Many campers who attend Starfish have been asked to leave other summer or extra-curricular programs because the staff ratio, structure or program expectations did not set up children with extra needs for success. Some have never tried camp or spent any time away from home.
Some Starfish campers attend mainstream schools, often with IEPs or class aides. Some attend private therapeutic schools with small classes and multiple teachers. Others attend residential schools or alternative learning academies. Many have tried several school placements and are still trying to find the right fit. All are looking for a summer camp where social interactions are appropriate and simplified, where they are not the “odd one out” and where they can feel at home.
Supporting Youth with Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Learning Challenges
Some, though not all, of our campers have been diagnosed with one or more of the following:
We serve a highly diverse group of children, teens, and young adults, but we also have guidelines for our campers. Everyone attending camp needs to be safe and secure, so we created a comprehensive process to help us ensure Camp Starfish is a match for your child.
Are you wondering if we’re a good fit? We encourage all those seeking to apply to read through our Camp Starfish Program Guide to learn about the day-in and day-out of our programming and our camper requirements in the sections titled “Is it a match?”
If you’re not sure whether Starfish is right for your camper, please contact us.
Just like with any camp, it’s important that you, your camper, and the camp all feel that there is potential to be a
good match. While we serve a very diverse group of youth and young adults, Camp Starfish, too, has guidelines for our camper population. We also work individually with each applicant’s caregivers to determine fit. Here are some basic expectations.
If you’re not sure whether Starfish is right for your camper, please contact us.
In general, successful camper applicants are:
- Self-feeding (staff help with serving, portions, manners, etc.)
- Capable of toileting and cleaning themselves after doing so (staff will verbally prompt but not hand-over-hand help)
- Free of restrictive medical conditions, e.g. feeding tubes, colostomy bags, or IV medications (our nurses are great, but care is basic, with no doctor on site)
- Bipolar Disorders
- Depression
- Developmental Delay
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Intermittent Explosive Disorder (Inflexible/Explosive)
