Special Needs Summer Programs

The summer is a great time to get out and play, to swim with friends in the sun, make art projects and try new sports. All this while making new camp friends and building on the social skills that have been developing over the school year.

Without good summer programs the summer can be a very overwhelming time for families with children who have special needs. Long relaxing summer days are hard to fill when the structure of the school year has ended. Although it is nice to slow down a bit, the lack of daily structure can create anxiety in some children. Additionally, for some children they lose their primary social outlet and the opportunity to practice vital social skills that they have been developing over the school year. Parents often share that they feel they cannot provide enough activities during the summer, or that they are constantly running, trying to fill their child’s day with fun-filled social experiences.

There are many summer programs for kids with special needs that can provide safety and supervision throughout the summer, but finding a program that understands your child’s unique needs and can also help them retain and build on their social growth can be difficult. Special needs summer programs can be hard to find. Parents usually find us after many hours of searching through summer programs for special needs children.

The usual concern I hear from parents is that they are not looking for special needs summer programs to “watch” or “babysit” their child. They want a camp or summer program for kids with special needs that will help their child grow throughout the summer; to maintain skills and learn new skills. They want their child to have a great summer experience and be ready for the school year ahead. When looking for summer programs for special needs children, parents often look at the reasons Camp Lee Mar is different from other summer programs for children with special needs.

Overall Focus – Every game, art project, event, meal, and trip is designed for our special needs campers. Parents know that their child will be included and able to participate to the best of their ability in our summer programs for special needs children.

Leadership – The priorities and overall structure of a camp starts at the top. Camp Lee Mar’s three directors not only have extensive camping experience, but also have a wealth of experience working with special needs individuals. Ari and Lynsey both have children who have participated in Camp Lee Mar’s summer programs for special needs kids.

Safe Haven – Our campers enjoy amazing summer programs for special needs kids and are in an environment where they are just like everyone else. At Camp Lee Mar we build strong self-confidence and lifelong friendships.

Counselors – Camp Lee Mar’s counselors come to camp specifically to take part in a summer program for special needs children and to be with special needs campers. They are motivated to work with special needs children and are the best individuals to be working with the campers. Many of our counselors are pursuing careers in the field of special needs.

Staff – Our counselors and support staff arrive a week before our campers and go through intensive training regarding our summer programs for special needs children and workshops preparing them for the arrival of our campers.

In addition to all of our traditional camp activities offered, our summer programs for kids with special needs also include:

• Speech and Social Skills Summer Programs – Our speech program has its own building filled with books, games, iPads, and other helpful tools. Our ASHA-certified speech pathologist and staff of speech pathology students develop an individual plan for each camper. The program covers a variety of topics while focusing on functional communication including pragmatic language, expressive/receptive language, and articulation.
• Academics Summer Programs – Many campers come with flashcards, worksheets, or other materials from school. Campers also work with materials that Camp Lee Mar provides. Each camper follows a personalized plan that is created by our teachers and teaching students.
• Vocational and Occupational Job Training Summer Programs – Many of our older campers hold jobs at camp with coaching and support from the academic staff.
• Occupational Skills – Our holistic approach and carefully designed activities allow for a truly impactful OT program. Camp’s professional occupational therapist leads exercises and games that focus on performing daily tasks such as eating a meal, getting dressed, and using writing utensils.
• Daily Living Summer Programs – Cooking food, house cleaning, and washing a car are just some of the activities that take place at daily living.
• Physical Therapy Skills – Here, campers practice their motor skills related to coordination and balance. These techniques are then utilized at other camp activities such as hockey, paddle boating, and tennis.

So before worrying about how to fill those long summer days with fun and educational activities, give us a call to find out if Camp Lee Mar and our summer programs for special needs kids could be the right fit for your child.