Special Needs After School Enrichment and Respite

"It sounds strange, but the sounds from the trees hurt my ears sometimes", said Emily, a new camper during an intake before the start to camp.

Have you ever sat outside, under the tress and really listened? What would you hear? Would the sounds you heard relax you or would they make you feel uncomfortable? Now add 100 campers to this visual and have them sit with you. Are you still feeling relaxed, or have your feelings changed?

For some Trailblazers at Camp Discovery, sensory overload is a trigger that make parts of the camp day uncomfortable and challenging. Unpredictable changes such as weather or a change in the schedule are unique to each child. In comes the support of the one-to-one Shadow, still fulfilling the duties of your traditional counselor while giving that extra individualized attention. Campers who are assisted by Shadows receive support and expertise to help them with any issue that may come up. Shadows are a valuable source of assistance and guidance to their campers as well as the group as a whole.

Before the start of each summer, campers and Shadows participate in an intake interview. It is during this intake period where a camper and Shadow get to learn about each other, ask questions about camp and start to build a rapport. Shadows at Camp Discovery have the knowledge to address and answer these questions from our campers and their families. Knowing the individual needs of each camper and making sure they are comfortable with their surroundings is a key component of the Shadow-camper relationship.