Camp Skywild Philosophy
When the average person hears the words “summer camp,” they probably envision campfires and s’mores, swimming and boating in the lake, or maybe that food fight from It Takes Two. The images are filled with kids being kids, making friends, and having fun in beautiful natural settings. But for parents of kids who think and learn in different ways, hearing the words “summer camp” can make them think of all the experiences their child may never have, because the world isn’t often built for people who need extra support or accommodations.
Change Camp Not the Camper
At Camp Skywild, we believe we can change the world to fit our kids, rather than changing kids to fit the world around them. It’s often said that camp is the best place in the world to make friends and be yourself, and a big part of our mission is to celebrate what makes each camper unique and truly themselves. Neurodiversity is at the core of our mission, and that starts with creating spaces and cultures that acknowledge and celebrate the different ways everyone’s brain works.
If you were to visit one of our camp programs without knowing anything about our campers, it would look like any other summer camp. You’d see everything you expect to see: boats on the lake, cabins that are clearly well lived in, a pile of lost-and-found outside the dining hall, and kids having a blast while making friends. It’s only when you zoom in and look more closely at the interactions that you notice the special kind of magic we bring to our programs.
Intentional Language, Visual Communication, Layers of Accessibility, Structured Choice, Individualized Attention
We are intentional with our language, we speak clearly, allow time for processing information, and sometimes don’t speak at all if visually communicating is the better choice. We have information posted everywhere, so that schedules and expectations and how-to’s are all readily available in the places they’re needed. We have layers of accessibility in each activity so that kids can opt-into whatever layer suits them best (and sometimes that means opting out of the big activity entirely). There are way more adults than you might see at other camps because sometimes alternative choices means we can’t always stay with our group. Our director team is huge and brings a diverse set of skills and background and expertise, allowing for more individualized attention in each cabin group, and next-level support and training for all staff.
Every Child Deserves Camp
We love flexing our creative muscles and coming up with new ways we can be accommodating and inclusive. We believe that every kid deserves the chance to thrive at summer camp, and that providing the right scaffolding for neurodivergent populations starts with intentional staffing. Our staff are open to new ideas and experiences, and willing to be uncomfortable and make mistakes as part of their own learning. Some of our staff have never met an autistic person before but they want to learn more about ways they can be better allies outside of camp. Some of our staff have a lot of experience working with the autistic population in schools or clinics. Staff are college students, teachers, doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, behavior technicians, and camp directors. We assemble our staff with the goal of increasing empathy, improving communication, and promoting patience and understanding. We’ve seen for many years how the experiences staff have at camp create ripple effects that change the world outside of our one week of camp. It’s just one of the ways we’re trying to make a positive and lasting difference for the neurodivergent community.
