Tremploy is a proud Wellness Champion Team program!
Tremploy is a registered charitable non-profit organization that provides adults who have an intellectual disability with vocational training, life skills, life enrichment and support services. Special Olympics PEI and Tremploy enjoy a long history of working together, a relationship that has been strengthened by a large overlap of Tremploy clients / Special Olympics athletes. In addition to the Wellness Champion program, Special Olympics PEI has partnered with Tremploy in the past to offer Healthy Athletes Strong Minds screenings.
Tremploy signed up for the Wellness Champion program at the end of November. Keeping their clients motivated during lockdown was a big factor for joining the virtual program. When first learning about the program, the staff at Tremploy saw the medals, which are awarded upon completion of each pillar, as a great way to increase motivation. The resources that accompany the Wellness Champion program were also a big factor for joining.
Staff at Tremploy are always looking for new and effective ways to motivate the people they support in being more physically active. As we all know, motivation is one of our biggest challenges for living a more physically active lifestyle especially when our activities have to move indoors as fall turns to winter. Where clients had been able to go for walks and play basketball outdoors, colder weather and restrictions due to the Pandemic, left clients and staff to find things they could do indoors to keep active. Through the Wellness Champion program, the desire to get the green star, which indicates an active is completed, is really motivating to clients. Clients are now motivated to participate in exercise videos, indoor bocce, floor curl, mini golf, cosmic yoga and more! Additionally, the resources provided through the Wellness Champion program have been really helpful. With a lot of WWE fans, the School of Strength videos have been a big hit with Tremploy's clients. Shane MacPhee has become a leader in the Be Active pillar of the Wellness Champion program.
With the weather not being conducive to outdoor activities, and circuit breaker measures further restricting movement and activities, Tremploy's clients have been focusing on the Connect and Learn pillar quite a bit lately. Clients have been taking advantage of virtual opportunities available, including Athlete Social hours hosted by Special Olympics PEI monthly, virtual Health Athletes screenings, and resources such as the Health Matters curriculum.
In January, Jessica Pye became the first client at Tremploy to complete a pillar, thus earning the first Wellness Champion medal medal. Jessica completed a variety of different projects and opportunities to earn the Experiment and Create medal, including making holiday decorations and a vision board. The staff at Tremploy believes that once other clients hear about Jessica's medal, and once more medals start being awarded, that will be an even bigger motivation for the rest of the clients to get even more involved.
By February, Tremploy had most clients back to their in-person day programs. Approximately one-third of these clients are registered athletes with Special Olympics PEI. The Wellness Champion program is open to any Islander with an intellectual disability. As clients return to their usual schedules in the months ahead, they will have even more opportunity to join the Wellness Champion program within the Life Enrichment Program and will hopefully become motivated by the success of their peers.
Tremploy's message to other who are thinking about joining the Wellness Champion program is simple - check it out! With so many components, the program has so much to offer. The clients at Tremploy have really enjoyed the program.
Learn More About the Wellness Champion Program
Wellness Champion is an at-home program that supports Islanders with an intellectual disability during COVID-19 restrictions. The Wellness Champion program has four pillars related to wellness that allow for a variety of fun activities. Athletes can join individually from home, with a support worker and/or be connected to a volunteer weekly to identify and support activities for the week. Athletes who attend a day service program can join the Team program and be guided through activities with support workers and friends.
REGISTER TODAY TO BECOME A WELLNESS CHAMPION
The first step to registering is to completed Special Olympics PEI's 2020-21 registration form. You will need to submit this to be eligible to participate. For more information please contact the Special Olympics PEI office, either by calling 902-368-8919 or via email at sopei@sopei.com
