Finding a good camp for your child may require some research, calls, visits and reflection. You may use the web, or community resources, or advice from fellow moms, dads and grandmas. It’s a whole different ball game when it comes to finding the perfect camp for kids with special needs. Transparency and thorough research are a must here, but there are a few words of wisdom I’d like to share with you based on thoughtful advice from camp directors and experts.
Camp Selection: Where do you Start?
Before you start your research, make a list of what’s important for you and your child in a camp – the “must haves”, the essentials and the “nice to haves”. Then, proceed with your research. “You’re looking for a good fit between child and camp; this holds true for children with our without developmental delays”, says Marla Coleman, Owner and Director of Coleman Country Day Camp in Merrick, NY and Past President of the American Camp Association. Marla suggests starting with a call to the American Camp Association, at 800-428-2267 for free, one-on-one advice in finding the right camp for your child. They can give you a preliminary list of camps that do a particularly good job with special needs. For some, mainstream camp will work better, while for others, being around kids with similar needs will be more advantageous. While it’s essential to visit the camp and speak with other parents, it’s critical to talk to the camp director. “There is a camp for every child but not every camp is for every child: does the camp’s philosophy match your own, will it be able to meet your child’s developmental needs, what is their learning approach, how are behavioral and disciplinary issues handled, what are the communications protocols with parents, how are adjustment issues handled?”, the questions you need to ask, says Marla Coleman.
List of Resources
In addition to the American Camp Association (www.acacamps.org) , which should be your most extensive resource, there are other more specific resources, including independent camps (www.aiccamps.org):
- Very Special Needs Camps (veryspecialcamps.com) – a listing of camps and programs for kids with special needs
- Kidscamps.com is another nice directory where you can find camps for various special needs (look under Special Needs Camps), though locations are limited to-date. Another similar directory resource is mysummercamps.com.
- Your community: local park center, church or synagogue, Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, local play areas and kids’ museums, local festivals and fairs
- Local media: local newspaper, parenting magazines, TV programs
- Disability organizations: Easter Seals (www.easterseals.com), Special Needs Expos/Fairs, local chapters of major disability organizations
Selection Process: Questions to Ask
In fact, the options for kids with special needs are just as plentiful as they are for others – you just need to find the right fit. Summer camp can provide an excellent opportunity to develop social skills and build new friendships, and, as long as you understand your child’s strengths and weaknesses, you will find the camp for you. “With planning, cooperation and good communication, almost any camp experience can be a positive one”, says Angela Ghiozzi, Executive Director of BOLD and VP for Children and Youth Services at Lifespire Inc, organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities. Angela generously outlined a helpful list of questions families of kids with special needs should ask a camp to find the right fit for your child:
- Is the camp accredited by the American Camp Association? This accreditation ensures that camps meet recognized requirements for safe programs.
- What is the camp’s philosophy? Is the environment competitive or cooperative?
- Will the camp provide the kinds of experiences you and your child want? Is this camp a good match for your child’s personality?
- What kind of training, experience and expertise do the directors and counselors have? Have they ever worked with a child with special needs?
- Are the counselors trained in CPR, First Aid and Water safety?
- What is the ratio of counselors to children? (see more on this below)
- What are the camp’s health and safety procedures? Is there a nurse on premises? How are medications administered? Are staff trained to respond to medical emergencies? How close is the nearest hospital?
- What are the conditions of the campgrounds? Is equipment in good condition? Is it age appropriate?
- Is there fencing to protect your child from traffic or surrounding areas? Can strangers enter the campground undetected? Do neighbors also have access to the playground? Do counselors wear identifying clothing which separates them from the general population?
- Are the counselors required to pass a background and health check?
- Are the facilities accessible?
- What are the age ranges of the campers? How are they grouped?
- How old are the counselors? Who supervises them?
- Try to observe the counselors during outdoor play. Are they engaged with the children, supervising them on the equipment and helping them complete activities, or do they sit in a group and talk amongst themselves?
- What is the return rate of campers and counselors from year to year?
- What does a typical daily schedule look like? Are the able to accommodate a child who needs frequent breaks or has sensory integration issues? How does a camp handle a child with motor difficulties? Are they prepared to provide alternate activities if a child can not complete the tasks?
- How does the camp staff handle behavior outbursts?
- If your child needs a special diet, can the camp provide this, or will they let you send in lunch and snacks? How are food allergies handled?
- How will the counselors communicate with you? Daily notes? Communication book? Can you speak with counselors during drop off and pick up times? Is someone always available by phone for emergencies? Who will serve as the main point of contact at the camp?
- Are parents and family members invited to visit? Do parents or additional staff accompany the children on trips?
If you are unable to speak to any of the parents at the camp, ask the camp for references to get as much perspective from their experience as possible.
Camp Staffing
ACA requires the following staff ratios for the accredited camps: 1 counselor for every 5 overnight campers or 6 day-only campers that are 4-5 years old. For the 6-8 year old set, ACA requires 1 counselor for every 6 overnight campers or 8 day-only campers. You can find more information on their staffing requirements here.
For children with severe disabilities, the ratio can be as high as 1:3 or 1:2, notes Angela Ghiozzi. “Sometimes a shadow, a one-on-one counselor can be hired for a child who is being mainstreamed; other situations are best handled by the addition of one general counselor to the entire group. This is an important part of the discussion of how to set a child up for success”, suggests Marla Coleman.
Mainstream Camp or Special Needs Camp – which is right for you?
Mainstream Camp
The most common and easiest to find nearby at a reasonable price, mainstream camps can be a good solution for full day or half day, full week or select days. They offer camp activities like sports, arts, swimming, hiking, and field trips. The biggest advantage of a mainstream camp is that it allows kids with special needs to be included with other children. “This grouping can provide verbal and behavioral models while fostering independence and problem solving for your child”, explains Angela Ghiozzi. However, these camps don’t typically provide the extra supervision your child may require, having a lower counselor to camper ratio and less experience dealing with kids with special needs. Plus, says Angela, some of the activities may be inappropriate or inaccessible for your child. Still, “many mainstream camps are equipped – counselor training, psychologists on staff, etc. – work with the camp director to personalize what your child needs! You will find them to be accessible and accommodating – and on the same team, setting your child up for success”, says Marla Coleman.
Special Needs Camp
Special Needs camps focus on specific needs your child requires extra support in – whether it’s social skills, or motor skills, or hearing or vision impairments. These camps are staffed appropriately and have a more extensive and detailed communication with the parents. There are camps that cater to a specific need and there are camps offering support for various needs. The biggest advantage of special needs camps for your child is that they are not only better staffed but more prepared to address any problems that may arise – dietary, physical or social – and work one on one with your child if necessary. “Activities tend to be more structured and of shorter duration”, says Angela Ghiozzi, “While maintaining a routine is crucial to many children with special needs, trained counselors will be prepared to handle behavioral outbursts and offer appropriate alternatives. They may also be skilled at getting campers out of their comfort zone and try new activities at their own pace.” In addition to more extensive support for the child and more active communication with the parent, special needs camps may also offer clinical services, such as speech, occupational or physical therapy. The disadvantages of a special needs camp include a higher price, typically more distant location, and lack of opportunities to interact with children who do not have special needs.
Whichever camp type you choose, “Most often, a program with structure – and choices within that structure – are beneficial”, says Marla Coleman. “Giving a child the opportunity to spend more time in an area of special interest can be wonderful, but some structure is advised so they leave their comfort zones and try new things.”
Is Overnight Camp an Option?
Overnight camps are definitely a possibility for kids with special needs, as long as the parents are prepared and do their homework when it comes to both camp research and knowing your child’s needs. “A child’s readiness to participate in this type of camp experience usually has more to do with parents preparing their child than the chronological age of the child.”, says Angela Ghiozzi. Has your child ever been away from home? What was that experience like? If your child can tolerate being away from home and understands what the camp has to offer, overnight camps can offer a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and grow more independent. Plus, there are many overnight camps with a specific focus – science, music, dance, sports, which can make it an unforgettable summer. Overnight camp staff is there to support your child: “Camp staff are extensively trained in motivating positive behavior, group management techniques, conflict resolution, logical consequences, developmental needs, etc. – and they have access to other professionals at camp who are specifically trained”, says Marla Coleman.
The biggest challenge with overnight camps is homesickness, and that would apply to all kids, though special needs kids may experience a higher level of anxiety. So parents should come up with a solution that works best for your child – letters home, phone calls, scrapbook to show later, etc.
Camp Duration
If you are worried about how your child will react in a new environment, the prospect of a longer camp may not be so appealing. But you know your child best, so you can guess what camp duration will work best. Camps offer programs as short as 1 day or 1 week to as long as the entire summer. You can choose select days or full weeks/months, full days or half days. The duration is mostly dependent on your confidence to separate from your child, your child’s independence and the overall preparedness.
How to Prepare your Child for Camp
Talking about the future camp experience and activities with your child, including going over potential camp routines will be extremely beneficial. Angela Ghiozzi suggests getting your child’s school teacher involved by going over camp books and activities before summer. Taking advantage of staggered camp sessions is another possibility, so your child can ease into the camp experience. Talking to your child’s teacher will also offer points on what triggers behavioral outbursts and what can be soothing.
Send the child with any visual supports, or reinforcing activities that can be used to motivate the child. “If the child has difficulty communicating, explain how to help the child use alternative communication methods”, suggests Michelle Nameth Connor, M.Ed., BCBA, of the Funutation Tekademy LLC in Ohio.
Visit the camps together with your child, so he or she can get excited about the camp and better visualize the future experience. Role-playing (how to find a couselor, how to handle stressful situations) is very helpful too.
If friends are about to start camp, suggest pooling them together, so kids will have another level of support while at camp.
If you are reading this article, you are already aware that transparency will only help your child. Concealing your child’s special needs from camp will only backfire, no matter how insignificantly small they may seem. “Prepare the staff at the camp so they know what to expect from your child when they are at their worst and give them information to help them be their best. Explain things that may be a trigger for frustration or anger and suggestions that work to help the child calm down. Send the child with any visual supports, toys, or reinforcing activities that can be used to motivate the child. If the child has difficulty communicating, explain how to help the child use alternative communication methods”, says Michelle Nameth Connor. And definitely do not give a medication vacation, advises Marla Coleman. “The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against this. It can be like taking eyeglasses away from a child for the summer to give his eyes a rest!”. Angela Ghiozzi suggests writing a one page summary of your child’s disability information – a short summary is more likely to be read. In fact, an IEP can often be helpful: “the more a parent shares, the more successful the camp experience can be”, says Marla Coleman. “Don’t assume that withholding information will give your child a clean slate; rather, the more advance insight provided to the camp, the more the child’s needs can be anticipated and met.”
So do your research, talk to other parents, visit camps, but know that your child will get more independent and resilient. As Angela says, “No matter what the special needs of your child may be, somewhere out there you will find a camp to suit his/her needs and provide a rich and fun-filled summer experience!”
