are available during all scheduled adult activities so parents can participate freely. The care will be delivered by a combination of professional baby-sitters and graduate student chaperones from the Communication Disorders Programs at Northeastern University and Emerson College. The graduate students will be supervised by on-site faculty. Parents will be required to sign their children in and out of the morning, afternoon and evening events. Although childcare and chaperones are being provided, the children and teens are ultimately the responsibility of their parents at all times.
All children participating in these programs must be pre-registered by June 22th using the form in the center of this brochure. Space is limited and pre-registration for some age groups may close earlier. Parents or guardians must sign consent forms for all activities their children participate in. The consent forms will be in the registration packet you'll receive on registering at Sturbridge.
On Saturday the children under 11 years will have lunch with their parents in the large Exhibit Hall from noon to 1:30 PM. The children will also enjoy family time with their parents after the Saturday sessions end at 4:30 PM, until evening activities begin at 6:00 PM.
This is a full schedule. Careful family planning for the activities, supporting your children, and rest, will insure an enjoyable and meaningful weekend. If you think your young child will not separate from you happily for the Children's Program, perhaps you will enjoy the weekend more if your child stays with a relative. Parents will not be allowed to bring children into educational sessions. This rule will be enforced strictly. Parents should pick up their children promptly at sign-out times.
For further information, contact the Teen Program Coordinator:
Ages 11-18 years: Nancy Dolberg Email
All children and adults are invited to an Ice Cream Social, sponsored by Cochlear Americas. Big Apple Circus clowns, sponsored by Children's Hospital Boston, will entertain the children. The children will have a chance to get to know one another and their chaperones. The 'tweens and teens will also attend this social and then have their own get-acquainted party with creative games. The teens will also have a "hang-out" room that will be open after the party and at other times.
The 'tweens and teens will embark on a coach-bus journey to Quincy Market in downtown Boston, adjacent to Fanuiel Hall. Quincy Market is a 100-year old marketplace with restaurants and shops. The 'tweens and teens went to Quincy Market during the 2005 convention, and everyone had a great time over lunch and window-shopping. As Quincy Market is close to the New England Aquarium, the younger members of the group will visit the Aquarium before lunch at Quincy Market. After lunch the group will visit the Museum of Science , where there will be a related exhibit and Imax movie in the Museum's Omni Theater on Jane Goodall and her work with wild chimpanzees. Since 1964, Jane Goodall has studied and interpreted the behavior of chimpanzees in Tanzania, revealing an astounding number of similarities between these primates and humans. The Museum exhibit will explain these, while the film, "Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees," will show the chimpanzees interacting in their wild habitat. In addition to being shown on a gigantic screen, the movie will be rear-window captioned, utilizing a closed-captioning system used in an expanding number of movie theaters in the United States.
Teens and pre-teens participated in an exciting program that included visits to the Aquarium and IMAX movie at the Omni Theater in Boston, bowling, rap sessions and much more!
The teens and 'tweens will return to Sturbridge to relax until their own pizza and pasta banquet in the evening. The banquet will be an opportunity to chat and have fun with friends before heading out for an active evening of bowling. Our group will "take over" the bowling alley for the evening, which has always been a big convention hit.
The teens and tweens will break up into separate groups, by age, for Sunday morning activities. Younger participants may join a rap group led by Dr. Leo Leiderman, Psychologist and parent of a CI user, while sibs will have their own rap group. Some of the younger teens may choose to drum with Tony Vacca, while older teens may sit in on adult Sessions 4F and 5I on preparing for college. Afterwards the teens and tweens will head for the barbecue lunch and say goodbye to Sturbridge for 2007.