Talking With Technology Camp 2024

Children’s Hospital Colorado created this one-week program for children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices as their main way of communicating.

Camp dates

July 21-26, 2024 for campers, siblings and Personal Care Attendants (PCA)
July 20-26, 2024 for trainers

Where

Easterseals Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Village Camp

2644 Alvarado Rd, Empire, CO 80438

The camp is near Empire, Colorado, just off I-70 west about 1 1/2 hours from Denver.

Information about camp

Since 1986, Talking With Technology (TWT) Camp has been a tradition at Easterseals Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Village in Empire, Colorado.

Illness protocol (All illnesses including COVID-19)

We are eager and ready to return to camp. We want to make sure camp is safe for everyone and that we maintain a healthy community. We’ll be following guidelines provided by federal, state, and local agencies and may change our strategies based on local transmission and case rates. For more information, see Camps Keeping you Healthy.

Please note your camper(s) will be sent home if:

• Your child is experiencing symptoms, including: fever, cough, loss of taste/smell, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat, chills, severe headache, fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, joint pain, rash, red eye, bruising, bleeding, throwing up, stomach pain, or loose, runny poop within the 24 hours before camp.
• Your child has been diagnosed with COVID-19, had a positive test in the 14 days prior to camp or is waiting for results.
• Your child has been in contact with someone who was confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19 in the last month.

COVID vaccines

• COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for campers and siblings.
• A COVID-19 booster is highly recommended for those eligible.

Masks

Adults, including Children’s staff and volunteers (includes “Trainers” and “PCAs”), Easterseals staff and volunteers will be required to wear a mask if unvaccinated.

Application, forms and due dates

This year, all applications will be completed online, and forms will be provided early for families to complete the necessary medical information.

Please send your forms to:

Children’s Hospital Colorado
Attention: ARCH, Talking With Technology Camp
13123 E. 16^th Avenue, B-285, Aurora, CO 80011

Or phone: 720-777-6590
Or email: AACcamps@childrenscolorado.org
Or fax: 720-478-7095 with Attention: Makenzie Hull

Campers

The applications open February 1 and close February 28.Please follow the link to fill out the application:

1. Children’s Hospital Colorado Application
   Required for child with speech generating device
2. Easterseals Colorado, Rocky Mountain Village Application*
   Required for child with speech generating device
   Required for all siblings who plan to attend
   *$25 fee to apply per application submission (camper + sibling)
3. Scottish Rite Scholarship Application
   Required for in-state families; one form required per household

• Timelines & checklists for Campers & Siblings. Please print for future reference.

Siblings

Siblings are invited to attend camp as well. Sibling applications are accepted on a lottery with space for four female and four male siblings. We’ll let you know if your camper’s siblings are accepted by April 12.

The applications open February 1 and close February 28. Please follow the link to fill out the application:

• Easterseals Colorado, Rocky Mountain Village Application
  Required for all siblings who plan to attend
• Timelines and checklists for Campers & Siblings. Please print for future reference.
• No application fees.

Adult trainers

Adult Trainers are therapists, teachers, paraprofessionals, and graduate students who will support a camper’s communication while at camp.

The application opens February 1 and closes February 28. Applications received after this date will only be looked at if there are available openings. Please follow the link to fill out the application:

• Children’s Hospital Colorado, Trainer application
• Children’s Hospital Colorado, Association of Volunteer’s application
• Easterseals Colorado, Rocky Mountain Village Volunteer application
  • Please apply as a "FIRST TIME RMV Volunteer 2024" if this is your first year at camp. If you are a returning volunteer, please apply under "RETURNING Volunteer"  

Trainers will be paired with a camper and will receive extensive education and training. Education will be provided through online course of at least 10 hours and a cost of $250 for professionals and $80 for students. The course will be made available April 15-July 20. Training and mentorship will be provided by Children’s Hospital Colorado speech therapists who specialize in AAC. This training will occur at camp.

Trainers will be notified of acceptances April 12, 2024. If a trainer chooses to withdraw from camp after being accepted, the trainer will jeopardize a camper’s opportunity to come to camp. Please only apply if you can commit to attending.

• Timelines and checklists for adults. Please print for future reference.

Mentors

Mentors are adult device users who will coach and support campers, siblings, and staff while at camp. The will receive an honorarium and room/board for their time at camp. Responsibilities include presenting their experience with AAC, engaging with campers, siblings, and staff, and demonstrating the potential that AAC holds.

The applications open February 1 and close February 28. Interviews will be scheduled for March and results emailed in April. Please follow the link to fill out the application:

• Children’s Hospital Colorado Application

Additional paperwork will be required upon acceptance to camp.

Personal Care Attendant (PCA)

The deadline is February 28. Please follow the link to fill out the application:

• Children’s Hospital Colorado, Trainer application
• Children’s Hospital Colorado, Association of Volunteer’s application
• Easterseals Colorado, Rocky Mountain Village Volunteer application
• Timelines and checklists for adults. Please print for future reference.

Costs and funding options

All fees for Talking With Technology Camp must be received by May 10, 2024.

Scottish Rite Foundation

Applicants will be notified by April 12, 2024 if financial assistance is available. If you are a Colorado resident, please apply here.

Camper fee: $2,845.00
($1,345.00 program fee + $1,500.00 camp fee)

The program fee covers activities using the speech-generating device at camp. The camp fee covers room, board, counselor support and camp activities.

Thanks to the Scottish Rite Foundation, campers from Colorado can receive financial assistance to pay for camper fees. All Colorado campers must fill out a Scottish Rite application and share the needed documents and proof of income unless they wish to pay the whole fee on their own.

No fees will be billed to insurance/Medicaid.

Children applying from out-of-state will need to pay the full camper fee. Check with your school district and other disability organizations to see if financial assistance is available.

Sibling fee: $1,100.00

This camp fee covers room, board, counselor support and activities for the camper’s sibling.

Thanks to the Scottish Rite Foundation, Colorado families can receive scholarships to help pay for siblings to go to camp. Only one application is required per family.

Out-of-state siblings must pay the full sibling fee.

Adult trainer fees

All adults stay at camp in a cabin separate from the campers.

Trainer Fees: $725.00

The trainer fee covers room and board for trainers. It also covers all training material costs. Usually, 1-3 hours of university credit is available at an added fee of about $80/hour, to be paid at camp by check or credit card (no cash).

Personal Care Attendant (PCA): $165.00/per day

This camp fee covers room and board at camp. The PCA will stay in the cabin with the camper. No application fee is needed.

Talk to us

If you need more information or have questions about Talking With Technology Camp, please contact:

Children’s Hospital Colorado,
Attention: ARCH, Talking With Technology Camp
13123 E. 16^th Avenue, B-285, Aurora, CO 80011

Or phone: 720-777-6590
Or email: AACcamps@childrenscolorado.org

Or fax: 720-478-7095 with Attention: Makenzie Hull