What Everyone Together Day Camp Is All About
Everyone Together Camp strives to create a structured, social environment during the summer where individuals with special needs spend time both with each other and their non-disabled Peer Buddies. We work to create an environment where campers are able to spend time, during the off-school months, away from home or daycare or parents and interact as they would during the school day. We utilize Peer Buddies, guest presenters, staff, and volunteers to put together crafts, games, and educational experiences that the campers can experience while spending time with both their peers with disabilities and peers without disabilities. There is not a specific requirement regarding age or ability level for campers, although we do request that parents take into consideration our rules and requirements for campers when registering campers and Peer Buddies for camp.
Camper Rules/Requirements:
Click here to go to our documents folder for all things summer camp.
Peer Buddies (PB):
Peer Buddies are (generally) older individuals who are experienced with working with individuals with special needs in the school setting and are willing to spend time socializing with campers and assisting the staff and volunteers as needed. The main goal of a Peer Buddy is to work with the same camper each day to help form a relationship between the two. The Peer Buddy offers support, someone to talk to throughout the activities, and someone to sit out with campers when a break is needed. They will be asked to apply to be a peer buddy and will be contacted from there.
Requirements for Peer Buddies include:
Parents:
Any parent who is interested in volunteering should fill out the volunteer questionnaire to provide information about preferences and allow for better placement at camp. Our aim is not to discourage parents from volunteering, but rather to allow campers the chance to really get into the camp experience and gain social interaction skills away from parents so please do NOT be offended if you are not asked to volunteer during the camp experience.
Camper Rules/Requirements:
- Campers are any individuals (with or without a disability) under the age of 18 who are interested in spending time socializing with other individuals around the same age.
- Campers will listen to instructions given by adults.
- Campers will not leave the building without an adult with him or her.
- Campers are given the choice to do the planned activity or wait patiently in the room while abstaining from the activity; leaving the room or not staying with the group is not an option.
- Campers do NOT need to be toilet trained, but supplies need to be provided to the camp.
- Campers will bring their own snacks each day to camp.
- Campers will be rewarded for participation and treating other campers nicely via a planned reward system.
- Campers who do not follow instructions or who are struggling to comply with instructions from adults, will be reminded that a poor choice is being made and will sit in the hallways if he/she is not calming down.
- Campers will share with other campers and use appropriate language during interactions with staff, Peer Buddies and campers alike.
Click here to go to our documents folder for all things summer camp.
Peer Buddies (PB):
Peer Buddies are (generally) older individuals who are experienced with working with individuals with special needs in the school setting and are willing to spend time socializing with campers and assisting the staff and volunteers as needed. The main goal of a Peer Buddy is to work with the same camper each day to help form a relationship between the two. The Peer Buddy offers support, someone to talk to throughout the activities, and someone to sit out with campers when a break is needed. They will be asked to apply to be a peer buddy and will be contacted from there.
Requirements for Peer Buddies include:
- At least 12 years old OR have been a PB at school (or camp) before.
- Younger applicants to be a PB might be asked to attend as a camper if he/she is not used to the experience or is considered too young to effectively serve as a PB. (This is not meant to be upsetting or hurtful, just meant to allow our friends to enjoy camp in the best way possible.)
- PBs might not be able to complete all activities/crafts at camp due to limited supplies and the need to assist campers that require it prior to completing the craft or activity for his or her self.
- PBs will complete a session of training prior to camp starting to give tips on ways to better connect with the camper he/she is paired up with as well as to fully understand the role and expectations of the PBs.
Parents:
Any parent who is interested in volunteering should fill out the volunteer questionnaire to provide information about preferences and allow for better placement at camp. Our aim is not to discourage parents from volunteering, but rather to allow campers the chance to really get into the camp experience and gain social interaction skills away from parents so please do NOT be offended if you are not asked to volunteer during the camp experience.