Children with Autism Making Progress (C.A.M.P.)

C.A.M.P. is a six-week, Regional Center vendored summer program that runs Monday through Friday, 8:45 a.m. through 2:45 p.m. The 2008 summer program will be in session from Monday, June 30 through Friday, August 8. C.A.M.P. is held on the campus of the Holy Family Education Center in South Pasadena. The 2008 session is open to a maximum 43 children, divided into five classes of 8-9 children. C.A.M.P. classes are grouped by age. The program is open to all children diagnosed along the autistic spectrum between the ages of five (age four at Executive Director's discretion) and seventeen.*

C.A.M.P. is based on the fundamental belief that children with autism experience life with a super sensitivity unlike typically developing children. By controlling the environment, we seek to limit the amount of stimulation that could hinder an autistic child's ability to successfully interact with their surroundings. A visual communication system is used in addition to all auditory input in order to enhance the child's understanding and learning. All classrooms and schedules are highly structured in order to maximize opportunities for comfort and growth.

This program is committed to providing "typical" experiences to children with autism in a camp setting. C.A.M.P.'s structure and set-up is based on information from people with autism who have described the autistic experience. This description includes information on what practices should be implemented in order to benefit their peers. The environment is controlled to ensure that C.A.M.P.ers have the ability to grow in a place where they feel safe, comfortable and protected. It is in an environment such as this that they are willing to take risks which foster independence and growth.

C.A.M.P. goals include encouraging and increasing the use of appropriate, functional and peer communication as well as social interactions among the children (two areas in which children with autism often have the most difficulty). Additional work on increasing independence is embedded throughout every aspect of the program. Because parent input is essential to our success, parents are asked to fill out Current Levels and Summer Goals Forms at the start of the program. This information will be referred to throughout the session by all staff in order to tailor each experience to the needs of each C.A.M.P.er. All individual goals are worked on in a contextual manner.

Typical Day at C.A.M.P.

Every day C.A.M.P.ers participate in daily greeting and closing activities (which focus on building communication), arts and crafts, cooking, science and structured group games (indoor and outdoor), as well as C.A.M.P.er determined choices during free play. In addition, there are individual and group reading opportunities as well as access to specialized computer programming in every classroom. Music and Movement opportunities are provided daily with a variety of sensory-based materials and activities. Social skills development and opportunities to refine social thinking are also practiced at age-appropriate levels for each class.

We take a variety of community trips and can often be seen on our walks to the Post Office, Supermarket, South Pasadena Public Library and various local food establishments. Recreational Field Trips are also provided weekly and can include visits to the Los Angeles Zoo, the Long Beach Aquarium and Knotts Berry Farm, among others. The age group determines the schedule for each class; it is designed to best serve group needs and varies slightly by class. In most cases each class will attend 2-3 Recreational Field Trips per session.

C.A.M.P.ers will also have the opportunity to engage with typically developing peers who are participating in a summer-exchange program on the same campus during the time C.A.M.P. is in session. Additional opportunities for interaction with typically developing individuals include local community and recreational field trips which occur at least three times per week.

C.A.M.P. Staff

C.A.M.P. is staffed by a group of experienced individuals who have demonstrated success in our program. In addition to all of our returning paid staff, a cadre of trained volunteers who seek exciting and rewarding experiences with our long running program also aids us. Staffing ratios are typically one adult for every two-three children depending on the age range of the classes; however additional support will be provided for off- campus trips, if needed. Paid staff include: one Executive Director, one Operations Director, five Room Leaders, up to ten Room Assistants, up to 10 Additional Support Assistants and one Program Assistant. C.A.M.P. also supports a large number of volunteers who first attend the required training under the direction of C.A.M.P.'s Executive Director. In addition, volunteers receive on- going support, as needed, by all paid employees. Continued support is also provided to paid staff by the Executive Director and the Program Assistant throughout the C.A.M.P. session. The C.A.M.P. Executive Director determines staffing and student class placement.

Communication

Progress will be documented daily between C.A.M.P. and home and may include photography. Written entries may be narrative or they may follow a pre-determined set of characteristics/behaviors designed to give families insight into their child's day. Parents are encouraged to report any observations or changes in their child's routine or behavior in order to allow staff to better support their child. All activities are designed to provide exposure and success so that the experiences accessed through C.A.M.P. can then be implemented into our C.A.M.P.ers daily life.

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* In order to determine appropriate placement, C.A.M.P. ers age 10 years old or older - who have not previously attended C.A.M.P. - may require a meeting with the Executive Director before being offered admission. Additionally, due to the structure and pace of older C.A.M.P. classes, some "alumni" may not be eligible to participate or may only participate for a partial day. C.A.M.P.ers who are participating for a partial day will be expected to fund the full cost of tuition, unless the space can be shared with another C.A.M.P.er who would also benefit from this approach. If this is possible, the cost of tuition will be pro- rated depending on the amount of time each C.A.M.P.er is enrolled in the session. Decisions of this nature will be negotiated by the C.A.M.P. Executive Director.

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