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Sending Your Child to Overnight Camp

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To send your child to overnight camp or not – this is a difficult question for all families, and if your child is on the autism spectrum, it is an even greater concern. There are numerous opportunities out there and many advantages to going: discovering new things, participating in activities, and making friends from different places. But… is your child ready?

You may be thinking: “My child becomes anxious when he is not around familiar things!,” “She thrives on her routine,” “He only eats white foods!” You may be torn: should you push your child out of the nest and allow him to fly, or keep him home, where he will be safe and protected and where there is no chance that any imagined catastrophes can ever occur.

Kids thrive on opportunities to develop connections in new situations, with new people, with new friends – even for short periods of time. Adults thrive on opportunities to have their children in safe, trusted environments for short periods of time (a weekend, a week, or even a couple of weeks). And individuals within families do well with breaks from one another. We all come back to those familiar routines refreshed, renewed, and somehow different. As a parent, one may develop a new perspective, a new thought about something rote and routine; children may bring something new back home, maybe how to help themselves, how to be a bit more independent.

But, how does a parent develop the courage and strength to “let go”?

First thing – choose the camp you trust. That ideally means visiting the camp and meeting the administrator, director, and any other staff available to meet with you. These are the individuals responsible for your child’s safety, program, and in general “good time” at camp. They hire the staff, oversee the facilities, and plan programs. What are their credentials? How long have they been at the camp? Are they responsible? Are they capable? Do you like them? Do they know how to have a good time? What’s the staff-to-camper ratio? How old are the counselors, and where does the camp recruit them from? How many counselors return from the previous year? What percentage are new staff? What kind of training is provided for them? Do the counselors have first-aid training? What kind of medical staff is available in the infirmary and during what hours? Are there nurses on staff? Is there a health center? What are the protocols if a child is injured or ill? Can the staff administer any medications your child needs?…. So many questions just about the camp staff.

This is where the director’s philosophy comes through loud and clear. Positive behavior techniques, role-modeling, and sense of fair play are generally regarded as key components of camp counseling and leadership. Rules are necessary in any community, and the disciplinary approach taken should be reasonable and well-communicated. Does the staff have the training to motivate positive behavior and the resources to get help from supervisors who are professional educators? Do counselors understand concepts about boundaries and developmentally appropriate behavior? Are they equipped to provide natural and logical consequences, where appropriate, to emphasize children’s ability to develop resilience and decision-making skills?

Other serious concerns to consider…. If your child needs a special diet, can the camp provide appropriate meals? If not, can you provide food for your child? 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 some of this information through phone calls, emails, brochures, and websites, experts recommend visiting the camp. You can talk to the director, visit the site, and get a comprehensive picture of where your child will be. Even better – visit the camp with your child.

If you can’t visit a camp, interview the director and some staff members over the phone 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 kids have attended to see what their experiences were like. In fact, word of mouth is one of the best ways to find out what you need to know about each camp.

In addition to checking out the camp, don’t forget to consider your child’s likes and dislikes, comfort zones, and stressors:

  • What delights your child? What are those things you wish you could provide and/or expose your child to, but have no opportunity? Perhaps horseback riding, a hike in the woods, toasting marshmallows over a fire, participating in a theater project, daily swimming? How about a cooking class, immersion in a foreign language, video production? Baseball? Well, there are camps that cater to each of these interest areas and more!
  • What are your child’s stressors? What are those things that simply guarantee a bad day? Is it a change in the schedule? Is it the rain? Or maybe the company of too many people? Perhaps it’s too loud, or too quiet? Choose your child’s camp accordingly.
  • Does your child need a camp for children with special needs? Start by thinking about the supports your child needs at school. If your child spends most of his or her time in a special education classroom, he or she may not be ready for an inclusive camp experience. If the camp isn’t designed specifically for children with special needs, is it able to provide your child with needed accommodations, such as for dietary restrictions and behavioral supports?
  • Does your child have adjustment and separation issues? If they are severe, consider a day camp instead of an overnight one. If you think your child is ready for the overnight experience, start with a short camp (maybe a weekend or 5 day week) and find out how the camp handles adjustment issues. Who will handle any problems, and what are their credentials? Will the director keep you informed of your child’s progress if this occurs?

As you’re trying to figure out which camp is best, just remember that whatever the special need, there’s likely a camp out there to suit your child. With some research and understanding between you, your child, and the camp director, your camper-to-be can have an unforgettably wonderful summer.

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The Center for Autism Research and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia do not endorse or recommend any specific person or organization or form of treatment. The information included within the CAR Autism Roadmap™ and CAR Resource Directory™ should not be considered medical advice and should serve only as a guide to resources publicly and privately available. Choosing a treatment, course of action, and/or a resource is a personal decision, which should take into account each individual's and family's particular circumstances.