If your child has a disability, there are summer camp experiences designed specifically for your child’s needs. Be sure to choose a camp that is fully accessible with no limits on the activities and experiences your camper can take part in.
As you begin your search, the first thing to ask yourself is “What would my child enjoy?” Perhaps it’s the chance to make new friends. Maybe it’s a sport like basketball. It could be drama, music or the opportunity to spend time swimming and exploring nature.
There are many different types of summer camps. From day programs to overnight camps and everything in between. As you consider your child’s age, interests and personality, you might wonder if they are ready for overnight camp. Often, a child is more ready than you think. Overnight summer camp is an amazing opportunity for growth. The experience your child has away from home this summer will foster a greater sense of confidence, independence and social connectedness that your child will carry long after the summer camp experience is over.
For a camp to be fully accessible and barrier-free, look for specific indicators that they go above and beyond to ensure every child can fully participate in anything they’d like to try. For example, it’s not enough to just be at the lake. Can your child get into the water and out on the boat? For all activities, look for adaptive equipment that provides an array of options for each person’s unique needs.
For neurodivergent campers, a barrier to participating might be noise or bright lights. Ask if the camp provides designated quiet zones, sensory break rooms, and noise-canceling headphones for loud events like dances or campfires. Ask if they provide visual schedules and social stories to help your child feel comfortable and know what to expect each day.
Remember, there is a difference between “fully accessible” and “barrier-free.” A lot of camps have physical accessibility in place for cabins and dining halls, and adaptive equipment for some of the activities they offer. It is important to see if the camp has all the pieces in place to provide a barrier-free opportunity for your child.
Barrier-free should be the core philosophy behind how the camp approaches what individual campers are looking to get out of an activity. Barrier-free is what sets a camp apart. It’s a commitment to providing opportunities for campers to fully experience anything they would like to try: from art projects, to drama and music, to team sports, archery, biking, swimming, kayaking, ropes courses and everything else. Campers should have the opportunity to try new things and experience “challenge by choice,” making new friends while building confidence and a new sense of community in the process.
Camp Sight : Practical Tips for Parents
When exploring if a camp is barrier-free, some key questions to ask are:
- What is your philosophy?
- What type of programming do you offer?
- What does a typical day look like?
- Do campers have an opportunity to try everything at least once?
- How much training and experience does the staff have?
- What is the staff to camper ratio?
Be sure to also ask:
- How do you handle food allergies and sensitivities?
- Are counselors, nurses and kitchen staff trained and equipped for food allergies and sensitivities?
- Is there is a 24/7 medical team capable of handling each child’s needs?
- How do you communicate information with parents during the session?
Most importantly, go and tour the facility, talk with other families who have attended before, attend an informational session, or take a virtual tour if you can’t get to the camp in person.
When considering camps, always be sure to look for American Camp Association Accreditation. The American Camp Association (ACA) is not just any camp accrediting body, it is the only accrediting body in the United Sates. Its rigorous standards are not easy to meet and are evaluated each year. The ACA has a comprehensive and easy to use tool where you can search camps by state, activity and accessibility. https://find.acacamps.org
Remember: There is a camp out there for your child. It will be their new home away from home every summer.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dawn Willard-Robinson, Director of Pine Tree Camp in Rome, Maine, has been involved in the world of camping for 20 years. Pine Tree Camp’s programs include overnight and day-long camp experiences for children with disabilities. Pine Tree Camp has served children (and adults) with disabilities since 1945. Camp Pine Cone is the camp’s week-long, day summer camp program for children who might not yet be ready for overnight camp. Pine Tree Camp has welcomed all who could benefit, regardless of their ability to pay the tuition. www.pinetreecamp.org
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