Partnering with summer camps on behalf of your child with special needs: Part 1, Preparing the camp

by Staff of the Newton Partnership

You have decided to enroll your child with special needs in summer camp and want to make it the best experience possible. There are a number of ways you can prepare the camp staff. Whether the camp you chose is specifically designed for children with disabilities or not, good communication between parents/caregivers and camp staff is essential. Being forthcoming and informative about your child’s specific needs will ensure a more successful experience for your child and also help the staff be better prepared.

Ways to help the camp prepare for your child

• Offer information in writing about your child’s disability. Provide websites or share your own library of articles, etc.

• Offer specific information on how the disability may affect your child in a camp setting. Provide a copy of your child’s IEP or part of your child’s IEP (include current performance level, vision statement, goals, etc.), or progress report, but be careful to make sure the information is as up-to-date as possible.

• If a copy of an IEP or progress report is not necessary, ask the current teacher and/or therapist to write up a brief summary for you to offer to the camp. Make sure the summary offers insight for the staff on how to address some of the challenges your child might face at camp and how the staff may be able to facilitate a positive experience for your child. This brief and current overview may be more user friendly for camp staff to read. They may also be more apt to refer to it during the camp session as opposed to just prior to enrollment.

• Provide an overview of your child’s interests, strengths, motivators, challenges, and other pertinent information that will help camp staff get to know him/her better.

• Depending on your child’s age and ability, you may want to involve him/her in this process. Making an “all about me” book to pass along might ease the child’s anxiety about going to camp. Your child can list his/her favorite activities, favorite topics, stress triggers, fears, etc.

If the above-mentioned efforts seem too burdensome, try this quick information-sharing method. It does not require much time or effort on the camp staff’s part.

Supply a form for the camp to fill out entitled: “5 Things I want to know about (child’s name)”. Provide 5 blank lines and ask the staff to fill it out. Similarly, you will also fill out a form entitled “5 Things I want you to know about (child’s name.)” Choose the 5 most helpful pieces of information you think will contribute to ensuring your child’s success at camp. This give-and-take of information will set a tone of openness and partnership for the best experience for your camper.

This is the first of a three-part series entitled Partnering with Summer Camps on Behalf of your Child with Special Needs. For information more information, see part two,  Matching with the Right Counselor and Peer Group, and part three, Preparing Your Child.