Camp Starfish and Children with Intellectual Disability

Camp Starfish is a unique summer camp that fosters acceptance and belonging through nurturing and structured camp activities that are fun and promote personal and community growth.

The Camp Starfish Difference: Our 1:1 Ratio

One of our most noteworthy perks is our ratio. We offer a ratio of 1:1, which is having access to 1:1 adult support whenever it’s needed. This level of oversight and supervision promotes safety in all areas, including physical, emotional, and interpersonal safety.

As a result, your child can set their own unique goals based on their passions and interests while we provide the structure and encouragement to help them meet those goals. In addition, we emphasize community building and friendships.

Our campers learn resilience, coping skills, and new ways to build and maintain friendships and push themselves toward positive outcomes that may have been unheard of previously.

We often find that first-time participants become repeat campers and maintain these friendships outside camp sessions. Further, many parents report that their kids come home positively transformed, often maintaining these skills at home and back at school.

Is Camp Starfish a summer camp for kids with an intellectual disability?

Our individualized programming and structure are an excellent fit for a wide variety of kids and teens with learning, social, emotional, or other challenges, including intellectual disability!

The 1:1 ratio makes meeting the unique needs of campers with intellectual disability possible. Our campers are not, however, defined by their diagnosis. Furthermore, we are a summer camp that emphasizes enjoyment and recreation. It’s the heart of our programming.

As a result, we don’t offer any clinical programming as part of our schedule, such as speech and language pathology or cognitive behavior therapy. However, we offer structure and teach resilience and social skills to help children, teens, and young adults with intellectual disability feel at home.

Here are just some of the ways our camp supports youth with intellectual disability:

We start with a highly in-depth application process getting to know your child before they even arrive.
Our training is rigorous and comprehensive. Each counselor receives 140+ hours of training ranging from behavior management to upholding our typical camp structure.
We emphasize their interests because they are like icebreakers; they help your child feel at home and excited to participate in the programming here.
We provide acceptance as it is the linchpin of our success.
Instead of feeling judged and out of place, we show empathy and compassion while teaching new approaches and coping skills.

We offer 1:1 support through everything that we do.
Our philosophy around behaviors is unique. Behaviors aren't "problems." They're clues that help us get to the bottom of what could be going wrong, which enables a transformative camp experience.
We are genuine. We find the most compassionate camp counselors who take their duties seriously. As a result, learning is a two-way street. We become better in the process too!
We believe in the potential in everyone, no matter their diagnosis, which is at the heart of our name, "Camp Starfish." Learn more about why we're called "Camp Starfish" here.

Applying for Your Child with an Intellectual Disability

We serve a highly diverse group of youth, including children, teens, and young adults with intellectual disabilities, but we also have guidelines for our campers. It’s important for everyone attending camp 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?”

How do I apply?

Before attending, legal guardians are asked to complete an in-depth application. We ask questions about the camper’s daily routine, unique needs, and interests. Though the application process is lengthy, it’s a crucial first step. Away camp can be a big leap for many of our participants, and we want to be sure we’re ready when it’s time to say “goodbye.”

After applying, we follow up with a 15-60 minute phone call to learn about your child with an intellectual disability’s needs and to answer any questions you may have. Then, we introduce them to one of our staff members, allowing them to ease into the experience before leaving home.

Though we can achieve a lot during that initial 15-minute chat, we ask guardians to take time to talk with their child or teen with an intellectual disability about summer camp. Mirroring positivity and excitement about the experience helps to prime newcomers before taking the big step.

If you think we’re a fit, apply below!