Truman starts Encore Summer Camp today. Two weeks of Arts and Sciences at Robertson Academy, 8:30-3:30.
I have tried all kinds of camps for him since he was little, and I always leave feeling like I have done something wrong. With even the camps that claim to be the most open and accepting, I have yet to find one that isn't just a big bunch of talk. I could spend a day writing his idiosyncrasies down on the camp information sheet (and really I couldn't even do that because you are only given about 4 lines to let the staff know of a lifetime of behavioral items for which they should be prepared) but at the end of the day, he will come home with half completed crafts (if at all) while others walk out with carefully braided lanyards and tie-dyed camp shirts, because no one had the time or the energy to fully engage him. After all, it is much easier to deal with a kid who is compliant and easily jumps in to group activities rather than one who has to be coaxed and facilitated (see the 4 lines of explanation I was given on the camp information sheet above). I know. I have one of each and yep, the easy one is easier.
It's always a hope that something magical will happen and that this will be the camp that has a magical counselor that figures him out and gets him to participate. But I have yet to find that one. I very quickly gave up on any kind of typical outdoor camp long ago, and now we go for the more cerebral ones like this one and Camp Invention if we do anything at all. And since we have yet to find anything that works for him, we tend to just do nothing. He was OK with watching Maeve go and do her own fun camp experiences while he stayed home until just recently, but he's become quite aware that Maeve goes, and he does not.
I spent some time looking into camps at an fair for kids with autism that was held at Vanderbilt back in the early spring. I was hoping to find camp opportunities there - true opportunities - for kids like T., but nothing. Mostly it just had vendors like the Y who said how wonderfully accepting and accommodating they are in their camps, but we have been there and done that, and I cannot receive another stink eye from another 17 year old YMCA counselor at the end of the day or receive another phone call asking me to come and get him because they aren't sure what to do with him without absolutely blowing a brain fuse.
One day, when we have an extra $750 lying around, we will do one of these Vanderbilt camps. Game design. For real game design. Are you kidding me? Forget the tie-dye BS and the chigger bites, this is the kind of camp where my kid gives the counselor a run for his money, but finally it would be in a good way, I think.
How he has a most excellent time at Encore camp this week. Hopefully he'll be willing to write about his experience
ReplyDeleteI don't know what the theme for Encore is this year since Aly isn't going but last year it was science related and they did a bunch of science stuff like making slime and things like that which I bet he would participate in more willingly. I hope he enjoys it. We have the same issue with Rosie and camp. Aly goes and Rosie does not because she can't do the craft stuff without tons of direct help, counselors have a difficult time understanding her speech and she has a hard time in chaotic environments. She gets a bit bummed out by Aly going and not her but there's not much I can do about it besides limit Aly to one camp a summer. And yes, I have gone to the camp fair three years in a row hoping to find something that fit and there really isn't anything other than regular camps claiming to be inclusive. Which is great but in my opinion not very realistic for most kids on the spectrum and not fair to the counselors who have no real training or experience with kids on the spectrum.
ReplyDeleteAnd wouldn't you think that with 1 in 88 there would be whole camps devoted to autism? Chelle? You want to take on an extra project with me? (I'm KIDDING so do not try to add 12 more hours to your day)
Deletethis is the same that my sister experiences with her two girls. Haley has oodls of opportunities that fit, and Autumn really doesn't have one. Olen and Autumn are thick as thieves, though and since we're there so much this summer, the two of them are way into their stuff they like together... Honest to God, we need to find some better options. Maybe that can be my summer thing in years to come.
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ReplyDeleteMine had the same problem. There were quite a few that didn't work out. I would make him go to a couple of camps each summer, because he could not just stay home in the house all summer.
ReplyDeleteHe is only going to one camp this summer, and that is the uber expensive Vanderbilt technology one. That's crazy expensive, but I decided that he might actually get something out of it as a 14 year old and he LOVES technology. I'll let you know if you should start saving up! :)
I asked him what his best camp experiences were in retrospect. He said that he really enjoyed the Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory science camp. That was good. Science experiments, mostly inside, other tech geeks, etc. The other one that he could tolerate was Climb Nashville. It's one week and half a day. They are pretty understanding there of each individual child. It's an individual task to climb those rocks, it is inside, and seems to take the concentration of a chess game.
I end up doing a lot of things with him myself. There just isn't going to be someone else that will do it with patience. Last summer I made him train for a 5K with me. There was frustration, but he did it in the end and was so proud. We are taking the bikes out tomorrow.
Hey, just checking... did you see my FB note about where you might find some camp money? Not sure if their funding has been depleted for the summer but check it out if you can. Would pay for almost the entire Adventures in Game Design thingy.
ReplyDeleteJEN! I didn't until just now! Holy cow!
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