The Best in Summer Camps & Classes

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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MINNESOTA VISION THERAPY CENTER

Does your child or someone you know have difficulty learning? Chances are, he or she may have a vision-related learning problem. Visual wellness evaluations, recommended before the school year starts, are recommended to help determine the best course of action. Many symptoms of visual disorders mimic symptoms of dyslexia, ADD and ADHD. Many children and adults carrying these labels have functional vision problems. At the Minnesota Vision Therapy Center—one of the largest vision therapy centers in the country—founder Dr. Lori Mowbray and highly trained therapists work together to treat the visual side of learning.

“There are over 90 visual pathways to the brain, and what we do is break down old habits and rebuild brain connections,” explains Jeri Leatherdale, a certified optometric vision therapist with Minnesota Vision Therapy. “Eyesight is 20/20, but vision is what you process. It’s both learned and developed.”

Therapists work one-on-one with children and adults from 3 to 83, everyone from children and adults with brain injuries, to frustrated children, teenagers, and adults who have trouble reading and concentrating.

Seeing double or seeing words and letters jump around on a page aren’t visual skills screened for during a routine eye exam. Symptoms that might signal a bigger problem include trouble balancing, motion sickness, excessive clumsiness, frequent blinking and eye rubbing, and headaches.

One out of four children and seven out of ten juvenile delinquents have a vision disorder that is interfering with their ability to achieve. With proper diagnosis and treatment, reading levels improve significantly, comprehension increases, and even sports performance can improve.

Minnesota Vision Therapy will be holding an informational seminar Thursday, February 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Bloomington office. For more information, visit www.minnesotavisiontherapy.com or call 952-844-0844.

ST. PAUL ACADEMY & SUMMIT SCHOOL

Summer is a great time to relax, but resting our bodies doesn’t give our brains permission to go on vacation. Exercising the brain can be as simple as taking a summer class in reading, writing, math, study skills, spelling, or test preparation—classes available at St. Paul Academy and Summit School (SPA). SPA also offers summer classes in fine and performing arts for children ranging in age from 4 to 14, and tennis for all ages, starting with 3-year-olds.

“We have tennis classes for adults, including a special tennis class for moms,” says Melanie Spewock with SPA.

Photo courtesy of Minnesota
Vision Therapy Center

A particularly unique program is an early childhood multi-arts program designed for children ages 4 through 8 (with this year marking the 20th anniversary). Teachers are practicing artists who are in tune with young children. Kids participate in music, movement, theater, visual arts, and creative writing activities. The program is organized around a theme, with this year’s theme being “Treasures in the Attic—Exploring Activities From Long Ago.” The literary art specialist is McKnight award-winning author Susan Marie Swanson, who published the children’s books: The First Thing My Mama Told Me, Letter to the Lake, and Getting Used to the Dark: 26 Night Poems.

Kids participating in the Academic Action program will work in small groups (no more than four per group) to brush up on or improve skills in reading, math, and writing.

“It’s particularly well-suited for children with learning disabilities or other learning differences, but it’s been extremely successful with learners of all kinds who need an extra boost to be successful in school,” Spewock explains.

Admission is open to anyone interested in joining, available on a first-come, first-served basis. For the best selection of classes, people are encouraged to register before March 31. For more information, visit www.spa.edu.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-MORRIS

Students can get a jump-start on their college education by attending a nationally recognized Summer Scholars program at the University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM) from July 8-20. Current high school sophomores and juniors who rank in the upper 20 percent of their class are invited to be part of this highly regarded program. Now in its 21st year, Summer Scholars offer scholastically talented students an introduction to college academics and life through an emphasis on writing, critical thinking, discussion, individual and group projects, interdisciplinary perspectives, and campus life. Summer Scholar participants choose one of two courses, “From Avian Flu to Ebola Zaire: The Reemerging Threat of Infectious Disease,” or “Talking About a Revolution: Dissent and Freedom of Expression in Today’s World.” The courses can help students earn two college credits in two weeks.

The 34th Annual Henjum Creative Study Institute (CSI) will beo offered at UMM June 11-22. Gifted and talented students ages 12 to 17 can explore the arts, music, and technology during these two weeks. Outstanding teachers, unique classes, bright and motivated students, college facilities, and fun activities make the Institute a great place to go for exciting summer study. Students can choose three courses from a variety of subjects in radio broadcasting, printmaking, robots, computer science, painting, theater, jazz and vocal music, digital media, and more. Family and friends are invited to attend a showcase program of student projects and performances on June 22.

Registration is open until courses and programs are full. Visit www.morris.umn.edu/cerp for more information and registration deadlines for individual programs.