By Melissa McWilliams, AGSS Program Manager
Camps!
Summer is only a few months away and with that comes … summer camps! Even though the cold weather is still around, it’s not too early to start making plans for summer, especially since many camp registrations open in the spring. Research has shown that attending summer camps can have enormous positive benefits on kids from all types of backgrounds and experiences, so it is something I would encourage you to consider if you haven’t already (here are just a few articles I found online about this: 8 Benefits of Summer Camp – Indy’s Child Magazine and Overnight Camp & The Brain: The Hidden Benefits of a Summer Spent in Cabins).
To help get a jump on things, I wanted to share a few options that I came across. As with any camp or experience that you are considering for your child, please search out reviews and ask questions to ensure the camp experience is the right one for the unique needs of your child and family.
Recently, a presentation was made at my church regarding a camp called “Royal Family Kids Camp”. This is a camp specifically for children in foster care and integrates Trust-Based Relational lntervention (TBRI) modalities within their activities and curriculum. For those of you who are in the pre-adoption or guardianship process and your child is still a part of foster care, this would be something to consider. You can learn more and find a camp near you at this link: For The Children.
For children and families who have finalized adoptions or guardianships, there are many camps that cater specifically to children with these similar life stories. A few options I found online are here:
For families with children and adolescents who have disabilities, Easterseals Crossroads has several camp options to consider. You can learn more here: Camps for Children – Easterseals Crossroads
And although this has a fall start date, I thought I’d still mention it. This camp is a therapeutic camp derived from the original TBRI summer camp that was designed by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Dr. David Cross. Keep an eye out on this webpage for updates and information: Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development.
Regardless of whether one of these options meets your needs or you find something else, I hope attending camp finds itself on your family’s list of summer activities!
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