INCLUSION
Our mission is to ensure appropriate and positive camp experience for children. We welcome campers with special needs and hope you will give Camp James your consideration. Every year we have numerous special needs campers that are able to participate successfully at camp.
Below is some information that may help you in the decision-making process. You are always welcome to call our office to ask questions or discuss options.
Is Camp James a good fit for your child?
OUR STAFF:
Our staff have basic First Aid and CPR training. We do not have on site medically trained personnel. Children must be able to feed and toilet independently as well as self–monitor/manage their medical needs (diabetes, and other medically related concerns).
OUR SITE:
Campers will traverse and average of 3-6 miles daily. The facility is at the beach, has a lot of sand, and involves going into the Bay. While we have shade available, but it can get hot. We recommend that you get your child used to the idea of moving around a lot and going into a body of water that is not a pool. Singing songs is part of our camp culture, it can get loud. Some campers can get sensory overload, some campers add their voices to the overload and we love that!
PARTICIPANT EXPECTATIONS:
Campers are expected and encouraged to participate in all activities when possible (including non-preferred ones) and to follow our safety rules and the directions of our staff. keep their hands to themselves. This is for their own safety and the safety of others at camp. Our staff want all campers to have a positive experience at camp and have the benefits of participating in our program.
If your child has a history of aggressive, defiant, self-injurious behaviors, or have issues of elopement this is not a safe situation in our camp’s high adventure 30-acre environment. Children with behaviors that harm the child themselves, other campers, or the staff members may be expelled from camp. Destruction of camp property by a camper will need to be paid for by the parent of the child. If a child needs to be picked up for behavior concerns, a parent/guardian is expected to pick up the child within 30 minutes of the phone call from the directors.
To be a camper at Camp James without professional support a child must be able to feed, dress, and use the bathroom on their own. A child must be able to be in a group setting, transition from one location to another, and follow directions. Campers must be able to participate safely for themselves, peers, and camp leadership. If your child runs away, will not move during transitions, will not stay with the group and behaves in a harmful manner (towards self or others) parents will be asked to pick up their camper. Referrals to more appropriate programs and refunds (for unused tuition) will be made in these circumstances. If our camp is not a good fit, we are hoping to help you find a better fit for your child’s needs.
American Camp Association
Just because our camp may not be a good fit this summer, there are lots of camps to choose from out there. As an ACA Accredited camp, we have relationships with ACA Accredited Camps that may be a better fit for your child. There are listings on the ACA website www.acasocal.org or call our office and we will help you find a camp that may meet your child’s needs better.
BRINGING YOUR OWN PROFESSIONAL AIDE SUPPORT:
For some campers they may need full time professional aide support (if they have an aide at school, it is possible they will need one for camp as well).
Some parents wish to provide an Aide/ABA Therapist for their child. This requires some advance paperwork from the agency and parent. Please contact our office for details about providing your own aide support.
