Introduction
For many parents, sending their child off to summer camp for the first time is a roller coaster experience. Over the winter months, there is a good chance you will wade through mountains of camp brochures trying to pick the “right” camp, perhaps even visit the camp in the spring for an open house. Next there is the prepping and packing of an all-weather-forecast wardrobe and gear into one or two suitcases. Then there is the long drive to camp, excitement, anticipation and goodbye. The long drive back home is spent asking questions like: Did I do the “right” thing? Did I send my child to the right camp? Will she be safe? Will she learn, make friends and, most importantly, have fun?
For
parents of children with disabilities, the camp experience is all the
more intense when the child’s disability-related needs are factored
in. Even more questions arise like: Is the camp accessible? Will she be
included in all activities? Do they have adaptive equipment? Will the
staff be able to meet her specific needs? How will she receive her medication?
What if she has problems at night? The answers to many of these questions
will determine whether the child’s camp experience is a positive
one.
This
resource guide was originally designed as a booklet for parents of children
with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses selecting a camp for their
child for the first time. Throughout the summer of 2002, Bradford Woods
camp staff interviewed both parents of children with disabilities sending
their child to camp for the first time and parents of children with disabilities
returning to camp for a second, third, fourth or even tenth season. Much
of the information presented in this guide is based on interviews with
parents and the camp staff experiences of planning camp programs for children
with and without disabilities, working with parents sending their child
to camp for the first time, answering their questions, addressing their
concerns and calming their fears. This guide is also written based upon
the cumulative experiences of staff from Bradford Woods and the National
Center on Accessibility. The Discover Camp web site and booklet are collaborative
projects of the National Center on Accessibility, Bradford Woods and the
National Center on Physical Activity and Disability. Funding has been
provided by the centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is
our hope that with the information presented herein, you and your child
“Discover Camp” and all of the benefits that camp has to offer.