At the March 1st OSHA Board meeting I was furiously typing the minutes.  The student representative indicated her group was interested in doing a fundraising activity at her school and wanted to give the proceeds to a charitable organization.  My ears perked up and I asked “What about giving the money to Meadowood? “ She indicated with some hesitancy, “What’s that?” At that point it was evident that there were others in the group that didn’t know about the “unique miracle” of Meadowood.  By the end of the meeting I had another task besides sorting out the minutes into a cohesive document.

What is Meadowood? 
Former Senator Mark O. Hatfield first described Meadowood as a “unique miracle” in June 1966.   In May 1973 the Oregon State Elks adopted Meadowood as a major project.  Then in 1981 the same organization instituted a separate committee to raise funds for the camp. The speech camp is unique to the United States and modeled after Shady Trails Speech Camp in Michigan.  The camp is situated on 143 acres of land in the Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon near the Tollgate Recreational Area of the Umatilla National Forest.  The camp has several comforts of home including staff housing, lodges, bathhouses, a pool, A-frame dormitory units, a manmade lake and a small fishing pond. It is not uncommon for a bear or deer to be spotted in the meadows of the camp.  Individual clinical sites are provided all around the camp for private sessions. There are a full range of activities at camp including: nature lore, skits, campfires, field games, handicrafts and special events.

When did Meadowood Start?
Meadowood is the brain child of 4 University of Oregon graduate students.  These four dedicated individuals are: Mr. Ed Grat, Dr. Jon Powell, Mr. Charles Zimmerman and Mr. Ernest Cristler.  They conceived of the idea and dedicated themselves to the task of initiating a program for speech and language therapy here on the West Coast of the United States.  In the summer of 1962 this persevering collective group with their families set out to create a unique experience for individuals with communication disorders.  In August 1964 fifteen boys from Umatilla County were selected to attend the first Meadowood Springs summer camp.  The pilot program proved successful.  The experience was so successful that today the camp provides a speech therapy experience for children and serves as a training ground for “Student Clinicians”.

What is Meadowood’s Mission? 
The mission of Meadowood “…is to provide a program wherein children can receive speech management services directed to their specific needs in a setting that will provide a unique opportunity for growth, independence and self-reliance.”  Therapy is provided in a recreational setting.  The camp program provides a 24 hour opportunity for transferring new skills in a residential setting.  The campers and staff become a community where the children can use and be encouraged to use their new skills and be observed by their clinicians.  The information from the camp is then sent to their home community to be added to their ongoing programs. 

How much does Meadowood cost?
The tuition for a ten day session is $1200. A $35 application fee is required. Tuition includes all costs except transportation to and from the camp. That is provided by the parents or guardians of the child.   Financial help is limited.  It has been this clinician’s experience that none of his referrals were turned away because of financial concerns.  Previous funding sources were provided for by local Elks lodges and other civic organizations.  Installment plans are available for tuition payments with no finance charges. 

How is a child enrolled?
Applications are made available to clinicians around the nation on request from the office by contacting:  Meadowood Springs Speech and Hearing Camp, P.O. Box 1025, Pendleton. Oregon, 97801, (541) 276- 2752 and online at www.meadowoodsprings.org.  The current Clinical Director is Missy Newcom, MS, CCC-SLP.  She receives the referral application including general information, medical history, physical exam and information from the child’s current speech clinician and processes it for program consideration.  The campers range in age from 6 to 16.  Priority for enrollment is given for those who need an intensive program.  In addition, the camp is looking for those children who would benefit from the emotional support of camp and require situational therapy for carryover.  The camp does not accept children experiencing deafness only needing academic tutoring, cleft palate concerns prior to placement of an appliance, those with a primary emotional behavior disorder and those experiencing mobility issues. 

What about the Staff?
The camper to staff ratio is approximately one-to-one, though no camper has had a 1:1.  The staff consists of a Clinical Director and Camp Staff Manager.  In addition there are Master Clinicians who hold their CCC’s, Clinician I’s, Interpreters, Behavioral Specialist, Living Unit Staff and Activities Staff.  The most important staff members are the Student Clinicians.  These are individuals majoring in the area of speech pathology at the undergraduate and graduate levels. They are currently enrolled through Eastern Washington University. Student Clinicians range from those who have completed at least 25 ASHA approved observation hours to those who have completed their Masters Degrees. Clinician 1’s consist of individuals who have completed their Masters and are working towards their CCCs, or people who have not had their CCCs for 5 years and SLPAs who meet Oregon guidelines.  Student Clinicians work with a caseload of two or three campers per session. (There are two sessions during the summer months).  Student Clinicians are supervised by Master Clinicians. These students receive college credit and ASHA clinical hours toward their CCC requirements.
So that’s Meadowood.  If you are interested in visiting the camp, supporting the camp financially, working or volunteering for a summer, the people at the Meadowood office would love to hear from you.
It’s the miracle of Meadowood and you could be part of it.