In the fifties and sixties when camps started gaining popularity, many kids went to camp and were all looked at and treated basically the same. Today the world is very different and so are our children.
Every child who attends camp is unique and special in their own way. Whether it is food allergies, medical issues, behavioral issues or a unique personality; each child requires individually tailored attention to meet their needs. If your child requires extra support or special needs; they must be offered that experience so they will be successful.
It is not good enough anymore to put 10 kids in a camp cabin with two camp counselors who have been trained in 3 days and expect that your child's experience will be a success. Camp is a place where children's self-esteem grows and their confidence level soars. To achieve this, one must understand what type of child is coming to summer camp.
So if your child has a specific need or particular issues, you must send them to a special needs summer camp that looks at every child in their own unique way. The camp should be flexible with families, properly structured in regard to the amount of children in the cabins, the ratio of counselors to campers, the programming and anything else that will enable children to be successful.
Integration and inclusion programs only work when the camp has a philosophy that believes every child must be successful, given their unique personalities.
- A child who needs help with auditory processing must have a counselor who understands the appropriate way to speak to that child.
- A child who has ADHD needs help in dealing with all the stimuli one has at camp.
- A child who is easily scapegoated (bullied) or has social issues, must have staff and a program that emphasizes treating each other in a most respectful way.
It is not just good enough to say that we treat every child positively but rather, how is the special needs camp set up and what is the culture that allows everyone to feel comfortable? The two biggest issues in the camping field today are bullying and 'mean girls'.
A Special Needs Summer Camp that addresses these issues with their staff, with their campers, with their parents and also provide a safe and nurturing culture will allow every child to feel safe.
A child with special needs requires a camp that will provide an atmosphere for that child to grow, develop and feel safe and secure. So when deciding on what camp is right for your child, ask the question, "What will your camp do to make my child feel special?"
Harvey Finkelberg, Director of Shining Star Camp, has over 20 years of experience running camping programs for children with behavior problems. All staff participate in an intensive two-week training and review program prior to the beginning of camp summer.
To learn more about special needs summer camp, visit:
http://specialneedssummercamp.com/