When my then seven-year-old daughter was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes on Memorial Day weekend several years ago, I had to discard the summer camp plans I had so carefully prepared in February and scurry to make new arrangements. While before I had paid only cursory attention to whether or not a camp had nursing and emergency medical staff on campus, suddenly it became the most important requirement for my child’s well-being. With a lot of maneuvering, not to mention extra money, I was able to provide Laura with an enriching summer. But I learned a valuable lesson, and in the years since, have become skilled at determining exactly what a camp has to offer my daughter’s special needs long before I’ll consider sending her.

There are many camps that specifically cater to your child’s medical, emotional and psychological issues (see liparentonline.com for our "Town-by-Town Camp Guide"), as well as regular day and sleep away camps that can make accommodations for them. So if your child has any issues like allergies, illness or neurobiological disorders, it’s helpful to know what to look for in a camp and how to approach directors in order to ensure that the choices you make will provide the safest and most beneficial experience.

Identify Your Child’s Requirements

Start by doing research about the camp, through our site and by looking up the camps online. Get brochures, go to open houses and ask to speak to other families who have attended the camp before. Then make an appointment with the camp director both to clarify information and to discuss your child’s specific requirements. "The key to a child's success at campis to treat them as individuals and customize their programs tomeet their needs," says Daniel Selmer, LCSW-R, coordinator of program development. Selmer runs the Gersh Academy summer camp program for children with neurobiological disorders on the grounds of West Hills Day Camp in Huntington.

“For instance, if your child gets hot easily and the program doesn’t allow for him to sit in the shade, it won’t work,” Selmer says. “Also, camps often have rigid schedules. But sometimes children with special needs can’t handle frequent transitions. Will a flexible routine increase your child's success? Is he used to small classes? Then a large group will make him uncomfortable. Can she bring food to camp if she’s sensitive to food allergies? Is the swimming program set up with knowledge of the special needs child? Think ahead and ask as many questions as you need to.”

It’s crucial to determine what specific accommodations your child will need ahead of time, says Kerry Packard, day camp director of The Barton Center for Diabetes Education, Inc. based in North Oxford, MA, with a regional camp in Roslyn.

“What kind of activities do they have and how can they be modified?” she says. “For instance, for the child who has asthma, does she have to sit out a soccer game, or can the activity be modified so she can participate? Does he need to be able to have a snack before an activity so his blood sugar doesn’t run low, even though it’s not snack time? How will the camp ensure that he can do that?”

Meet With Staff

Another important piece of the selection process should be the staffing available. In addition to making sure the camp isaccredited by the American Camp Association, which ensures it meets over 200 standards, parents need to check the qualifications of the staff, says Elisa Brundige, director of Camp Adventure in Shelter Island, Camp Quinipet, a camp for children with cancer and their siblings.

“The staff shouldn’t be younger than 18. For us, the average age is 27. What kind of camp experience working with children do they have?” says Brundige. “What about their training? With us one of the standards is 24 hours of training for everyone on staff, and that training should include child development, youth development, emotional and psychological issues, safety, group dynamics and conflict-resolution.”
Furthermore, says Packard, the staff should be familiar with your child’s need. At Barton, for instance, many counselors and other staff have diabetes themselves.

An important issue for most children with special needs is the available medical staff on-site. Says Packard: “Do they have an EMT? How are emergencies handled, from a crisis with your child to emergency plans for hurricanes? Is there nursing staff that can administer medications? Will your child know where his supplies are and how to access them? Will medications be locked up?”

Prepare Before Day One

Your application process should include a thorough list of questions from the camp so that your child’s medical history is clearly laid out for the staff to learn your child’s needs before camp begins.

Brundige advises determining how willing the director is to have parents check in with the staff throughout the day. While sleep away camps have strict homesickness policies that usually
prevent children from contacting parents on their own, you should be able to find out how your child’s feeling or managing on a regular basis.

Finally, make sure you reflect what kind of camp experience is best for your child’s self-esteem, says Michelle Laser, LCSW, director of Sid Jacobson JCC’s Special Needs Center in East Hills. “Be honest about your child’s strengths and limitations. For some children an inclusion setting is beneficial. But your child should be screened beforehand to get a professional opinion so that he doesn’t wind up frustrated or unhappy. The experience should be enjoyable and help your child grow and thrive.”

If you’ve done all your homework, chances are that you’ll find the right fit for your child. Each summer, my daughter spends time at both a camp for diabetics and at regular programs, all of which have nursing staff and the experience to handle her needs. All it took on my part was extra meeting time with the camp directors and the medical staff before the sessions began, and Laura’s summers have been enriching — and safe.

Liza N. Burby is publisher of Long Island Parent magazine. Contact her with any questions about the topic of camps.