Cue Camp Virginia (CCVA) is a workshop intended to educate those who want to know more about Cued Speech and its many applications. In the tranquility of the 4-H Center on the James River, participants can learn to cue, learn about raising, educating and communicating with a deaf or hard-of-hearing child, and share the experiences of other families and professionals. We will have adult Cued Speech classes at the Beginner and Intermediate/ Advanced levels, as well as presentations of interest to both parents and professionals. Children K -12 will be in age appropriate groups that will include activities as well as instruction in Cued Speech. Pre-schoolers will be entertained with arts and crafts and other recreational activities. Family-oriented activities and social events abound. Cue Camp Virginia is run by the Northern Virginia Cued Speech Association and is sponsored by the National Cued Speech Association and the Fairfax (VA) Host Lions Club.

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The information below was for Cue Camp 2007. New details will be posted for 2008 as they become available.

What Happened at Cue Camp Virginia?

Check-in Thursday night and Friday morning – Once again, camp will kicked off on Friday morning at 9:30. The beginning class will concluded on Sunday morning. All other classes were Friday and Saturday only. Babysitting was available for parents in Sunday morning’s beginning class.

Adult Beginning Cued Speech Class – We were very fortunate that this class has been taught perennially by Claire Klossner, certified transliterator and instructor for Language Matters Inc. Claire has been a part of the Cue Camp Virginia family since its inception, and her class is the heart of the CCVA experience. Beginning Friday morning and finishing up Sunday morning, the Beginning Cued Speech Class systematically explained the system and took attendees through understanding and application of each of the eight consonant hand shapes and four vowel positions. In one Cued Speech-packed weekend, students came away with the tools to clearly and unambiguously represent all the sounds of spoken English, the key to language acquisition and literacy. Attendees of this class included parents and adult family members, educators and professionals in the field of deafness.

Intermediate/Advanced Cued Speech Class – Participants came to this class with a knowledge of, and ability to apply, all the hand shapes and positions of the Cued Speech system. Attendees had questions answered and participated in exercises designed to improve both speed and accuracy. Various stations and several assistant instructors allowed participants to progress at their own individual pace.

Children’s Groups and Cued Speech Classes – Children from infants to high school seniors were placed in age appropriate groups, with a group leader and one or more assistants. Each group was staffed with members who cue, and may had staff who also signed. Children ages 5 and up received formal Cued Speech instruction. Younger children participated in games designed to familiarize them with cue hand shapes and learn simple words. Recreational activities for all included organized outdoor games, time in a “moon walk”, crafts, a nature walk, a music/dance class, and for older groups, a ropes course and canoeing.

Presentations – Each year there is more research to prove the correlation between consistent use of Cued Speech in the home and at school and age-appropriate development of language and reading skills. Researchers and professionals provide presentations on timely topics of interest, including how language is acquired, use of Cued Speech with cochlear implants, advocating for your child with special needs, use of Cued Speech with disabilities other than hearing loss, use of Cued Speech and speech production, and the significance of a clear language model during the early prime language-learning years.

Individual Appointments – Many of our presenters stay for all or most of the camp, and are happy to schedule individual appointments with campers who would like to discuss specific issues or individual situations. The two wonderful professionals listed below are long-time camp participants, “Professional Partners” and true institutions of Cue Camp Virginia.

Dr. Debbie Lang is a practicing psychologist. She assists our families with issues such as dealing with the diagnosis of hearing loss, family adjustment, discipline, advocacy, social development, etc. With parental permission, “Dr. Debbie” also conducts age-group meetings with hearing siblings. At Cue Camp 2007, she will also facilitate a Mothers Panel discussion, provide individual appointments, and teach an adult Meditation class. Dr. Lang is the cueing mother of three children, two with hearing loss, one of whom has bilateral cochlear implants.

Dr. Donna Morere is an Associate Professor in the Gallaudet University Department of Neuropsychology and is a practicing neuropsychologist. She assists families with identification and remediation of learning disabilities, processing problems and other roadblocks to language acquisition and learning. At Cue Camp 2007, she will offer individual appointments and give a presentation on warning signs of additional disabilities. “Dr. Donna” is the cueing mother of a son with a cochlear implant.

Family-oriented Activities and Social Events - Friday evening kicked off with the landing and display of helicopters from the District of Columbia Army National Guard. Campers could sit in the aircraft and ask questions of the flight crews. A truck from the Jamestown Fire Department was also on hand.

The Cue Camp Carnival was on Friday night, complete with our favorite clown, cotton candy, spin art, face painting, crafts and games. Belly Buttons the Clown was back this year, to entertain children of all ages. The carnival was followed by marshmallow roasting at the campfire.

Saturday Lunch was officially been renamed Cued “Cue”-sine (cuisine)! Campers were be asked to make an extra effort to cue throughout lunchtime at whatever level they are able.

Saturday afternoon there was canoeing time on the James River. Saturday evening ended with the annual outdoor family dance in the pavilion.

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Important to Know - Hotel planning – Last year these hotels were able to give us group rates. We hope to negotiate with them or other hotels again this year. Check back later for more information if you're interested in staying outside the 4-H camp itself.

Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, Gateway
515 Bypass Road
Williamsburg, VA 23185
757-229-9990
Room type is 2 queens, rate is $119 per night, plus tax (rates are good for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights only)
When calling them for reservations, tell them you want the rate for Cue Camp Virginia

Country Inn and Suites
400 Bypass Road
Williamsburg, VA 23185
757-259-7990
Room type is 2 queens, rate is $92 per night, plus tax (rates are good for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights only)
When calling them for reservations, tell them you want the rate for Cue Camp Virginia

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Why Cue?  Why Come to Cue Camp Virginia?

Education, Advocacy and Support....

In 1966, R. Orin Cornett, Ph.D., invented Cued Speech to address the problem of low literacy rates among the deaf. Cued Speech is a finite and relatively simple system that allows the deaf or hard-of-hearing person to have a clear and unambiguous visual representation of all the sounds of a spoken language. (At Cue Camp Virginia we teach Cued English, but Cued Speech has been adapted for 56 different languages.) A family that cues to a deaf child can provide complete access to the language spoken by the family, regardless of the degree of the child’s hearing loss. Research has shown that the family provides the most influential language model in the child’s early life. Cueing in the home has been proven to provide a deaf child with the greatest understanding of language. This is the key to an ability to read, write, communicate and reach his or her full potential. Access to language also contributes greatly to self-esteem and the development of age-appropriate social skills. At Cue Camp Virginia, families and professionals can learn the entire system of Cued English in one weekend, without the distractions of everyday life. Participants can gain confidence and be supported by others who are on the same journey, and see first-hand the successes of families and professionals who have been using Cued Speech for many years. Camp provides an opportunity to learn about the many benefits of Cued Speech, to learn how to advocate for Cued Speech as a way to meet your child’s academic needs, and to receive educational and emotional support for the efforts of the family and/or professional.

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Registration

Registration information including costs will be available soon. Please check back.

How to Pay - Pay on Line – You can register for camp and pay on line through PayPal. Go to the website, www.NVCSA.org, and follow the link to Cue Camp Virginia registration. Of course, you can still print and mail in applications and checks (made payable to NVCSA). The NVCSA cannot accept credit cards other than those linked to PayPal.

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General Information

The Jamestown 4-H Center is located on the James River, minutes from Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown, Jamestown Festival Park, Busch Gardens and the Williamsburg Pottery Factory.

The center has two family lodges, each with six separate rooms. The rooms are dorm style with four sets of bunk beds per room. Families with fewer than 6 members may be sharing a room with other campers, depending on camp attendance. Rooms have heating, light and electrical outlets, but no refrigerators. There is space available for playpens or portable cribs. Central male and female showers and toilet facilities are located in each cabin. Single-sex cabins have one central shower/bathroom, with an open bay room on each side. Each bay has 8 bunk beds. We recommend shower shoes in both types of cabins! You must bring your own pillows, linens and towels. Laundry facilities are not available at the camp.

Recommended packing list:

Light clothing for daytime
Jeans and sweatshirts for evening
Rain gear if appropriate
Sheets (twin) and blankets or sleeping bags; travel crib if applicable
Pillows
Towels and washcloths, shower shoes
Toiletries, to include soap
Bug spray
Cooler, snacks
Camera
Flashlights

There are no telephones in the cabins. A pay phone is available at the main building. Cellular phone reception is adequate throughout the camp.

Meals are served cafeteria style in the Camp Dining Hall beginning with breakfast Friday and concluding with breakfast on Sunday.

The early fall weather has been beautiful in past years, with shorts comfortable during the days and long pants and sweatshirts needed in the evenings. Check the forecasts before you leave for camp, to determine if you’ll need rain gear.

Parents are responsible for their children at mealtime and after class hours. We will make a reasonable effort to provide for everyone’s safety, however accidents can occur. Upon arrival you will need to sign a waiver for yourself and family.

Driving directions are available on the website.

Please note that we cannot accept family registration applications received after the deadline of Sunday, September 23rd.

Arrival is 6:00 -10:00 p.m. Thursday evening and 7:00-9:15 a.m. Friday. The welcome meeting will be at 9:30am Friday morning in the rec hall in the main building. All classes will begin Friday morning at 10:00. The adult Beginning Cued Speech class will wrap up Sunday morning from 9:00 -11:00. All other classes will be finished on Saturday afternoon. Checkout is Sunday by 12:00 p.m. It is the responsibility of all campers to ensure that their cabin, including common areas, has been swept and that all trash is bagged and ready for pick up. Be sure to check for "Lost and Found" items in the rec hall before leaving the property. Breakfast is the only meal served on Sunday.

For additional information, email NVCSA@yahoo.com  or call Maureen Bellamy, (703) 560-1035 or Rosemary Salvi, (703) 246-9892.

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Cue Camp VA Photo Album

Pictures from prior years

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