Summer Therapeutic Programs

Therapeutic, supervised activities for children and youth

ErinoakKids offers a variety of therapeutic summer programs each year for children and youth currently receiving services at ErinoakKids.

As these are therapeutic programs, please review the participant criteria carefully and discuss programs of interest with your ErinoakKids clinician to ensure they align with your therapeutic goals.

Please ensure all participant eligibility requirements are met before registering for summer programs. Your clinician will provide the registration password and can answer any questions about the programs and their requirements.

Registration Form

Download the Summer Therapeutic Program Guide

Summer Programs

Helping Hands (ages 5-10)

Riverwood Explorers (ages 8-12)

iCanBike (ages 8-19)

Taking Care of Business (ages 13-16)

Helping Hands (Ages 5 - 10)

Helping Hands is an intensive program is for children 5-10 years old with a diagnosis of hemiplegia. Clients participate in a variety of fun therapeutic activities that encourage functional use of their affected hand in everyday tasks through modified bimanual therapy and goal directed training. 

Participant Criteria:

• Is receiving centre-based Occupational Therapy services at ErinoakKids
• Attends this program on the recommendation of their Occupational Therapist
• Has hemiplegia affecting an arm and/or hand, with some use of the affected hand (MACS Level 1-3)
• Has the ability to follow directions and participate in a group setting
• Medically stable for at least six months
• Must attend pre-program assessment and participate in home programming activities

ErinoakKids Brampton Site 
Dates: Jul 21 - Aug 1 (10 sessions, Mon - Fri) 
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

ErinoakKids Oakville Site
Dates: Aug 11 - 22 (10 sessions, Mon - Fri)
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

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Riverwood Explorers (Ages 8 - 12)

This program, in partnership with The Riverwood Conservancy, lets children enjoy outdoor activities at Riverwood, a 150-acre property with trails and wildlife and an indoor air conditioned facility. Participants will develop walking skills, endurance and cardiovascular fitness while engaging in walks and other fun and recreational activities.

Participant Criteria:

• Is receiving centre-based physiotherapy service at ErinoakKids
• Is able to participate in a group setting, follow directions and attend to a task
• Enjoys spending time outdoors, enjoys nature and be willing to try new activities
• Is able to walk for at least five minutes with or without the use of crutches/canes/walker
• Is able to climb up and down four steps with a handrail with or without assistance
• Medically stable for at least six months

Riverwood Conservancy
4190 Riverwood Park Lane, Mississauga
Dates: Jul 7 - 18 (10 sessions, Mon - Fri) 
Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

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iCan Bike (Ages 8 - 19)

Offered in partnership with the Town of Milton

This program is offered in partnership with the Town of Milton. The goal of iCan Bike is to teach children with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle and become lifelong independent riders. Children will use adapted bicycles and receive 75 minutes of specialized instruction from trained volunteers each day.

Participant Criteria:

• Can walk independently without assistive devices
• Can side step to both sides
• Can pedal a bike with training wheels independently
• Can keep feet on pedals without straps and put foot back on pedal independently if it falls off
• Can follow basic instructions in a group setting
• Consistently responds to the word “stop”
• Is motivated to learn to ride a bike
• Has a properly fitted bike helmet
• Does not exceed the weight maximum of 220 pounds
• Has minimum inseam (inside leg length) of 20 inches
• Is able to attend all 5 days of the program

Note: Caregiver/Parent must attend an orientation on July 20th from 4 - 5 p.m. at the John Tonelli Sports Centre (217 Laurier Ave, Milton) 

Dates: Jul 21 - 25 (5 sessions, Mon - Fri)
Program Fee: $150

Upon acceptance to the program, clients will indicate their top three session time preferences.

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Taking Care of Business (Ages 13 - 16)

This program enables youth with physical disabilities to develop pre-vocational skills while creating and implementing a business plan. Participants are challenged to create and run a food service business to serve ErinoakKids staff and visitors. This provides an excellent opportunity for youth to explore individual interests and continue their journey towards independence. As part of the program, participants engage in different jobs that they apply for such as food preparation, money management and marketing. Participants should be motivated to set their own goals and work toward them with guidance and support from ErinoakKids staff and volunteers. They will have the opportunity to develop skills in the areas of teamwork, communication, organization, money management, shopping, meal preparation.

Participation Criteria:

• Is receiving centre-based occupational therapy services at ErinoakKids
• Attends this program on the recommendation of their Occupational Therapist
• Is able to participate in a group setting, including group discussions, following directions, attending to a task and problem solving
• Demonstrates basic literacy, math and organizational skills
• Motivated to develop employment skills
• Interested in applying for job opportunities mentioned in the program description
• Medically stable for at least six months
• Participate in a 30-minute virtual (TEAMS) interview. 
  • Applicants will be contacted in April to schedule an interview. 
    
    

ErinoakKids Mississauga
Dates: Aug 11-22 (10 sessions, Mon-Fri)
Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Program Fee: $150