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When choosing a summer camp program for a child with disabilities, the most
important question is will they understand and take good care of my child?
This can be answered by lengthy conversations with camp personnel or the
director. If a camp is too busy to return your phone calls, or take the time
to talk at length with you, will they be too busy for your child as well?
Regardless of all that a camp may have to offer, if the director or the
staff is too busy for you now, it should be a red flag. Find a camp that
will give your child the time and attention that you both deserve. Consider
these factors when determining what camp program will best fit the needs of
your child:
Type of Program
Decide early in the process what type of program you want for your child.
Camps are offered as day programs (campers go home at night) and residential
programs (campers board at the facility for the length of their stay).
Lengths of programs vary from as short as a few days to several weeks. Be
certain that your child is ready to cope with the length of the program you
select. Camp programs are available in both single sex formats and co-ed.
Consider your child’s social skills level and ability to cope with the
demands of mixed social situations when deciding which of these environments
would be best. Program philosophy should be clearly stated in the camp
literature. Your family should be comfortable with this philosophy and
confident that it will deliver an enjoyable experience for your child. Of
particular importance is the camp’s policy regarding family communication
with the child. Will the child be expected, in fact encouraged, to write to
his/her family during the camp stay? Will phone calls to/from home be
allowed? Children with disabilities often have differing needs for family
contact and you should be certain that the camp policy will not conflict
with those needs.
Type of Camp
There are many choices! Your child can be mainstreamed into a regular camp
setting, or be at a camp that focuses on their particular needs. There are
also camps that mix up the needs, such as learning disabilities, emotional
disabilities, and physical disabilities. And then there are camps that truly
specialize. You’ll need to decide which type of environment will best
address your child’s needs.
Size
What are you ideally looking for? Camps range in size from 500 or more
children per session to as small as 30-35 per session. It is purely a
personal decision for each family. Make a point of asking the camp director
for information about the number of campers in the program.
Educational vs. Recreational
Many camps are purely recreational, while other programs combine both
recreational and educational activities. Some programs while calling
themselves camps have a strong instructional focus. Inquire about the
percentage of camp time devoted to varying activities and decide what mix
will best serve your child’s specific needs.
Location and Facilities
Choose the type of setting that you think your child will enjoy. The western
half of the country has many beautiful lakefront and forest locations. Many
camps are schools that convert to camp/summer school during the summer
months. There are fewer camps in the west, but the west offers a completely
different experience because of the Rocky Mountains and the distinctive
western culture. Some camps are luxurious and others are true camping
experiences. Ask about eating, sleeping, and bathing facilities and be sure
that your child will be comfortable in the particular setting offered by the
camp.
Staff
The American Camping Association requires one counselor for every eight
children. When dealing with children with disabilities, a higher staff ratio
is preferred. For residential programs, be sure to determine the level of
staff supervision in the evening hours. You want your child to receive the
attention needed in the camp environment. In addition, it is important to
determine if the teachers and/or counselors are educated, certified, and
trained to work with children with disabilities. In addition, determine the
level of medical training the staff has received. If your child takes
regular medication, will trained staff be on duty each day to administer the
medication?
Summer camp should focus on enhancing your child’s self-esteem and
independence. The successful camp experience should improve social skills
and provide quality peer relationships. Hopefully your camper will return
with better self-esteem than when the summer began.
Other Points in Choosing an Instructional or Recreational Program
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Talk with parents of students who have attended the program. Ask the program
director for some names of former participants.
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Select a program based on your child’s individual needs as well as
interests. Remember, a program may be excellent but not one for your child.
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Help the program be a successful experience for your child by providing
clear, accurate information about your child’s strengths, weaknesses and
special needs.
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Be certain you know your total costs including all incidental charges.
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If possible, visit the program location during operation hours. Seeing a
program in operation is often the best test of a program.
Reprinted from the
Georgia Learning Resources System.
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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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