Best Summer Camps » Special Needs Camps

Special Needs Summer Camps: Providing Equal Opportunities for All Children

Camp Guide — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:51:08 +0000

Summer camps usually mark the most amazing experience in every child’s life. With the many summer camps available today, it is no surprise that some already cater to special needs. Giving equal opportunities to children and teenagers with disabilities and mental disorders, special needs summer camps were developed in the United States and other parts of the globe.

Perhaps the most famous special needs camps are ones made possible by Paul Newman. He created Hole in the Wall Camps to make it possible for children with life threatening illnesses to enjoy summer camp. Best of all these camps are free so there is no financial barrier to attending. These medically supervised camps are located in Connecticut, New York, Florida, California, North Carolina, Ireland, France, Israel, Italy, and the UK. The Hole in the Wall Camps Association provides programmatic and financial support for these camps.

The Tikva Program and Camp Ramah are just some of the widely known special needs
summer camps catering to youngsters aged 13 to 18 years old suffering from
autism spectrum impairment as well as other neurological disorders. These camps are also religious camps and are the camping arm of Conservative Judaism.

Foundation of Dreams, a special needs summer camp located in Bradenton, Florida, has partnered with the Boy Scout of America’s Southwest Florida Council in order to develop the now well-accredited institution. In the summer of 2001, Dream Oaks Camp started with 56 children with different mental impairments, all of which did not become an obstacle in the children’s participation to all outdoor activities. From canoeing and horseback riding to specializing in arts and crafts, children with ages 7 to 17 easily found enjoyment in the new organization.

The American Camp Association has accredited a number of camp operations in the United States that are best suited for your child’s special needs.

It is always best to ask question to the people involved and supervising the camps and know if their program is most appropriate in accordance to your child’s situation. A child’s age and interests should also affect the selection of a special needs summer camp.

I Didn’t Know That Was a Summer Camp Activity

Camp Guide — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:01:51 +0000

Did you know that writing was a summer camp activity? Well at some camps it is an activity. Academic summer camps have increased in popularity over the last few decades. Many people are aware of space camps and science camps, but there are also math camps, history camps and writing camps, not to mention computer camps. These specialty academic summer camps approach learning from a different perspective than schools, allowing campers to take a more hands on approach to their favorite subject.

Parents are aware of the sports camps, but dancing as a summer camp activity? Absolutely. There are camps which offer a wide range of arts related activities. Imagine saying my child wrote/directed/starred in a play at camp. Theater arts camps offer this as a summer camp activity. Fine art painting taught by experts, ballet and dance, nature studies are all offered by specialized camps.

There are also camps which specialize in horse back riding, wilderness training and other more traditional summer camp activities. Among sports camps are tennis, football, soccer, basketball and baseball camps. The summer camp activity is tailored to the age and proficiency of the child at these camps.

For children who are mentally or physically challenged, the summer camp activity of horse back riding may seem impossible. Swimming may seem just a dream. But there are camps that work with children with these challenges and offer them the opportunity to do things they never thought possible.

If your child has a special interest, you can probably find a place that offers it as a summer camp activity. Of course if your child doesn’t have any particular special interests, a traditional summer camp with hiking, canoeing, swimming, arts and crafts and campfire sing-a-longs, will certainly provide him or her with a lot of fun.

Weight Loss Camps and Obesity among Kids

Camp Guide — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:06:37 +0000

The reality that really bites Americans is that about 16 percent of kids aged 6 to 19 are overweight. This is a cause for alarm for many parents and that is the reason why they push their kids into weight loss camps during school break.

The concept of a weight loss camp is similar to the traditional camp where kids are given opportunities to learn, mingle, and have fun with other kids. The difference is that, at weight loss camps, there is much emphasis on shedding pounds to achieve a healthy weight. The camps are nurturing too, because the environment teems with supportive, non-critical people who would like to teach kids the value of staying fit and healthy.

The weight loss camp’s purpose is to address the growing problem of obesity among kids by introducing awareness through this age-old American tradition of summer camps. There are nutrition classes, regular weigh-ins, and aerobic exercise sessions included in the program. Sports and traditional camp activities are also a part of the schedule.

The goal of the organizers and counselors is to help the kids develop better eating habits and lose weight while at camp. The challenge though, is get the kids to continue to follow the new eating and exercise routines after they leave camp. Kids are like the rest of us, dieting is easier than eating sensibly for a lifetime.

Newer programs that target to change the behavior of the kids towards healthy eating are also being added. Special classes also aim to train them on self-regulation and provide cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), so that campers can become more equipped to stay within their ideal weights when they leave the camp.

Weight loss camp is a great place for kids to enjoy the company of others who struggle with weight issues, learn basic nutrition, and develop a taste for exercise and calorie burning activities.

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