The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

A five-day overnight camp for families of children with autism has been held for the past two years as a collaborative partnership between Camp Ramah Darom and the Mailman Segal Institute of Nova Southeastern University. This session will present information about the camp including schedules of activities for parents, siblings, children with autism, and whole families. Challenges in its provision and feedback from parents, siblings, and staff about the experience will be shared. This session will provide information about Camp Yofi, a five-day overnight camping experience for families of children with autism. Created in 2005 through a grant by the Barry and Judy Silverman Foundation, Camp Ramah Darom in Clayton, Georgia and the Mailman Segal Institute of Nova Southeastern University joined together to provide 25 families of children with autism a family camp experience. Camp Ramah Darom had offered a family camp for many years, and this camp served as the structural model for Camp Yofi. The Mailman Segal Institute had provided programs to children with autism for many years and brought their expertise to the family camp model.

This camp is designed to provide a wide range of experiences to the families of children with autism. There are activities designed for parents, siblings, and the children with autism separately, and there are activities for the family to share in together. One of the most important aspects of this program is the assignment of a "pal" to each family. This volunteer accompanies the child with autism to morning activities ensuring a 1:1 ratio. In the afternoon, the pal is available for the family to take advantage of in a number of ways. The pal can accompany the child with autism to an activity, spend time with the sibling(s) so the parents can spend time with the child with autism, or be available for the entire family to participate in an experience. At night, the pals rotate child care responsibilities so that the parents may attend social activities together with the other parents.

This presentation will share the mechanics of organizing and providing a family camp, including creating the schedule, obtaining information about the individual children with autism and their needs, assigning volunteers to the individual children and sibling groups, training all camp staff in autism spectrum disorders, and adapting the physical environment to ensure safety and security for everyone. Attention will be paid to the recruitment of volunteers to serve as pals, as well as the retention of specialized staff to plan and lead the activities including boating, swimming,hiking, nature, climbing tower. Integrating visual supports for scheduling, behavioral support, and communication will also be discussewd. The adaptation of traditional camp activities, i.e. campfires with open flames, will also be presented. Successful activities designed to meet the specific needs of individuals with autism that could be included in the camp environment will be shared.

This particular camp is affiliated with a faith-based organization, but the model is replicable by any existing overnight camp facility. It can also be easily replicated as a day camping experience for local families.

Pilot research regarding the camp's effect on parent stress and perceived control will be presented. The effect of participation in this camp on inclusion in local religious congregations after the family's return home from camp will also be explored. Evaluative feedback from parents, siblings, and staff will be shared.

Learning Objectives: