A Community Partnership

By: Maisie O'Brien

It’s a hot summer day and the unmistakable chorus of children laughing and playing can be heard across Arlington Recreation’s youth programs. Preschoolers to fifth graders are engaged in unstructured play and activities like swimming, tennis, and painting. A Tufts occupational therapy doctoral student is also present, working one-on-one with children and piloting program interventions designed to enhance the experience for all campers.

The partnership between Tufts University and the adjoining town of Arlington was conceived of by Lecturer and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator Ryan Whitney, PP-OTD ‘18, and she is particularly proud to see it flourish. Whitney grew up in Arlington and landed her first job at the Arlington Recreation skating rink when she was a teenager. Years later, when she started teaching pediatric occupational therapy at Tufts, she recognized the potential for a partnership. 

“I knew the former Director of Recreation very well, so I pitched him the idea and he was excited to try it out,” says Whitney. “Over the past six years, we’ve provided Arlington Recreation with an array of services and supported them in meeting the needs of their community members, especially children with disabilities. It’s been beneficial for both the town and our students.”

Tufts OTD students complete both short- and long-term experiential learning placements at Arlington Recreation. In the fall semester, 12-15 OTD students participate in weekly community engaged learning in their after-school programs, learning about typical childhood development and supporting ongoing activities. “It’s an opportunity for students to reflect on what they’re learning in the classroom in the first year of the program, while providing a service to the local community,” says Whitney.

As part of the required doctoral experience capstone (DEC) project, six OTD students have conducted longer 14-week placements in Arlington Recreation’s summer camps for children. Students spend a year developing their project in collaboration with Whitney and the director of Arlington Recreation. The projects are data-driven and designed to address gaps in existing programming.

The first DEC project consisted of a needs assessment identifying areas for growth and development within the camps. Students conducted focus groups, ran surveys, and analyzed data to create a comprehensive report, which they presented at a Park and Recreation Commission meeting. Their work ultimately led the department to hire a seasonal director of inclusion. 

Each year’s DEC project has built upon previous DEC projects, which have included staff trainings and programmatic interventions. Alexa Klein, OTD ‘24, completed her DEC project at Arlington Recreation in 2023 and piloted a program to promote self-regulation among campers.

“Arlington Recreation’s camp counselors, many of whom are in high school and college, were having a hard time supporting children experiencing big emotions,” Klein says. “My project focused on making sure staff have the resources to support campers who are struggling to self-regulate so they can fully participate in fun activities alongside their peers.”

Klein ran a number of training sessions for staff and created “cool down zones” at each youth program location complete with bean bag chairs, fidget toys, books, and other options for calming. If campers were feeling overwhelmed, these spaces offered a break from camp activities and an opportunity to self-regulate.

“Seeing Arlington Recreation staff successfully implement the cool down zones and strategies from my trainings was so rewarding,” Klein says. “My experience was extremely positive. Staff were very eager to collaborate and dedicated to providing safe and fun programming for campers of all abilities.”

Arlington Park and Recreation Commissioner Shirley Canniff is likewise grateful for this partnership. “The addition of Tufts students has been fantastic for us,” she says. “They jump right in and bring so much creativity and wonderful ideas to our programs. I know it’s a valuable experience for Tufts students too, particularly if they don’t have experience working with children engaged in unstructured play.” 

“We have a number of campers with disabilities who benefit from smaller groups, inclusive interventions, and a little extra TLC,” adds Canniff. “Tufts has been phenomenal in helping us support these kids and I look forward to continuing our work together. It’s been wonderful for the children and families we serve.”

This year, Tufts and Arlington Recreation are shifting focus to Arlington Recreation’s winter programming. A Tufts student is collecting data and completing a needs assessment for their after-school activities. “We really value this partnership,” says Whitney. “Arlington Recreation has been incredibly welcoming to our students and we’re so excited to be able to give back in a different way this year.”

Banner Image: (L to R) Elyssa Belcastro (EL-OTD student completing capstone with Arlington Rec in Spring 2026), Ryan Whitney (Lecturer and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator), Jamie Toomey & Ellen Contini (Arlington Recreation Kid Care Afterschool Co-Directors of Operations)

Bottom Image: Children participating in Arlington Recreation's youth programming