Therapeutic Recreation

Fall 2020 Activities 

Get out and join us for fun activities! All activities will have health and safety rules in place. Signup online by following the links below and contact Missy at melgra@lakewood.org with any questions. Financial assistance is available via the Lakewood Possibilities Fund. 

LAWN GAMES

Meet us in Carmody Park to play classic and new lawn games. Activity Code 336017. Register Now

SPECIAL OLYMPICS SKILLS

Join us as we learn and practice skills we need for Special Olympics sports. This mini season will help us prepare for future years by practicing sports skills. Register Now

Activities not currently being offered 

Therapeutic recreation typically provides a variety of year-round activities, however these activities are currently on hold due to COVID-19:

• Dances (not currently being offered)
• Field trips (not currently being offered)
• Saturday bowling league (not currently being offered)

As with any recreation program, an appropriate level of independence, self care and behavior is required from our participants. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide 1:1 supervision during any of our programs. Our program staff do not provide hands on personal care to participants unless otherwise noted.

If a participant requires additional assistance, a provider or parent may join the program at no cost except certain program expenses.

Dances

Ages: 18 and up
Fee at the door: $5 resident and non-resident (passes available)
Location: Clements Community Center

Come dance the night away! Fee includes DJ, snacks and door prizes. You may pay $5 at the door or purchase a Dance Punch Pass in advance. Cost for passes is $40 for 10 punches or $20 for 5 punches. Punches do not expire and can be used year-round.

Dance passes may be purchased at any Recreation Center front desk or by calling 303-987-4800. 

UPCOMING DANCES

None at this time.

Saturday Bowling League

Dates: No upcoming league dates at this time.
Ages: 18 and up
Fee: $88 for a 14-week bowling pass
Location: Bowlero Bowling Alley - Green Mountain View Map
Purchase a Pass: Please contact the Charles Whitlock Recreation Center front desk at 303-987-4800 to purchase a bowling pass for the season.

Join us for Saturday morning bowling! This league is for the beginner, causal or avid bowler. You bowl two games on a team of four bowlers. It is a great chance to work on your bowling skills and hang out with friends.

Lakewood Therapeutic Recreation offers two summer day program options for individuals with disabilities: 

• Camp Paha for youth ages 6 to 17
• Paha Adults in Transition (PAT) for young adults ages 18 to 25. 

Camp Paha and PAT are held for seven weeks, typically, mid-June through the end of July (with half-summer options available). Both programs run 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday. The staff to participant ratio is 1:4.

Support Paha

Friends of Paha, a nonprofit organization (not a City of Lakewood entity), helps support our summer day programs. Without this support, tuition and fees would more than double, making these programs too expensive for some. Please consider supporting Friends of Paha in their noble mission.

About the Camps

CAMP PAHA

Offering safe, challenging and fun leisure, recreational and educational opportunities for youth ages 6-17, Camp Paha provides an array of activities including swimming, sports, games, nature, music, drama, hiking, arts and crafts and field trips within the community. Camp Paha is licensed by the State of Colorado as a childcare program.

PAHA ADULTS IN TRANSITION (PAT)

Created in 2012, PAT is a summer day program experience tailored for young adults ages 18-25. In addition to leisure and recreation opportunities, PAT focuses on skill building and independence, developing work skills, self-advocacy, safety and life skill development. PAT participants engage in daily activities, and they plan for and go on field trips within the community.

CAMP GOALS

• Provide opportunity for fellowship and fun.
• Provide an opportunity for developing awareness about self, others and the environment.
• Give emphasis to citizenship and being a member of a group through the day program experience.

Fees

Registration Instructions

Registration typically opens in January/February. Instructions will be added here before that time.

Contact Us 

To speak with someone about Camp Paha or Paha Adults in Transition, please contact Therapeutic Recreation staff.
By email: rise@lakewood.org
By phone: 303-987-4867

Therapeutic recreation utilizes part time (variable) staff to support many of its programs. Our staff come from a variety of backgrounds and many have full time jobs, working or volunteering for our programs in their spare time. Without their support, many programs could not function.

Volunteer

Many of our programs are supported by volunteers interested in building community and learning more about working with people with disabilities. We have a variety of volunteer opportunities in our therapeutic recreation programs, including our dance the third Friday of every month. 

Contact the Therapeutic Recreation Department at rise@lakewood.org or 303-987-4867 for more information.

Intern

The City of Lakewood's Therapeutic Recreation Department offers a summer internship experience focused on community-based therapeutic recreation services.

The intern will assist in providing goal-oriented leisure programs for individuals with disabilities ranging in age from six yrs. through adult, primarily through our Summer Day Camp. Additional opportunities include organizing Special Olympics programs, specialty classes, social engagements and community outings. This internship experience will address all NCTRC Job Task Analysis areas through various areas of programming and prepare interns for both the NCTRC Certification Exam as well as entry-level therapeutic recreation positions.

INTERNSHIP STRUCTURE

Application Window: December 15-January 15

Internship Start/End: May-August

Length of Internship: 15 weeks, 40 hours per week (total 600 hours)

Internship Supervisor: Full-time CTRS (Meets all NCTRC site supervisor standards)

Note: Interns are hired with the city for minimum wage. Interns are covered by workman’s compensation for on the job injury or illness. Interns are strongly encouraged to carry their own medical and liability insurance. Interns are eligible for mileage reimbursement when using their own vehicles to transport themselves in between sites.

• Must be a current senior in the process of obtaining a degree from an accredited college or university in Therapeutic Recreation and working to complete NCTRC requirements.
• Have a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher in Therapeutic Recreation coursework.
• Applicants must pass a background check prior to an offer being made. 
• Applicants must complete additional paperwork as mandated by the State of Colorado for Child Care Licensing including but not limited to passing additional background checks and providing documentation of a minimum of 460 hours supervising 4 or more children at a time.
  
  

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please visit our Lakewood jobs listing during the application window, search for “Therapeutic Recreation Intern” and then click "Apply". 

The application process consists of a general application and supplemental questions and will also require the attachment of a cover letter, resume, college transcripts and two letters of recommendation. Applications will be screened and reviewed for eligibility. Successful candidates will be contacted for an interview. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified by email. 

Contact the Therapeutic Recreation team at rise@lakewood.org or 303-987-4867 for more information.

Work

Therapeutic recreation utilizes part time (variable) staff to support many of its programs. Open positions are posted on the city's employment listing when available. 

Support Paha

Friends of Paha, a nonprofit organization (not a City of Lakewood entity), helps support our summer day programs. Without this support, tuition and fees would more than double, making these programs too expensive for some.

Please consider supporting Friends of Paha in their noble mission.