While the world seemed overwhelmed with politics, there was nothing like the laughter of free-for-all play of children. But on this occasion it was even more so at the Callier Listening Camp at Cross Creek Ranch on Wednesday, July 31. That’s where dozens of youngsters 11 years and younger had a day of climbing a rock tower, sliding down a low-up slide and just racing around.
Pity the poor counselors whose day job was releasing their inner child and keep up with the campers. At the end of the day, there were worn out and a bit bruise from the hugging and tumbling with the campers whose laughter was music to the ears of all including Foundation for Callier Center President Anne McPherson, Callier Center for Communication Disorders Executive Director Angela Shoup, Foundation Trustee Megan Steinbach, University of Texas at Dallas VP Chris Bhatti and Qualia Oto Inc. COO/CFO Benedict Voit.
In addition to the outside playing, the campers also took full advantage of the Ranch’s indoor gameroom where they played “Hokey Pokey” and got creative creating little works of art.
Making the rounds among the camp visitors was a notecard created Kennedy in the Young Adults Social Communication Program at the Callier Center For Communication Disorders that was titled “Dallas Eclipse, 2024.”
Unlike years past when the camp was limited to youngsters with cochlear implants, Angela explained that this year’s camp was expanding to include any youngster hearing differences. While it all appeared to be fun and games, the purpose was to “facilitate the children’s development of speech, language, listening and social skills” thanks to UT Dallas graduate students, in speech pathology and audiology and supervised by licensed speech pathologists and audiologists.
Perhaps the world would be improved if everyone could take a morning to watch kids who are experiencing the discovery of hearing and using this new adjustment to play with strangers who share their discovery.
* Graphic provided by Foundation for Callier Center
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