Finding Special Needs Camps for Your ChildWhat about special needs camps for your child? Most of us have had the experience of going to summer camp, and despite the mosquitoes and the homesickness (OK, some of us will admit it), the memories of swimming and friendship and competition, (oh and the craft projects!) are something that stay with us. Even the kid who ate a tube of chapstick (unflavored) for a buck, or the one who could burp “Yankee Doodle Dandee” are things we just never forget. As parents, we want our kids to be able to make their own memories of summer camp, and raising special kids is no exception. However, parents of children with special needs are often filled with fear, questions and doubt about how their child will do and the need to protect and shelter is very strong. Inclusion or special needs camp? Will your child make friends? Will the other kids understand? Can your child participate in the camp activities? Day camp or resident? It is time to consider these questions and issues.
Types of CampsCamps have evolved since I was a lad, and there are more choices now for kids than ever before. There are highly specialized special needs camps for specific activities, therapies, and disabilities right down to your regular ordinary summer camp for all kids that your child with special needs is now welcome to attend.The American with Disabilities Act (ADA – the same law that has the Section 504) requires that all camps make reasonable accommodations for children with special needs (such as installing ramps for wheelchairs). These “mainstream” camps are now inclusionary making it possible for children with special needs to attend camps they may not been able to attend in the past. These are the regular camps (perhaps the one you attended as a child) that your special kid can attend right along with every one else. There are also camps designed just for kids with special needs, including kids who have learning or behavioral problems, kids with specific chronic illnesses, and kids with mental or physical impairments. Many of these camps accept kids with a variety of needs, but some camps only accept kids with specific problems (such as camps for kids with diabetes, ADHD, speech or hearing impairment, blind or visually impaired, epilepsy, etc.). These camps are specifically designed to deal with the needs of their specialty, and often include therapeutic activities along with the camp fun. But then again, what could be more therapeutic than singing songs around a campfire? Within all of these categories, there are even more choices to consider like length, cost and location. There are nonprofit and for-profit camps, religious camps, camps run by national organizations, private camps, day camps, camps that run weekend sessions, and sleepover camps that accept kids for the entire summer. There are more choices than for your kids than ever before and certainly more opportunity for your child with special needs.
The Benefits of CampMaking the decision to send your special needs child to summer camp can be difficult, so it will help to go over what you and your child will get out of this whole experience. First of all, your child is a child and therefore will receive the same benefits any other child would get by going to summer camp. Things like:• increased confidence and independence • activity and exercise • the opportunity to interact with other kids, develop friendships, and build relationships • positive role modeling by adults • a chance for parents to have a likely much-needed break Independence is another benefit that camp can provide. For example, an overnight mainstream camp can give a special-needs child the chance to be without parents, doctors, or physical therapists for a week. This allows children to do more things for themselves and learn how to ask friends to help. This builds confidence, self esteem, self advocacy skills and you as the parent learns that the child can do things on their own. The whole camping experience gets kids who are usually less active into physical activities (as appropriate) and everyone benefits from being more active. There are so many physical activities to choose from that every kids, regardless of disability can find an activity that fits their interest and ability. They get the chance to try new things as well and can find new interests and abilities as well as increased fitness and health. They learn socialization skills and teamwork and the confidence gained from participating in the camp physical activities can last a lifetime.
Starting Your Camp SearchHow do you find the summer camp for your child? Does my child need a special needs camp or an inclusionary camp? A good place to start is with a list of what you are looking for and the specific needs of your child. Start by listing your child’s strengths and challenges so you will know exactly what you working with, and what your child is interested in doing as well. You will also want to note other considerations such as cost, location, transportation, in addition to accommodations and interests, and what you would like for your child to get out of attending camp.You and your child will have to figure out what type of camp to attend so here is a partial list of these types of considerations: • inclusionary (or mainstream) camps • special needs camps for kids with a specific special need • special needs camps for kids with many different kinds of special needs • camps that specialize in specific types of activities (such as equestrian, or sports) • day camp or residential • boys – girls – or coed • where are the other kids in their class at school/church/team going? If you or your children are having a hard time with this whole being away at camp thing, you could try starting small, such as attending a special needs day camp, or a single overnight specialty camp. Work together with your child, as this should be an enjoyable experience for everyone – kicking and screaming is not a great way to start a summer camping experience – or any experience for that matter.
Finding a Summer CampOnce you know basically what you are looking for, you can start looking for an actual camp to attend. Most disability organizations (check you local chapter) publish lists of camps in your area, and are also able to connect you to the camp directors and even former campers to answer your questions.Many areas hold a special needs activity fair – usually late winter or early spring. Our local fair is put on by the local chapter of Parent to Parent every March and is called the “All Kids Can” Recreation Expo. Start early finding out information about what is available in your area for kids, and in particular, special needs kids, such as special needs camps. Now, most of the people I know send their kids to local summer camps, but if cost is not a major option for you, then the possibilities really open up wide. Of course, by checking into camping possibilities early, you may be able to apply for scholarships for your child to attend one of the specialty camps. Just remember that the money for these scholarships is usually gone by March or April, so start early. You can try checking with charitable and fraternal organizations, such as the Lions, Kiwanis, or Rotary Clubs. These types of organizations will usually sponsor kids for special needs camps. Also, check with your state human services office, as some circumstances and/or disabilities are eligible for financial aid. There are also religious and ethnic organizations which will sometimes sponsor children to go to special needs camps. An important point to remember is you are attempting to work with a charitable organization and that is you will be required to have acceptance from a specific camp first, as these organizations usually send the scholarship money to the camp for the child and not directly to the parents.
Questions to AskYou’ve made your list and figured out what you and your child want from a summer camp, and now you have it narrowed down to just a few choices. How do you decide? As my 7th grade science teacher used to say: “Ask questions and you will find the answers”. OK, it was very profound back then, but it still applies today. Here are some examples of questions to ask to help you decide which camp is right for your child:• How long are the sessions? • What's the cost? Are scholarships available? • Is it coed, girls-only, or boys-only? • What's the age range of campers? • Where it is located— and how far away from your home is it? • What's the staff-to-camper ratio? • How old are most of the counselors? • What type of certification/training do the counselors have? • What's the turnover rate? Do kids and staff come back? • What's the camp's philosophy? Does it fit with your goals for your child? • What's the camp's transportation system like? • If physical accessibility is an issue, what's the layout of the camp? What provisions has the camp made (or can it make) for wheelchairs or crutches? • If your child needs a special diet, can the camp provide appropriate meals? If not, can you provide food for your child? • Do staff members have a background working with kids with special needs? • Do the counselors have first-aid training? • What kind of medical staff is available in the infirmary and during what hours? Can the staff administer any medications your child needs? What are your medicine dispensing procedures? • If your child has behavior problems, what's the training and experience of the available staff to help? And how does the camp staff handle behavioral problems? • What's the procedure if your child develops a complication related to his or her medical problems? How far is the nearest hospital? If your child needs specialized treatment, is it available at that hospital? Although you can get most of this information through phone calls, emails, brochures, and websites, it is recommended that you (and your child) visit the camp. You can talk to the director, visit the site, and get a good picture of where your child will be. Probably the only way to get a true feel for the camp is for you and your child to visit it together. This is especially important if your child is going to a regular (inclusionary or mainstream) camp where they haven't dealt with many children with special needs, because it gives you the opportunity to identify accommodations that might needed and to gauge the reaction of the camp's staff to your requests. If you can't visit a camp, interview the director and some staff members to get a feel for the place. Ask them to describe the physical layout and the kinds of activities your child will do. You should also ask to speak with other families whose children have attended the camp to see what their experiences were like. In fact, word of mouth is one of the most effective ways to find out what you need to know about each camp.
Additional ResourcesAmerican Camping AssociationThis organization helps parents select camps that meet industry and government standards as well as special needs camps.
Camp ChannelThis site guides visitors to the right summer camp for them and also offers an automated search engine that provides a directory of camps, special needs camps, a home shopping center for camp needs, and more.
Kidscamps.comKidscamps.com This website includes a searchable database of special needs camps listed by their specialties.MySummerCamps.comCamperResource.comSpecial needs camps listed by need categories, diagnosis, and specialty by state.
Now that you have researched and selected a special needs camp for you child, what can you do help prepare your child (and yourself) to attend summer camp?
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