Attending a day or overnight summer camp is a tradition that many American children take part in every year. However, attending a summer camp may prove to be an overwhelming experience for a child on the autism spectrum. There are camp programs across the United States that tailor to children on the autism spectrum as well as children with a variety of special needs.
Many of the nation’s most popular summer camps have published their 2009 schedules and opened registration for both individual and family camp sessions.
Eagles for Autism Summer Soccer Camp
The Charlotte Eagles Soccer Club will be hosting a free soccer day camp for children aged 4-18 that are on the autism spectrum. The camp will run from June 15-19, 2009 from 9:00 am until noon at Elon Park in Charlotte, North Caroline. Preregistration is required; for more information, call (704) 841-8644 extension 43.
Moon Beach, Wisconsin Autism Camps
There are two autism summer camps held at Moon Beach in Wisconsin. Camp AweSum is designed for children aged 8-15 years on the autism spectrum and the Autism Spectrum Family Camp.
The 2009 session of the Autism Spectrum Family Camp will begin on August 16 and run through August 22. The family camp is designed so families that include a child on the autism spectrum can gather with similar families in a traditional camp setting.
Parents of children with autism can, at times, feel isolated from the rest of the community. The Autism Spectrum Family Camp is a great way for parents to connect with others dealing with the same life challenges. For more information on the family camp, call (715) 479-8255.
Camp AweSum, also held at the Moon Beach camp facilities, is designed to serve children from age 9-15 on the autism spectrum in a traditional, overnight camp setting. The 2009 session begins on June 21 and concludes on June 26.
Camp AweSum features occupational therapy, a four to one camper to counselor ratio and an on-site RN available 24 hours per day. For more information on the camp, email CampAweSum@yahoo.com and put the word ‘camper’ in the subject line.
Camp Bridge
New Jersey-based Camp Bridge is a summer day camp designed to serve children aged 4-13 that are on the autism spectrum. One unique feature of Camp Bridge is the integration of camp goers with their typically developing peers that attend X-Camp (next door to Camp Bridge).
Camp Bridge serves children on the autism spectrum as well as children with ADD/ADHD and features a 3:1 camper to staff ratio, counselors trained in ABA and Floortime therapies as well as a team of specialized therapists. For more information on Camp Bridge, call (732) 580-6212.
The four camps described here are just a few of the many summer camps tailored to meet the needs of children with an autism spectrum disorder. Some camps are limited to children on the autism spectrum while others will have campers with a variety of special needs all attending camp together.
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