Choosing a Camp

[SwainRN]

I am entertaining several camp nurse offers. My major concern is a good match for my 17 y.o. son. He is a great kid but has some LD and mild autism (to simplify things). Part of my agreement is that a job be offered to him as well. He is independent and gets along fine with others but will need a "kinder/ gentler" type environment. Any suggestions would be helpful.

[edgwow]

I would first recommend a day camp position over an overnight position, this will give him the break he needs at the end of the day to regroup and get used to working. He can help out along the lines of CITS( counselors in training), trash duty, camp store ,showing prospective famiilies around.If you go to an overnight camp, he may get overstimulated day after day. He needs to have a good work experience too. Maybe a camp with a good CIT director could work. How would he do being the co counselor to a group of kids or is he better suited for ancillary work. Helping out in a variety of program areas. How is he with change? His routine will always be changing as programs and special areas change to accomodate absent staff. I would also consider this, offer the camp yours and your sons services as a package deal, but also let the camp know that if things do not go smoothly after say 3 weeks, with him ,that instead of you quitting, would they be willing to put him in with the oldest boys group tuition free. This shows the director that you are a serious candidate and will not allow your son to influence Have you entertained a possibility of only offering your services for part of the summer. Sometimes camp nurses only can stay for June and July and leave in August. A shorter stint may be good for him to adjust and you can see how he makes out. What about considering a camp for handicapped kids, not for him as a peer but as an employee. I would imagine the staff would be "kinder" and more understanding of his needs to fit in as a valuable asset to the camp.

Make sure that he visits the camp multiple times before the start of your job, so he can become familiar with the layout and have cofidence in his whereabouts. I hope this helps.

[SwainRN]

Thank you for the insight. I have been pretty much thinking along those lines. This will give me some suggestions to give the camp directors that I am working with to see if they will accommodate him.