Interesting Camps For Children With Autism In Canada

There is a selection of interesting camps for children with autism held all over Canada. Living with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is challenging for kids and adults, but it should not prevent people from fully engaging with life outdoors. Has your child been attending day camps close to home? Maybe it is time to consider sending them on overnight camps, including those held in rural areas. We share more about the types of camps available and how you can prepare your child for them.    

Different Types of Camps for Children With Autism    

The Autism Center for Kids supports the Our Kids camps for autistic children. They provide specialised support and can be found in Calgary, Montreal, North Ontario, Toronto, and Vancouver. There are day camps, overnight camps, and even virtual camps to make children unable to attend personally feel part of the group. It is best to research each camp individually, as some might not offer fully specialised programming but only ASD dedicated sessions. What types of camps are there?  

• A coed InterVarsity Pioneer summer camp for kids aged 5 to 17, offering leadership development and adventure.
• A coed overnight camp for ages 1 to 21 specializing in children, teens, and adults in the autism spectrum, situated on 600 hectares of forest land along the shores of a lake. 
• An integrated coed camp for ages 6 to 18 that includes a social skills and academic program with more than fifty activities, including horse riding.

Integrated, Coed, Boys Only and Girls Only Camps  

Did you know there are integrated camps that include children with no exceptional needs and those with developmental challenges? Research on the social skills development of ASD children in an integrated summer camp showed the skills of autistic children increased, while their dependence on adults to guide them in social situations decreased. The neurotypical peers were taught how to engage with peers with social challenges.  

Most camps for kids with autism are coed, including girls and boys in the camp. But there are camps where only groups of boys or girls attend the camp. The intent is not to exclude anyone but to make the two groups feel more comfortable and encourage them to participate. 

There are also summer camps for children, youth, and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, where attendees from ages 9 to 65 can attend.  

Ways Parents Can Learn More About the Camps  

Do you want to send your child to a camp but want to make sure you are comfortable with the support they offer children with ASD? If you are in the Toronto area, an Our Kids’ Camp Expo is held every February in downtown Toronto. Camps from across Canada meet under one roof, including those specializing in helping children with exceptional needs. Many camps have open houses, where you can view the camp and their facilities for yourself. It is also advisable to ask other parents with autistic children about their experiences with camps.  

Preparing Children With Autism For Camp  

All children need to be physically and mentally prepared before going to a camp, and even more so, children on the autism spectrum. Every parent knows what works best to prepare their camp-going-age child. Maybe you find that social stories work well, or creating a calendar where you and the child plan for the period before and during the camp. If your child suffers from sensory overload, it might be good to prepare them for the noises they could experience at camp, and of course, every child will take their comfort items. Our Kids offers guidance on how to prepare children before the camp, about departing for camp, and arriving at the camp.

The Autism Center for Kids follows a collaborative, all-inclusive approach. Our deeply compassionate and experienced team will be your child’s greatest champion. Do you want to strengthen some of your child’s skills in preparation for attending camps for children with autism? Contact the Autism Center for Kids today.