Bay Cliff Health Camp

Bay Cliff Health Camp is a non-profit wellness camp located in Big Bay, Michigan, that offers year-round programs that promote wellness for children and adults with physical disabilities. The focus of the main program offered, a two-month therapy camp, is working with children with various physical disabilities to help them to achieve independence later in life. In addition, there are numerous adult camps that are offered that involve various activities from paddling to fishing. The goal is to show the participants that they are capable of participating in a variety of outdoor sports despite their disabilities. Often Bay Cliff will partner with other non-profit organizations and schools and conduct programs throughout the year at the camp. These include wellness retreats, development camps, and training camps. The camp is overseen by a volunteer board of directors, which is made up of community members and health care professionals. There is an Executive director who is largely responsible for administrative work and supervises the facility and staff.^[1][2]

History

Bay Cliff started during the times of the Great Depression when two women Dr. Goldie Conelieuson and Elba Morse, saw the needs of children during the hard times. These women were health professionals who traveled around the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to care for underweight, malnutritioned children with health problems. They both dreamed of an ideal location to bring these children to have outdoor fun and learn about nutrition and healthy living.

“Baycliffs”

Bay Cliff Health Camp was once an abandoned dairy farm located in Big Bay, Michigan. First, in 1913, the area was a home for a mill manager for the Brunswick-Balke Collender Lumber Company. In 1917 it became a dairy farm, locally known as “Baycliffs.” The owner of the farm, Jay Brunswick Deutsch eventually moved on and gave his farm to his sister and her husband. The farm was renamed “Chedna Farms” and prospered for about 10 years. In 1930, when the Great Depression hit, the farm was put up for sale. This is when Elba Morse found it. The farm was purchased by the two women in 1933 after raising $8500 through contributions from the James Couzens Fund and the Horace and Mary Rackham Foundation. The farm was officially renamed Bay Cliff Health Camp. The first camp program began in 1934. That summer 107 children attended and all were underweight. By the end of camp, they had all gained an average of five pounds. The two founders saw this as a sign of success.

The Outbreak of Polio

As time went on and the effects of the Great Depression slowed, malnutrition in children became less of a problem. Other problems were addressed by Bay Cliff, as well, however. In 1940 there was an outbreak of polio in the Upper Peninsula. Many children became paralyzed as a result. Because hospitals were filled to capacity, Bay Cliff took in twenty-seven children. These children recovered during the winter and received physical therapy. The outbreak of polio contributed to the changing of Bay Cliff’s focus. The camp was now not only a camp for malnourished children but one for children with physical disabilities, as well. Programs for children with diabetes started in 1938, children with cardiac difficulties in 1943, children with speech impairments in 1944, and occupational therapy was introduced to camp in 1943.^[3][4]

Camp Independence

Camp Independence is a weeklong camp that is designed for physically disabled adults. During the week, campers are exposed to various recreational activities that they may not have access to where they live. They also have the opportunity to interact socially with other adults that are dealing with the same issues. The camp is overseen by the camp staff and health care professionals.^[5]

Post Polio Wellness Retreat

The Post Polio Wellness Retreat is an annual event that takes place at the Bay Cliff facility and is geared toward adults that have gone through polio. In addition, a later event called Post Polio Wellness Update is also popular in attendance. The main goals of the Wellness Update are to connect with past camp participants and to continue to educate about living your life after polio. The program offers various activities aimed at learning new skills and improving overall health of the participants. Some of these activities include yoga, tai chi, birding, kayaking, painting, swimming, and fishing. Also, many breakout sessions are offered that cover topics such as nutrition, pain management, fall prevention, and aging.^[6]

Summer Therapy Camp

The main program offered by Bay Cliff is the Summer Therapy Camp that allows children from ages 3–17 a chance to spend up to 7 weeks at the facility with the staff. Each camper is given an individualized plan that best suits their needs. This involves therapy sessions with professional therapists in a defined schedule. The camp counselors and therapists work together to oversee the various activities that go on throughout the day.

Physical Therapy

The physical therapy aspect of the summer program is aimed to increase the mobility and strength of the campers. They go through numerous exercises working on skills such as running, hopping, and jumping. They are then able to reinforce these skills with daily activities at the camp.

Occupational Therapy

The main focus of this therapy is to develop skills that promote self independence and life skills. These skills can vary from cooking and money management to tying shoes and making art.

Speech Therapy

Speech-language therapy focuses on developing communication skills and expressing themselves to those around them. Campers are able to further develop these skills around camp when they socialize during meals and sing songs around the camp fire. In addition, the campers are encouraged to participate in unit shows by singing or telling jokes.

Hearing Therapy

Hearing therapy allows campers to develop communication skills like sign language. They are also taught how to properly maintain their hearing aids or cochlear implants. Campers continue to practice these skills every day in camp through interactions and by taking care of their hearing devices.

Vision Therapy

This program is meant for children who have very low vision or are blind. The main focus involves teaching Braille and developing mobility skills. They are encouraged to navigate the camp without assistance and read stories to their friends to practice their new skills.

Music Therapy

Music Therapy brings many of the various other aspects of the camp together as the campers create music with an instrument or their voices. After the sessions they are encouraged to continue with music by writing music or playing an instrument in front of a crowd during the talent show.^[7]

Further reading

• Franklin, Dixie (1983). A Place Apart: the Bay Cliff Story. Marquette, MI: Book Concern. ASIN B001ANR52M.  125 pages

References

External links

• Bay Cliff Health Camp

Coordinates: 46°49′39″N 87°43′57″W / 46.82748°N 87.7325°W / 46.82748; -87.7325