SPECIAL NEEDS OVERNIGHT CAMPS
General Description
Special needs overnight camps fall into three basic categories, based on the needs of the child: physical, psychological, and weight loss. All three kinds strive to boost children’s self-esteem and improve their coping skills by providing a safe, supportive environment where children with similar needs can share their experience and learn from staff and one another. Such camps also strive to teach kids healthy habits. For example, kids at a diabetes camp learn new ways of controlling their
blood sugar through diet, exercise, and proper insulin dosing. The best part of any special needs overnight camp is that children learn to do new things, including some they never thought they could. A supportive, beautiful camp environment is the perfect place for kids to test the limits of their abilities.
It makes intuitive sense that kids with special needs would benefit from overnight camp. The experience of community living away from home, with other kids who have similar needs, and with adult staff who are trained to help kids deal with their special needs, can be incredibly powerful. Imagine what an extremely positive experience it is for a child who has survived the pain and disfigurement of a severe burn to spend a week or more with other children who have survived the same trauma. Or, imagine how much a child with leukemia can learn about coping with his disease when he spends a few weeks at overnight camp with other children who are fighting cancer. Not surprisingly, recent research has confirmed that special needs camps often boost children’s self-esteem and improve their coping skills.
A few special needs camps take place on college campuses or even in hospitals. However, most special needs camps take place in a beautiful, woodsy, outdoor setting, typical of traditional overnight camps. Indeed, many special needs camps exist by renting the campus of a traditional overnight camp for a week or two. This works out well, as long as the special needs camp staff who comes in to run things is highly qualified and familiar with the camp grounds.
The physical and mental health care staff at any special needs camp should be qualified to care for the specific needs of the children they serve. For example, the nurse at a camp for kids with asthma should have expertise using nebulizers (special machines that administer asthma medicines). The doctor affiliated with a camp for diabetic children should be an endocrinologist (a doctor who specializes in the care of diabetes). The nutritionist at a weight-loss camp should be qualified to work with children and teens. The psychologist or psychiatrist at a camp for kids with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or severe behavior problems should have lots of experience managing children’s emotional and behavioral difficulties.
Special needs camps should also be designed for the kids they serve. Ramps and rails must be provided for those who use wheelchairs. Staff-to-camper ratios must be higher to allow for the individual attention that some kids with special needs require. Special medical equipment must be readily available if required. Above all, the staff should be highly trained in helping kids manage their specific needs. It’s not enough for the staff to be a group of untrained people who are simply interested in helping children. That’s a good start, but specialized leadership and health care training is necessary. Without it, staff at overnight camps for kids with special needs may provide inadequate or inappropriate supervision.
Camping programs are available for kids who have a variety of special needs, including the following:
• arthritis
• asthma / respiratory ailments
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• autism, Asperger’s disorder, or pervasive development disorder
• blindness / visual impairment
• burns
• cancer
• cerebral palsy
• cystic fibrosis
• deafness / hearing impairment
• diabetes
• epilepsy / seizure disorder
• hemophilia
• HIV/AIDS
• kidney disorders
• mental retardation
• mobility limitations / amputations / other physical disabilities
• muscular dystrophy
• multiple sclerosis
• obesity
• severe behavior problems
• sickle cell anemia
• spina bifida
• spinal injury or paralysis
• substance abuse
Many special needs camps offer sessions that run for several weeks, as traditional camps do. Shorter stays are also common. Whatever the length, spending time at special needs overnight camp can be a wonderful experience for kids, and will provide well-deserved respite for parents. Special needs overnight camps are also available for older adolescents and adults with disabilities. You can start your research on special needs camps (and traditional camps that have “inclusion” programs) by talking with one or more of the health care professionals who cares for your child. Next, look in Chapter 18 for electronic and printed material about special needs camps.
Weight-loss camps deserve additional discussion because millions of American kids struggle with their weight and because weight-loss camps are increasingly popular. These camps are designed to boost kids’ self-esteem and instill exercise and diet habits that they can bring home. Some kids succeed at weight-loss camps and feel great about how their bodies change. Naturally, other kids fail to meet or maintain their weight-loss goals. As with other kinds of specialty overnight camps, you’ll want to research the philosophy and design of the camp and then decide whether it offers something new and potentially helpful for your child. As a consumer, you should know that weight-loss camps, like certain weight-loss products, may make dramatic claims about how much a child can lose during a camp stay.
It’s uncommon, but attending a special needs camp might foster labeling or even ridicule. Kids may call weight-loss camps “fat farms” or they may label campers who attend military-style camps “jeuvies,” “delinquents,” or “burn-outs.” It’s awful. Kids can be cruel to one another, purely out of ignorance. Boys and girls who attend weight loss camps may be especially vulnerable to labeling because obesity is such a stigma in modern society. Of course, if the camp helps your child approach his goals, the opportunity for teasing will disappear along with the excess weight.
As an alternative to attending a special needs camp, you and your child may wish to consider traditional camps that make accommodations for special needs. More and more traditional camps have “inclusion” programs and specially trained staff for this purpose. These camps provide wonderful experiences and may reduce the likelihood of labeling because they are seen as “normal” camps.
Pros and Cons of Special Needs Overnight Camps
Pros of special needs overnight camps include:
• opportunities to improve coping with special physical, psychological, or weight-loss needs
• the chance to befriend and learn from kids who face similar challenges
• feeling supported and safe in an environment where all the other kids face similar challenges
• staff who are experienced in helping kids manage their special needs
Cons of special needs overnight camps include:
• staff may know a lot about the special need, or really want to help kids with special needs, but they may know little about leadership or instruction
• rented camp grounds may belong to an accredited camp, but the special needs camp may not be run according to recognized camping standards
• living exclusively with other children who have special needs may get tiresome, depressing, or even upsetting
General Description
Special needs overnight camps fall into three basic categories, based on the needs of the child: physical, psychological, and weight loss. All three kinds strive to boost children’s self-esteem and improve their coping skills by providing a safe, supportive environment where children with similar needs can share their experience and learn from staff and one another. Such camps also strive to teach kids healthy habits. For example, kids at a diabetes camp learn new ways of controlling their
It makes intuitive sense that kids with special needs would benefit from overnight camp. The experience of community living away from home, with other kids who have similar needs, and with adult staff who are trained to help kids deal with their special needs, can be incredibly powerful. Imagine what an extremely positive experience it is for a child who has survived the pain and disfigurement of a severe burn to spend a week or more with other children who have survived the same trauma. Or, imagine how much a child with leukemia can learn about coping with his disease when he spends a few weeks at overnight camp with other children who are fighting cancer. Not surprisingly, recent research has confirmed that special needs camps often boost children’s self-esteem and improve their coping skills.
A few special needs camps take place on college campuses or even in hospitals. However, most special needs camps take place in a beautiful, woodsy, outdoor setting, typical of traditional overnight camps. Indeed, many special needs camps exist by renting the campus of a traditional overnight camp for a week or two. This works out well, as long as the special needs camp staff who comes in to run things is highly qualified and familiar with the camp grounds.
The physical and mental health care staff at any special needs camp should be qualified to care for the specific needs of the children they serve. For example, the nurse at a camp for kids with asthma should have expertise using nebulizers (special machines that administer asthma medicines). The doctor affiliated with a camp for diabetic children should be an endocrinologist (a doctor who specializes in the care of diabetes). The nutritionist at a weight-loss camp should be qualified to work with children and teens. The psychologist or psychiatrist at a camp for kids with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or severe behavior problems should have lots of experience managing children’s emotional and behavioral difficulties.
Special needs camps should also be designed for the kids they serve. Ramps and rails must be provided for those who use wheelchairs. Staff-to-camper ratios must be higher to allow for the individual attention that some kids with special needs require. Special medical equipment must be readily available if required. Above all, the staff should be highly trained in helping kids manage their specific needs. It’s not enough for the staff to be a group of untrained people who are simply interested in helping children. That’s a good start, but specialized leadership and health care training is necessary. Without it, staff at overnight camps for kids with special needs may provide inadequate or inappropriate supervision.
Camping programs are available for kids who have a variety of special needs, including the following:
• arthritis
• asthma / respiratory ailments
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• autism, Asperger’s disorder, or pervasive development disorder
• blindness / visual impairment
• burns
• cancer
• cerebral palsy
• cystic fibrosis
• deafness / hearing impairment
• diabetes
• epilepsy / seizure disorder
• hemophilia
• HIV/AIDS
• kidney disorders
• mental retardation
• mobility limitations / amputations / other physical disabilities
• muscular dystrophy
• multiple sclerosis
• obesity
• severe behavior problems
• sickle cell anemia
• spina bifida
• spinal injury or paralysis
• substance abuse
Many special needs camps offer sessions that run for several weeks, as traditional camps do. Shorter stays are also common. Whatever the length, spending time at special needs overnight camp can be a wonderful experience for kids, and will provide well-deserved respite for parents. Special needs overnight camps are also available for older adolescents and adults with disabilities. You can start your research on special needs camps (and traditional camps that have “inclusion” programs) by talking with one or more of the health care professionals who cares for your child. Next, look in Chapter 18 for electronic and printed material about special needs camps.
Weight-loss camps deserve additional discussion because millions of American kids struggle with their weight and because weight-loss camps are increasingly popular. These camps are designed to boost kids’ self-esteem and instill exercise and diet habits that they can bring home. Some kids succeed at weight-loss camps and feel great about how their bodies change. Naturally, other kids fail to meet or maintain their weight-loss goals. As with other kinds of specialty overnight camps, you’ll want to research the philosophy and design of the camp and then decide whether it offers something new and potentially helpful for your child. As a consumer, you should know that weight-loss camps, like certain weight-loss products, may make dramatic claims about how much a child can lose during a camp stay.
It’s uncommon, but attending a special needs camp might foster labeling or even ridicule. Kids may call weight-loss camps “fat farms” or they may label campers who attend military-style camps “jeuvies,” “delinquents,” or “burn-outs.” It’s awful. Kids can be cruel to one another, purely out of ignorance. Boys and girls who attend weight loss camps may be especially vulnerable to labeling because obesity is such a stigma in modern society. Of course, if the camp helps your child approach his goals, the opportunity for teasing will disappear along with the excess weight.
As an alternative to attending a special needs camp, you and your child may wish to consider traditional camps that make accommodations for special needs. More and more traditional camps have “inclusion” programs and specially trained staff for this purpose. These camps provide wonderful experiences and may reduce the likelihood of labeling because they are seen as “normal” camps.
Pros and Cons of Special Needs Overnight Camps
Pros of special needs overnight camps include:
• opportunities to improve coping with special physical, psychological, or weight-loss needs
• the chance to befriend and learn from kids who face similar challenges
• feeling supported and safe in an environment where all the other kids face similar challenges
• staff who are experienced in helping kids manage their special needs
Cons of special needs overnight camps include:
• staff may know a lot about the special need, or really want to help kids with special needs, but they may know little about leadership or instruction
• rented camp grounds may belong to an accredited camp, but the special needs camp may not be run according to recognized camping standards
• living exclusively with other children who have special needs may get tiresome, depressing, or even upsetting
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