| | Junior Wild Seals | | | | | | |  | | | | The Wild Seals in Dun Laoghaire | | | Each July, the National Rehabilitation Hospital runs therapeutic "summer camps" for
children who have been through the hospital's Paediatric unit. These one-week
programmes are an opportunity for the children to have their annual reviews and meet other children in similar situations while enjoying some fun activities.
One of the most popular activities is the boating trip from Coal Harbour in Dun Laoghaire organised by Spinal Injuries Ireland. Volunteers from the UCD Diving Club (Ciaran, Pat, Niall and Jen) were on hand to help run this year's outings, one for a group of adolescents and a second for a younger group of children.
The first crew included Diane, Ciara, Lee, Daniel, Alan and Brendan who were taken up the Liffey as far as O'Connell Bridge. We passed a visiting cruise liner and a military ship and spotted some seals back in Dun Laoghaire Harbour. For some, it was their first such experience and all agreed that it was the coolest way to travel to the City Centre!
The following week it was the turn of the younger children, Edel, Colin, Daniel Alannah and Joanne who also thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The weather was balmy and the trip was rounded off with a picnic back on dry land at Scottman's Bay.
These young people once again enjoyed the freedom and excitement of being out on the water and the experience of what is possible in terms of venture activities.
None of this would have been possible without Carmel and Christine and all in SII who organised the trips as well as the volunteers from UCD Diving Club who gave so generously of their time and skills.
The huge enjoyment with which these young people (and the NRH Staff!) spoke of the trip in the following days is evident in the photo's and will no doubt lead to requests for a follow-up trip next year.
By Anne O'Loughlin, Principal Social Worker, NRH | | | | | | |
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