Summer camp can be a formative part of any child’s upbringing. From making new friends to trying new activities, summer camp gives kids the freedom to make memories that last a lifetime. The Department of Health & Human Performance at Texas State University has been providing camp memories to the autism community for 15 years. Their Autism Camp program serves the full spectrum, with no child left behind.
“We accept you no matter if you’re level one, two or three, whether you have behaviors, no behaviors, we accept everybody,” Autism Camp Curriculum Coordinator Kelly Hargraves said.
“It’s just a place where they can be themselves and they don’t have to put on a front to be accepted.”
No camper is turned away because of the severity of their disorder. The camp functions on a one-to-one system, meaning each kid gets a dedicated counselor that gives them individual attention to help them adjust and improve their social, language, communication and motor skills. Many of the camp counselors are TXST students volunteering their time to enrich the lives of the campers.
Kids get to experience a range of summer camp activities, including music, arts, crafts, games, science experiments, dance and swimming as well as specialized enrichments such as a VR lab that allows campers the opportunity to practice social skills in a virtual environment. Each activity is designed to allow access across the board, and nurture positive development in a non-competitive atmosphere. Activities are designed to increase fine and gross motor skills, sensory- motor development, self-esteem and socialization skills.
Over half of the campers each year are returning campers, with the camp bringing in students from across the country while also serving the San Marcos community through its partnership with San Marcos CISD. The camp is held at a local elementary school, which lets the kids have access to a gym, playground, free meals and classrooms.
“The long-term goal of the program is to support the San Marcos school district and community development for enhancement of recreational opportunities for young children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder,” according to the program’s website.
Behind the camp is a team of dedicated educators who believe in the camp’s mission and believe in the campers.
”Most of the time these kids don’t get to go to summer camp so we want to provide that summer camp feel,” Hargreaves said.
The camp partners with local organizations to expose the children to a wide variety of occupations and demonstrations. This past summer the San Marcos Police Academy came to the camp multiple times, allowing the kids to learn about their vehicles and even presenting a drone demonstration.
The camp leaves no child behind, even when campers age out they have the opportunity to attend the camp as a junior counselor, allowing them to have fun while also helping their fellow campers.
“I like to hang out and help people,” said junior counselor Riker Travis.
Each year the camp expands on ways it can help campers have the best experience possible from new activities like a STEM room where they can build robots to specialized education based on each camper’s Individualized Education Program.
“One of the sayings that I think Riker said was it’s a place where they can feel that they’re who they are. They don’t have to put on a front and act like somebody that they’re not,” Hargreaves said.
The camp is completely grant and donation funded. Director Jennifer Ahrens Ph.D. spends the year prior to camp writing grant applications, securing partnerships and recruiting volunteers to allow the kids a space to thrive.
“There’s no program like this anywhere really in the state,” Ahrens said. “We love those kids, I had a mom in tears the other day saying that her son’s been kicked out of three camps, and he came to us for three weeks and she’s like, ‘I can’t believe y’all never called me.’” Ahrens assured the mother that they can handle it and give the attention and space to any children no matter their autism and behavioral levels.
Camp counselors go through an eight-hour training with many of them being students training in health and human performance, allowing them to thrive in the one-to-one connections with campers.
The camp is always evolving, with new programs being added that campers might not have access to in their everyday life.
“It’s really important to us to be advocates for their kids and figure out what they’re good at and what they love,” Ahrens said. “We just really want our kids to excel and figure out what they love and what they’re passionate about and help their parents be able to advocate [for their children].”
Camp sign ups open in mid February, one can reach out to the director at [email protected] with questions.
To find out more information on the camp and registration visit their website at https://www.hhp.txst.edu/collaboration-and-outreach/autism-camp.html
