Finding the Right Camp for a Child's Special Needs

Jackson sometimes wets the bed. Ben takes medication for ADHD. Katie is allergic to eggs, and Arianna uses an asthma inhaler. What do these children have in common? They all want to go to summer camp. This year about six million American children will attend sleep away camp. Of those six million, many have individual needs that must be addressed in order for the camp experience to be successful.

Ten years ago, most camps would not accept children who were diabetic, took medication for behavioral problems or had serious allergies. "The camps saw these kids as disruptive and anticipated potential problems with the administration of medication," says Jeffrey Solomon, executive director of the National Camp Association, an organization that provides free referral and guidance services to prospective camp families. As a result, parents often took the risk of "forgetting" to mention their child’s special situations.

Over the past decade, our society has become both more health conscious and more sensitive to the needs of individuals with special needs. This change is reflected in the attitude of camp directors. "There are more kids with peanut allergies, kids who are vegetarian, have weight issues and physical or emotional health issues showing up at mainstream camps. ADD and ADHD used to be reasons not to take kids as campers, but now camps have more experience and a real appreciation of the special needs of these children," says Solomon.

Nevertheless, parents also have to do their part to make the summer successful. "The worst thing a parent can do is not be open about their child’s needs," says Karenne Bloomgarden, owner of a camp referral service in New York City. The downside of concealing a child’s needs is that the parent then has no way of knowing whether the camp is equipped to handle their child’s situation, a risk that far too many parents seem willing to take.

Parents give many reasons for concealing their child’s individual needs. Some say that they are afraid the camp they have chosen will not take their child. Others want their child to take a break from medication during the summer or believe that medications their child takes to treat concentration and self-control at school are not needed in camp. Many fear that other campers will ridicule their child if they learn that he or she is, in some way, different. However, failing to disclose a child’s health or emotional needs opens the door to everything from a medical emergency to misunderstandings about behavior and social interactions.

Not all camps are equally adept at handling individual needs. Generally, Bloomgarden finds that camps in the Northeast are more receptive to and knowledgeable about individual differences than camps in the West. Still, there are times when a camp turns away a prospective camper because it feels the child’s needs cannot be met. When this happens, parents need to accept the camp’s decision. "If a camp says it is not an appropriate place for your child, please do not fight it," says Bloomgarden. "They are not rejecting your kid. They are saying that they can’t safely meet your child’s needs."

Meeting individual needs goes beyond administering medication and includes sensitivity of the staff and the behavioral expectations of the camp. Occasionally international staff is not in tune with the individual needs of some campers, and see these children simply as spoiled rich kids who want attention. "Staff training is key," says Jeff Solomon. "Good hiring and training practices and the clear expectation of inclusiveness will eliminate this attitude."

Parents of children with potential behavior problems also need to have a very clear understanding of how breaking or testing the rules is handled at camp. "Is there a one strike or a three strike policy?" asks Solomon. "Most parents say they want a strict policy with regard to things like smoking cigarettes, bullying or violence. They will say that if a child hits another child, the hitter should be sent home, but if their child is the one breaking the rules and hitting, then they often think he or she should be given a break." Parents need to investigate the camp’s policies about unacceptable behavior and understand that they apply to all.

Although generally camps are open to accepting campers with individual needs, parents should do their homework to find the right camp for their child. Some questions to ask:

Tish Davidson is a freelance writer living in Fremont, Calif.