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If you are considering sending your child to a camp program, you will need
to make some decisions concerning the type of camp that is most appropriate
and then gather some basic information about camps offering this type of
experience. The following information is compiled from the American Camping
Association Guide to Camps, The Parent Training Guide to Recreation, and the
GLRS Summer Recreation Programs Available to Youth with Disabilities.
Day Camps
Day camps usually offer a variety of recreational activities designed to
promote your child's physical and mental well-being. A program may run all
day or half-day; five days or three days a week; all summer or select weeks.
Advance registration and a physical exam with a complete medical history are
usually required.
Day camp activities ordinarily include music, swimming, a variety of sports,
arts and crafts, hobby clubs, and field trips. The ages of the children are
usually 5 years and older.
If the program is offered by your local community or municipal recreation
department, a minimal fee may be required. Most private agencies charge a
higher fee; although, they may be willing to reduce the fee based on
financial need.
Residential Camps
Residential (sleep-away) camps are those in which your child may spend from
two days to two weeks to an entire summer away from home. This type of
program can provide a unique living experience for a child with a
disability. In addition to some of the same activities available to day
camps, sleep-away camps give children the opportunity to live together in
cabins under the supervision of qualified staff. A major emphasis of these
programs is to increase the independence and self-help skills of each child.
Ages tend to range from 5 to 16 years. Advance registration and a complete
physical exam are required. A formal interview may be requested. Fees are
charged; however, a scholarship program may be available to those with
financial need.
Special vs. Non-Special
There are day and residential camps designed only for children with
disabilities as well as camps where children with disabilities are included
in the programs with children without disabilities. Which experience is best
for your child depends upon your child's abilities, interests, and social
skills. You will need to decide what the maximum benefit will be from each
situation.
Reprinted with permission from the
Atlanta Alliance on
Developmental Disabilities.
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Many summer
camps fill up their slots by January. Do your research early and get
your child enrolled in a program before it is too late. |
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