Warm Structured Days And Summer Fun at Autism Camps
Autism camps can provide an autistic child with a structured day and enjoyable, summer fun experiences -- just like her siblings and classmates. Specialized camps provide traditional programs leaning toward children with low self-esteem, learning challenges, autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit disorder who need a structured supportive environment. Many camps offer programs to help children, teens and adults develop social, academic and life skills.
There are autism camps that welcome exceptional campers who are not toilet trained or have bedwetting difficulties.
Therapeutic residential and day summer autism camps designed for children with social, emotional and learning problems are listed below. You will need to contact the autism camps listed on this page by states for detailed program and pricing information.
Some autism camps offer financial assistance and scholarships. Apply early for a better chance of being considered for grants and other types of tuition aid.
Please help us keep this directory of autism camps current and updated for families. If you know of any changes or new information please contact us.
The
list of autism camps shared below offer exceptional campers an opportunity to make friends, have fun and experience laughter in an accepting environment. Check out our Packing Tips, Postcard Sample and autism camp resources at this page.
Vanderbilt University Camp aka Camp Vandy
Office of Campus Recreation
Vanderbilt University
Box 6033, Station B
Nashville, TN 37235
(615) 343-8186
(615) 343-8199 (Fax)
Most autism camps will provide you with a list of items your child should bring with her – if not, call ahead for a recommended list of items.
Packing to send our loved one off to camp was made much easier with these simple but useful tips:
Write a social story. Click here to view a social story written for our loved at camp.
Pack a favorite toy, book, music and board game.
Pack an extra pillow case. Camp pillows are usually thin and worn out. Don't forget their favorite stuffed animal.
Mark or label every item with your child's name.
Include a list of emergency phone numbers, cell phone numbers and email addresses.
Pack a few family photos (a sure remedy for homesickness).
Pack a disposable camera. If your child really likes photography send an inexpensive disposable digital camera.
Pack a few pre-addressed postcards with stamps. Check out a sample of fun, pre-written postcards used by our loved one below.
Disposable flashlight with extra batteries.
Pack some warm clothing for rainy days and chilly nights. August weather can get a bit cooler.
Our loved one had such a good time at one of these autism camps, he wrote a funny song at school about his first experience at a sleep-away 'tough guy' camp.
Don't forget to pack a few self-addressed and, if helpful to your child, pre-written postcards. Our loved one feels it is important to let us know whether he is feeling happy -- or not so happy at autism camp. To make this task easier and fun, he would need to choose a pre-written postcard, check the box next to a sentence telling us how he is feeling on a particular day. He could then mail the postcard to us. Each postcard we got from him at camp let us know he was happy and doing just fine.
For a special touch try to get postcards on a favorite interest or theme. Our family member loves trains and rollercoasters. We bought Amtrak postcards and antique cars postage stamps, which made writing to us much more enjoyable for him.
Postcard Sample
Here is a pre-written postcard we made based on his wishes and concerns:
__ Camp is okay. I'm doing just fine.
__ Hi! How is everyone? Hope my family is doing well. I am fine and having fun. See you soon!
__ I am feeling homesick but should feel better in a day or two. My favorite things help me to feel better.
__ I am not happy and need your help.
__ Camp is awesome! I'm having a blast!
Later we were all thrilled to get his postcards in the mail and learn he was having fun and doing just fine.
Children going to sleep-away
autism camps
for the first time may need special considerations.
Social stories for campers
Social stories are easy to learn to write and can be a fun project, as well as a powerful teaching tool for a young child, adolescent or adult with autism.
Click here to view a
social story
written to address some specific fears our loved one had before going to sleep-away autism camp for the first time. For more information on how to write an individualized social story for your camper visit our Autism Social Stories page.
list of autism camps shared below offer exceptional campers an opportunity to make friends, have fun and experience laughter in an accepting environment. Check out our Packing Tips, Postcard Sample and autism camp resources at this page.
