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Christian Overnight Summer Camp for Kids with Autism and Other Learning Differences Colleen Southard of Charis Hills Camp
Many parents want a camping experience for their children that will reflect their religious orientation, for their kids with special needs as much as for their average kids. Charis Hills Camp is a Christian camp for kids with special needs in Sunset, Texas that integrates faith based ideas with the best in special needs camping adaptations for kids:
At Charis Hills Camp we serve children with autism, ADD/ADHD, Sensory Integration Disorder, Anxiety, Dyslexia and other learning/behavioral challenges. Often times, our campers are not able to attend other camps because of their behaviors or sensory challenges and needs.
Camp is a great place to teach about Christ! Being outdoors, it is easy to see God's hand in His creation. Children with autism are often concrete thinkers and have a difficult time understanding phrases that are typically used in the church when explaining spiritual matters. We train our staff to communicate effectively and share the gospel in a way that our campers can understand.
Charis Hills offers this group of kids an opportunity to come to what may be the first place that they find acceptance among a group of peers. Here they meet others who share similar experiences, and are on the road to success. We provide opportunities for them to experience all the fun of a traditional summer camp, learning new skills in an environment that is safe, both physically and socially. Campers have 25 different activities to choose from including swimming, archery, fishing, drama, dance, music, geocaching, They are supported and encouraged in ways many have never experienced before are able to create new bonds that often lead to establishing lifelong friendships.
We also teach children about Christ because that is our ultimate mission. We believe that if a child can understand who Christ is, his or her life can be changed through that understanding. We never make issue of a child's diagnosis but talk about the struggles that many of us have in this life as well as the gifts and talents that God gives each of us! We illustrate who God is and that each of us are made in His image and that He makes no mistakes!
Charis Hills has been effective in bringing the gospel message to many children who are missing it. Unfortunately, families are not always welcome in other camps, churches where their child may create a disturbance, or become embarrassed and not return. Often the language of the church is not effective in communicating to this group of concrete thinkers. By presenting these children with an opportunity to make friends who share common interests and issues in life, to learn the message of Jesus Christ, and to increase in social skills that enable them a better opportunity in life, Charis Hills is making a tremendous mark in the area of special needs summer camping.
We believe that the Bible holds answers to most of our problems and that and a relationship with Christ and understanding of scripture is sufficient for daily lives. Our Bible studies are tailored to meet the needs of children with Autism because we know that they communicate and learn in different ways. A child with autism involved in “typical”” children’s/youth ministry is not being spiritually fed in the best way, simply because they don’t receive the information and teaching in the same way that a normally functioning, neuro-typical child does. We take each camper’s communication needs into consideration and tailor lessons and bible studies in a way that is accessible to our campers.
We also take our campers sensory challenges into consideration and do our best so that campers do not experience sensory overload. We are a small camp with only 50 campers at a time so it is easier to take individual needs into consideration. For example: We don’t play the music too loud during praise and worship time. Typically, our counselors are upper level college students or graduate school students. They spend two weeks prior to camp learning about autism, ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities, sensory integration disorder, communication, speech and language disorders, therapeutic recreation technique, behavioral intervention technique, positive reinforcement methods, First Aide, CPR, AED training, communication techniques specific to Autism, risk management, active supervision, and specific training on any activity they might teach.
Come PLAY with a PURPOSE at Charis Hills Camp!
Charis Hills Camp is a Christian summer camp in Texas for kids 7-18 with Autism and Asperger's, ADD, ADHD, and other Learning Disabilities. Call them at: 940-964-2145 or via email at: info@charishills.org.