Summer Recreation for Kids with Autism

The Summer Camp Program offered by CSS is designed to meet each child’s individual needs, interests, and preferences. 

The program is highly structured with a full schedule of activities each day. The daily schedule is developed with input form each child’s family, teachers, and the CSS Children’s Program Directors.

 Children are placed in small groups for activities, including their staff, to take full advantage of social skill opportunities and interaction with similar aged peers. Children then participate in a combination of on-site activities at our resource center and various community activities.

What kind of activities do the kids participate in?

• Community-based recreational activities such as outings to local swimming pools, gyms, bowling alleys, miniature golf, arcades, county fairs and festivals, Sugar Loaf Mountain, the National Zoo, museums, playgrounds and local and National parks.
• Activities at our resource center such as gym time, sport drills, arts and crafts, group board and card games, relay races, and other therapeutic, recreational and leisure activities in groups of their peers.

How is supervision handled?

• Children are provided supervision on a 1:1 or 1:2 staffing ratio by trained CSS staff, depending on the child’s need. All staff are trained to provide support, individualized instruction and behavior management for children with developmental disabilities. Staff are supervised by two experienced on-site supervisors and a Master’s level behavior specialist.

What would my child need to bring?

• Children are required to bring a bagged lunch or lunch/snack money, swim suit, and a towel.  Other suggestions are sunscreen, hats, and other weather necessities. CSS provides water & snacks daily as well.

Days and hours of operation are coordinated with  Montgomery County Public Schools extended school year (ESY) schedule . On days off from school, children may be brought to the camp location at 10 a.m. and picked up at 4:00 p.m. On school days, MCPS may transport children on school buses after the extended school year program day is finished. Children may be picked up from the camp location on school days at 6:00 p.m. As private schools and various MCPS programs  have different ESY schedules, the camp will adjust hours for individual children, if possible, upon request &  if given adequate notice for arrangements to be made. Transportation during the camp day to community activities is provided by CSS

• Summer Camp Brochure 2012 (PDF)
  

The CSS Summer Camp Program, for children ages five through 20, is designed to meet each individual’s interests, preferences, and needs.  The program is flexible yet highly structured with a full schedule of fun activities each day.  Daily schedules are developed with input from each child’s family, teacher, and the CSS Director of Special Programs.  Camp participants venture daily to quality, popular community facilities and attractions, including local swim centers, parks, and malls, gyms, bowling alleys, miniature golf courses, and the best arcade/entertainment centers in town, such as the Discovery Zone, Jeeper’s, and Dave & Buster’s.  Camp members also take field trips to the National Zoo, museums, and to Manassas, Virginia’s Splashdown Waterpark.  Children participate in activities individually or in small groups according to age, interests, and ability.  During the camp day, CSS provides transportation to community venues.  Attendees are also continuously supported by qualified staff members to participate in gym, sports, arts & crafts, music, soft-play and other well-designed leisure activities at the Resource Center.

Camp participants are provided excellent supervision by trained CSS camp staff members on a 1:1 or 1:2 staff-to-client ratio, according to their level of need.  All staff members are trained and receive refresher training to provide support, instruction, and behavior management for children with developmental disabilities.  Staff members are experienced in developing individualized schedules to best match each child’s unique interests and skill level.  Direct care staff members are supervised by an experienced on-site supervisor and a Masters-level behavior specialist.

Children will bring a bag lunch, swimsuit, and towels.  The camp will provide snacks and as well as necessary equipment for all other activities.

The camp’s day and hours of operation are coordinated with Montgomery County Public School’s Extended School Year (ESY) schedule.  CSS's Summer Camp for 2012 starts June 18, 2012 through June 29, 2012, from 12noon to 6pm, and the entire month of July  and August from 10am to to 4pm.  On non-school days, children may be dropped off at the camp as early as 10 a.m. and be picked up at 4 p.m.  On school days, MCPS may transport children on school buses after their Extended School Year program day is finished.  Children may be picked up from the Resource Center at 6 p.m. on school days. The camp’s hours are flexible to accommodate private schools, which may have a school schedule different from the MCPS calendar.  The camp will adjust hours, whenever possible, for individual children upon request.