My Summer Camp Experience Working at a Special Needs Camp
Hey, My name is Sophia, I’m 23 and I’m from Ireland! Last summer I spent two months working in Ontario as a special needs camp counsellor.
I specifically requested to work at a special needs camp as I already had some experience working with people with special needs, so I knew this opportunity would be perfect for me. My camp worked with children and adults with a range of special needs, such as physical disabilities, learning disabilities, autism, ADHD, foetal alcohol syndrome, social and behavioural difficulties, anxiety disorders and many more.
In this blog post I’ll be answering some key questions based on my experience, that will hopefully give you a better understanding of what working at a special needs camp could involve!
What are special needs camps and how do they differ from other camps?
There are many different types of camps you can apply to through Camp Canada, and one of those is special needs.
Special needs camps are open to campers with special care requirements, so you could be working with campers with varying physical and learning disabilities, autism, Down syndrome, ADHD, anxiety disorders and behavioural difficulties. Depending on the type of additional needs campers have, you may be required to provide personal care, but others do not require this. During the application process you are able to provide details about the care you are open to or comfortable with offering.
The activities offered at special needs camps don’t differ hugely from other camps; for example, my camp had ropes courses, horse-riding, waterfront, archery and so much more. However, special needs camps do have a higher camper to staff ratio compared to other camps (e.g. 1:1 or 2:1), to ensure that campers receive the individual attention and support that they require.
Do I need previous experience to work at a special needs camp?
You definitely don’t need previous experience to work at a special needs camp. some do have previous experience (I’m a part time mental health and learning disability support worker), but you will get plenty of training and support.
For example, the camp I worked at had 8 days of training before the campers arrived, where we had workshops on intervention training, how to handle difficult situations, how to make sure we include all campers when running activities and many more. The training provided is so helpful and prepares you for a lot of situations, but in my experience, you also learn a lot from the job itself.
Throughout your time at camp you will also have plenty of support from your camp directors, senior staff and returning staff. They’re full of advice and tips and tricks that can really help you gain confidence and build resilience.
The benefits of working at a special needs camp
Working at a special needs camp was such an incredible experience. I learned so much about myself and my confidence grew hugely. The job is extremely rewarding as you are helping to run a programme allowing campers, who otherwise may not be able to attend summer camp, to have an amazing experience.
There are little moments every day that make the challenges worth it, such as watching a camper move out of their comfort zone and try a new activity. I also really enjoyed the 2:1 camper-to-staff ratio, because you get to know your campers so much better and can give them the individual support they require. I found the environment at camp so supportive; my co-counsellors were the most incredible, strong and hardworking people I have met, and there is always help available when you need it.
Some challenges of working at a special needs camp
When working at a special needs camp you are often faced with challenging situations, such as campers having a difficult moment and needing your undivided focus and support. It can therefore be an emotionally challenging job, so it’s important that you take time to recharge; find what works for you, whether it’s socialising, reading, or listening to music, and integrate it into your day.
I found that prioritising time to recharge helped me build emotional resilience, allowing me to feel much more confident in my job. I also found that most of the challenging moments I was faced with came with great learning opportunities, allowing me to develop new skills and a better understanding of how to best support each individual camper.
My advice for you, take this opportunity, even if you have no previous experience. Working at a special needs camp is a challenging job sometimes, but you will learn so much, develop new skills and meet so many kind, hard working people!
