The camp selection process can be intense, detailed and difficult for all parents who are navigating through the many options. For parents who have children with special needs, that list of considerations grows. We asked area camps with experience in programming for what factors are most important for parents.
Camp accommodations
Full inclusion for all children with special needs is an admirable goal, but it’s not always achievable, says Chris Garr, the CEO of Youth Sports Unlimited – a Westlake organization that provides programming for kids with disabilities, who learn and grow through adaptive sports, recreation, art and life-skills training.
Garr advises to ask, “What are the specific strengths and areas of expertise provided by the camp?”
Similarly, the experience of the camp’s staff is vital — as is ensuring that experience matches the needs and challenges of specific campers.
“The most important thing would be having staff that has been around the community and is experienced with a variety of challenges that arise with any camps or programs,” says Jake Jackson, program director at Empower Sports, a Cleveland-based organization that exists to enrich the lives of athletes of diverse challenges through sports and exercise while promoting kindness, character, and relationships. “Knowing that you are leaving your child with someone you trust is one of the most important things you can do.”
That sentiment was echoed by Christina Kaake, director of camp and recreation for Achievement Centers for Children. The organization offers Camp Cheerful, founded in 1947 and based in Strongsville, where children and adults with physical, developmental and sensory disabilities can enjoy and benefit from camp activities in a barrier-free environment.
“Dedicated staff who are excited and passionate about offering the summer camp experience to all campers is the No. 1 quality a camp should have in the special needs space,” Kaake says. “It’s important that the staff have a vision for programming with a wide range of activities available and the support to make those activities available to all campers.”
Consider programming
and talk to your network
Parents want very specific things from their children’s camps— like socialization with peers, exercise and activity, early childhood education or academic enrichment. It’s best to find out what camp fits you and your child’s needs.
“If there is an open house or opportunity to meet staff and leadership, or shadow a program or activity with your child, do it,” Garr says.
Another resource? Other parents. The special needs community is very tight knit, says Tom Heines, executive director of Empower Sports. He encourages camp seekers to leverage that closeness, talking to fellow parents about what camps do what best, and what camps may not do things well.
“Talking to other parents in similar situations is a key tool most of our parents use,” Jackson says.
Lastly, what some may consider basics are crucial for a positive camp experience, Kaake says. Things like ADA-compliant, accessible bathrooms, cabins and dining facilities — as part of an easily accessible campus — are must-haves.
“Ask about AEDs, where First Aid kits are kept, and how quickly staff can respond to emergencies, which will vary based on the size of the campground,” she says.
“The flexibility and creativity of the staff are most critical (to meet those parent wishes),” Garr says. “Staff should have extensive experience working with children and have a welcoming and warm demeanor. If there is an open house or opportunity to meet staff and leadership, or shadow a program or activity with your child, do it.”