Autism Adventure Camp

The 2023 camp program will run in two 3-week sessions from June 13 - July 27 and takes place three days a week, Tuesday - Thursday, from 9:00am - 3:30pm. The 2023 sessions are as follows:

What is the Autism Adventure Camp?

The Autism Adventure Camp is based at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute (formerly University Neuropsychiatric Institute). This camp is all about creating friendships and having fun engaging in diverse recreation and leisure!

Our camp is designed to help children with a diagnosis of level 1 autism spectrum disorder learn and practice social skills in a safe and fun environment. Our camp follows a peer modeling structure which means that each child or adolescent has the opportunity to interact with neurotypical developing peers each week. We try to create activities in which the peers work together in hopes that social knowledge, social skills, inclusion and acceptance are learned and practiced.

These activities range from getting-to-know-you activities to arts and crafts, sports, interactive games, and ropes course activities. We traditionally take multiple field trips, including, but not limited to, Snowbird, Thanksgiving Point, and Cherry Hill.

Campers will either register as a Pal (person with level 1 ASD), or as a Peer (person of neurotypical development). See below for more details on these roles.

Are these clinical services?

We are a part of the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, however, the camp will not provide diagnostic services or clinical intervention. This is a community-based program where your child will be enrolled as a camper and not a patient with a medical record and/or an attending physician. If you are in need of these services please contact your health/mental health care provider or the HMHI Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinic, as this is not the role of our camp staff.

Although camp is not a clinical service, licensed and certified recreational therapists serve as camp directors and plan our camp program each year. They facilitate the portions of camp focused on learning, practice and reinforcement of social skills. Campers will receive a daily debrief sheet with objective points of positive and constructive feedback in an attempt to help families connect camp to everyday life.

Who facilitates the camp activities?

Our camp facilitators are nationally trained professionals with backgrounds in the field of therapeutic recreation, outdoor recreation, education, behavioral health and other health care professions.

Is this camp a good fit for my child?

Prospective Pals (people with level 1 ASD), will be able to stay with a group, or able to rejoin after taking a break, or when prompted by the camp facilitators. They will be able to follow 1 to 2-step instructions, follow prompting and may have a basic knowledge of coping skills. They may be able to accept feedback without becoming physically aggressive with themselves, others or property. Pals are able to keep their clothes on, toilet themselves and provide their own medication management, albeit with staff supervision. Any additional diagnoses identified by your provider must be listed on the camp application to help us create and provide adequate support.

Prospective Peers (people of neurotypical development), will be outgoing, friendly, patient and capable of empathy for others. They are able to initiate and engage in positive interactions with Pals and set boundaries if needed. Peers are also expected to be able to meet the Pal expectations listed above.

We are out in the community daily, sometimes taking public transportation, and the environment quickly becomes unsafe when children are struggling or running away. If your child tends to get aggressive or run away when struggling, this camp will not be a good place for them. As needed follow-ups and discussions may take place between camp directors and families to create reasonable accommodations. In the event the situation becomes unsafe for the individual or the whole camp community, your child may be asked to leave camp and a refund will be provided for any unattended full weeks.

Do we have to register for all six weeks?

In order for your child to have a meaningful camp experience, we require at least a consecutive three week commitment, or the length of one session. The model of our camp works best when children can participate for at least three consecutive weeks. There are two sessions of camp happening in 2023 to reach more prospective campers. Requests for a registration in both sessions will be reviewed and considered on a case-by-case basis. Requests for a two week registration will be reviewed and considered on a case-by-case basis. Requests for a one week attendance cannot be accommodated.

Can my child with autism participate in the 8-12 year old camp even though he/she is older than 12?

One of the purposes of our camp is to teach age appropriate social skills. In order for that to be successful, we require that all of our participants are in the camp specific to their age.

Will my health insurance pay for this summer camp?

Insurance does not pay for this summer camp.

Are there scholarships available?

Typically we don’t have scholarships available. We do our best to budget so that camp fees cover the cost of the program. If scholarships ever become available, there will be information about it here on our website and existing campers will be notified.