Choosing the right summer camp for a child isn’t easy, and it can be even more challenging for those whose children have special needs. Yet experts say parents can find the right camp by doing a little homework, asking a lot of questions, and communicating honestly with camp staff.
“Camp is a difficult one, because if you get it wrong, you’re going to hear about it all summer,” laughs Sharon Riddle, publisher of spedchildmass.com and a mother of two sons with special needs.
One of her site’s features is a listing of more than 100 camps in Eastern, Central, and Western Massachusetts designed for children with special needs, or traditional camps with inclusion programs. She took the time to share some thoughts on how to serve your child’s interests best during the summer months.
Find camps that align with your child’s interests
If a child loves art and could draw all day, an outdoor sports camp may not be the best choice.
Even if a camp fits a parent’s budget and availability, if it doesn’t fit the child, why bother?
Experts also advise considering a child’s preferences and triggers. In what situation does she thrive and in which does she have the most difficulty? For example, a camp with a lot of field trips may be a poor choice for a child who prefers routine or is anxious in new situations. If a child succeeds best in small-group settings, a program that offers only large group activities may not be the right fit. If a child has never been to camp before, is a full-day program the best option?
“You really need to say, ‘What does my child like? Am I trying to fit a square peg into a round hole?’” Riddle says.
She saw the power of the right camp first-hand when her youngest, now 17, finally found a camp that fit his interests. He had tried a variety of camps and programs, but nothing moved him until the family found an aviation camp that centered around his love of flying.
“He came back a different kid,” Riddle says. “He said, ‘People really got me. People who had the same passion and interest as me.’”
Ask a lot of questions.
When considering a camp, Riddle highlights several potential topics to cover when talking with staff:
Safety: Who is teaching and and watching your child? What are their training, education, and credentials? From field trips to bathroom visits, what is the student-to-staff ratio? Are campers monitored to ensure they respect personal boundaries?
Acceptance: Does the makeup of the camper population reflect your child or is it inclusive? “Kids with disabilities are just like everybody else,” Riddle notes. “They want to be with kids like themselves, but they also want to be included with everybody.”
Medications: For children who need medication during the day, what is the procedure and who will administer? How many nurses are staffing the program?
And finally, if a child needs medication at a specific time and the nurse is handling an emergency, is there a backup plan for someone else to administer them?