Dream Oaks Camp provides a program that gives children with special needs an opportunity to identify their incredible potential by teaching them life skills in a healthy, inclusive environment. While participating, children engage in adaptive activities, learn new skills and develop productive behaviors while having a blast. As the child attends Dream Oaks Camp, staff and parents collaborate to identify two individualized targets they want their child to work that fall within four domains: social interaction, activities of daily living, behavioral skills, health/hygiene. Our staff then integrates these individual goals or targets into the child’s daily schedule of unique activities so they can progress towards them while participating in camp. By providing intensive staff training and low camper to staff ratio of 3:1 or better, each child receives individualized care and support. Daily adventures include, but are not limited to arts and crafts, music and drama, yoga, scavenger hunts, aquatic programs (swimming and canoeing), boat rides, sports and games, nature studies, therapeutic horseback riding and many other fun camping activities and experiences. These activities give immediate health benefits (such as improved cardiovascular fitness) and recreational options that many times carry over into their adult life. We also find that children that attend more regularly often achieve significant developmental, functional and behavioral gains that can be further developed and sustained across multiple settings.
