For more than a century, North American summer camps have
provided children and young adults with meaningful opportunities to immerse
themselves in nature, develop life-long friendships, discover their strengths
and talents, gain independence and engage in communal living.
According to the American
Camp Association’s Case for Camp, “A quality camp experience provides our children
with the opportunity to learn powerful lessons in community,
character-building, skill development, and healthy living — a meaningful,
engaged, and participatory environment.”
For
children with special needs, who are all too often stuck on the sidelines, a summer
camp experience can have an even more profound effect. Today, there are so many different ways to
take advantage of all that camp has to offer. No matter what your child’s
disability, whether you choose a day camp, or sleep-away camp, an inclusive
camp, where children with disabilities play alongside typically developing
peers, a family camp, a religious camp or a specialty camp focusing on sports,
arts, academics or computers, there is truly something for everyone.
But
how can you tell if your child with special needs is prepared for a summer
camping experience? How do you go about finding the appropriate setting? Will
your child be safe?
We
went directly to the source—The American Camp Association—to ask these
questions. Here’s what we learned:
E.D:
Why are summer camping experiences beneficial
for children with special needs?
ACA: Camps serving kids with special needs
provide the opportunity to share a common bond with other campers, and to focus
not on their needs, but on having fun.
Camp unlocks potential and builds self-esteem.
What are some
considerations for parents who are choosing a camp for their child with special
needs?
The American Camp Association (ACA) always recommends that
parents first check if a camp is accredited.
If a camp is not accredited, parents should ask for the reason why the
camp isn’t accredited. Parents can go to
acacamps.org and use our Find a Camp tool to search for camps that are best for
their child.
The following is an example of a list of questions to ask
camp directors when considering sending your child to camp:
·
What is the medical oversight?
·
Who is directly responsible?
·
How are special dietary needs accommodated?
·
When does the director call home?
·
Where are the camp’s adaptive programs?
·
How many activities will my child be able to try
at camp?
Additionally, some camps may have rugged terrain. It is always good to visit a camp to check
the accessibility.
How should parents
decide whether to send their child to day or sleep-away camp?
ACA recommends gauging every child’s readiness based on that
individual child. Has he or she had
successful overnight experience at a friend’s or with a relative? Is the child asking for an overnight camp
experience? Ask the camp which program
is tailored to each age group.
In the next several weeks, Enabling Devices will explore
some of the many summer camping options for children and teens with special
needs and their families. Stay tuned!
Do you have suggestions or comments about summer camping for
children with special needs? Talk to us on Facebook!
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