A stone-stepping exercise at the camp of the North East Westchester Special Recreation Program in Hawthorne, N.Y.Credit Susan Stava for The New York Times
BY KJ DELL’ANTONIA
“Special needs” is a broad category, including everything from orthopedic appliances and physical-care needs to speech defects, learning disabilities and behavioral deficits. What all of the children within that broad category have in common with respect to summer camp is that signing up isn’t usually just a matter of filling out the forms.
Lauren and Susan Kasnett, a mother-and-daughter team that runs Summer 365, an advisory service that’s free to parents looking to find the best summer camp experience for their children. They offered five ideas for families to consider while planning the summer for a child whose needs are different from her peers.
1. There’s a camp out there for your child. There are specialty camps designed for nearly every disability or need, some running for a full summer or a shorter session and some taking over another camp’s facility for a period of a few weeks at the end of summer. Mainstream camps may also work with some specific needs, and may surprise you. “Last summer, I saw a girl in a wheelchair having a wonderful time at a traditional summer camp,” Susan Kasnett said. “Depending on your child’s needs and the camp’s capabilities, things that might not seem like an obvious fit could work.”
2. Ask for advice in deciding if your child is ready. “We encourage parents to reach out to a child’s teachers, to psychologists — to anyone on their team — in deciding if a child is ready, in particular for a sleep away camp experience,” Susan Kasnett said. “One hint for a parent is if they’re feeling like a child has outgrown whatever they’ve been doing in past summers.”
Lauren Kasnett also suggested that you not rely on a child’s sense of whether she’s ready. “While you wouldn’t want to send a child who’s truly going to be anxious or miserable to the point of being unable to participate, it’s fine to nudge a child outside their comfort zone and encourage this new experience,” she said. A child who relies deeply on routine might never openly volunteer for a change, but could ultimately thrive in a new environment and learn from it.
3. Interview the camp. Camps focused on a particular disability or need tend to interview families, Susan Kasnett said, “but you have to interview the camp as well.” Key questions to ask: What is the camper-to-counselor ratio? How is the staff selected and trained? Is there any therapy programming offered? Have past campers been eligible for extended school-year funding or insurance reimbursement? How does the camp handle homesickness or other needs particular to your child? “The best way to get a feel for the camp’s culture, philosophy and accommodations is to visit while it is in session,” Lauren Kasnett said. “If time permits, we suggest touring camps the year before you plan to send your child.
4. Be honest with the camp about your child. “This is not the time to play down your child’s needs,” Susan Kasnett said. “Make sure everyone is on the same page.” If your child has behavior issues, let the camp know. If your child is physically independent at the beginning of the day, but by evening, needs far more help, make the camp aware of these things. “You do not want your child to attend a camp that’s not equipped to handle him. To prevent heartache and make sure your child succeeds, it’s best to be an open book.”
5. Be honest with your child about camp. “Talk to him about homesickness,” Lauren Kasnett suggested. “Share your personal experiences with it and let him know homesickness is natural but will pass.” Being at camp can be wonderful, but going away from home can be hard, and there’s no reason to gloss over that issue with any child. Those are normal feelings, and it’s particularly helpful for a child who may feel alienated from “normal” to know that in this case.
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