summer camp adventure
Summer camp conjures fond childhood memories of rustic cabins in the woods, roasting marshmallows around a blazing campfire and singalongs with kids from far and near; a solid foundation being built for increased self-esteem, independence and critical thinking skills that eases our transitions into adulthood.
But in the past our kids with autism have been excluded from summer camp. We had nowhere to send our special needs children during the summer break. We had no respite from the stress and mental exhaustion of providing the activities of daily living needs that our kids with autism required.
Nowadays, kids of all abilities are included in summer camp, thanks in part to the National Inclusion Project http://www.inclusionproject.org, co-founded in 2003 by Clay Aiken of American Idol fame. Under the tutelage of the National Inclusion Project, summer camps started adaptive programs to include kids with autism.
Summer camps scattered across the United States now offer programs for kids with autism of all abilities.
Kids with all levels of autism are now able to attend summer camp; from the mildest of the mild, to the severely affected child. They are usually grouped in cabins based on severity of autistic symptoms. The counselor-to-camper ratio is usually 1:5 for the higher-functioning kids, and 1:1 for the kids who require more direct care.
The counselors, for the most part, are college students from around the world. Their love for children, and especially ones whom may be seen as “different,” unite them into a tight-knit family.
Summer camp for kids with autism have inclusive programs such as:
–swimming
–arts and crafts
–therapeutic horseback riding
–wall climbing and ropes courses
–hiking through the woods
–canoeing and archery
At night, after the sun has sunk behind the trees, the kids and counselors gather ’round a blazing campfire. They make ‘smores, sing songs and have fun just being kids. Some nights they even have talent shows and karaoke for our budding entertainers!
Some summer camps for kids with autism even offer occupational therapy (OT,) speech therapy (ST,) and applied behavior analysis (ABA.) The theory is that learning can continue in a fun, non-stressful environment to decrease regression usually seen after long, idle summer months.
The summer camp programs for our kids with autism generally last from 4 to 12 weeks, with ages ranging from 7-21. Most summer camps also have day camps for the families who don’t feel that their child is ready for overnight camp.
Several summer camps also offer an Introduction to Work Experience Program for Youth. This program teaches invaluable life skills, as well as vocational skills, gearing our children with autism towards independence as an adult, which is something we parents yearn for, knowing our kids with autism will be able to take care of themselves after we are no longer here.
Yes, summer camp for kids with autism can be expensive. But most summer camps offer scholarships to qualified families. The key is to reach out to the camp of your choice as soon as possible, as most camps only have a limited number of scholarships.
Enrolling your child with autism in a summer camp will provide your child with adventures and experiences of a lifetime, and you, the parent, respite from a job well done!
Feel free to contact me for more information at http://www.scarlettsouthauthor
You can sign up for my newsletter at https://www.scarlettsouthauthor.com/sign-up/
Some resources for summer camps in your area:
Latest posts by scarlett (see all)
- Calling All Employers - September 5, 2021
- Can Heavy Metals Cause Autism? - August 29, 2021
- Transitioning Towards Living Independently as an Autistic Adult - July 18, 2021
