There’s nothing like a traditional, overnight summer camp in New England. Countless lives have been dramatically changed by the opportunity to attend camp. The best New England camps provide so much more than recreational experiences. Indeed, summer camp plays a critical role in supplementing the learning that’s provided in schools; camp teaches social skills, collaboration & teamwork, communication and self-advocacy, critical thinking & problem-solving, self-control, self-confidence and self-awareness. It’s no accident that this list corresponds exactly with the social-emotional components of the 21st Century Skills framework. In other words, camp helps young people prepare for success in their academic lives, their professional careers and their personal relationships.
Given the benefits of camp, who could possibly have more to gain from a New England sleepaway camp than a child who is struggling socially? These are boys and girls with Asperger’s Syndrome, or high functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or a nonverbal learning difference (NLD or NVLD) – or any child, with or without a diagnosis, who is a bit “quirky” or who is having trouble connecting socially with his or her peers. They more than anyone need and deserve summer camp.
Understandably, parents of children with special needs are often wary about sending them to camp. Many of the high functioning kids (with Asperger’s, NLD, etc.) who do attend New England camps find themselves merely surviving at a camp that accommodates their needs but isn’t equipped to fully embrace and understand them. Camp Akeela, on the other hand, was intentionally designed to provide these amazing boys and girls with a camp experience in which they truly thrive. If you visited Camp Akeela, you’d see exactly the same things as at any great “typical” New England camp: bright, independent, well behaved kids having fun at activities while forging life-long friendships. A closer look would reveal the subtle modifications that make all the difference in the success of our campers. That’s everything from our facility design to our consistent level of previewing and predictability to help campers know what to expect. Of course, much of the Akeela difference lies in our staff: our staff-to-camper ratio is much higher than other camps, and staff members have experience and training in working with children with special needs.
Check out