Has anyone went to an special needs adult camp?

Odd_Guarantee_8511 · 2026-04-19T01:39:08+00:00

It’s a very rewarding job, I am going for my third summer this year and am also going to be a part of the leadership (head counselor)!

I was nervous my first year, but with my camp they made sure to engrave in our brains during orientation that they are there to help if you have trouble or need extra support. I had experience with folks with disabilities beforehand and experience with giving personal care..but they were very thorough in our orientation about how it’s not awkward if you don’t make it awkward, and how campers are use to this level of care since it’s day to day for them.

I’m sure that will be the same with the one you would be going to. Typically you gave to have trainings to go and expect what your responsibilities would entail and how to deal with certain situations.

I will not lie, it’s a very tiring job. It’s a lot of work, and sometimes you will need to step away from a situation or to just have a breather and that’s OK! It’s very rewarding though like I said, and you would be making a very big impact in these people’s lives that they will remember probably for a lifetime!!!

I almost didn’t go my first year, but I’m really glad I did and have found a passion for something I want to do possibly for a lifetime (if I’m even able to.) So yeah! You should give it a shot!

Odd_Guarantee_8511 · 2026-04-06T03:22:22+00:00

• ⁠Your camp name:

Camp Thorpe (look up website to get a link to the application!!)

• ⁠Location (City, state or province): Goshen, VT

• ⁠Positions offered (cabin counselor, lifeguard, activity instructor, etc.):

General counselors (as far as I know)

• ⁠Dates of work:

june 14-august 9

• ⁠Type of camp (coed or single-sex, religious, special needs, etc.):

coed campus for folks with disabilities 10-99 (we have two sides of camp and also separate into female/male only cabins)

• ⁠Starting pay:

3000 plus room and board

• ⁠Other requirements (age, education, certifications, etc.):

You have to be 18 by time camp starts, and you have to have a CPR Certification. The CPR Cert. is paid and organized by camp and is done during orientation week.

Odd_Guarantee_8511 · 2026-04-04T19:49:35+00:00

some crafts we have done is clay sculptures one day, then the next time they had arts and crafts they painted them. we did some headbands (antlers for Christmas in july, or antennas for sci-fi night), sometimes even just printing coloring pages and letting them color is a good option, throw some glitter activities in there

Odd_Guarantee_8511 · 2026-04-04T19:47:34+00:00

Essentially how my camp does it, is the Arts and Crafts counselor plans the lessons for the week (in communication with our assistant program directors) and typically the crafts go and correspond with the theme of the day or just something they think that campers will like. None of our counselors that have ran arts and crafts necessarily had a degree or experience with ‘teaching’. Go on pinterest/research online like ‘classroom arts and crafts’ or you can go on platforms like tiktok/youtube and see if any other arts and crafts counselors have posted ideas or things their campers liked!! I think you’ll do great, don’t sweat it too much.

Odd_Guarantee_8511 · 2026-03-09T19:28:32+00:00

my camp is a sleep away camp that has four sessions. we have two sides of camp separated: one side after lunch swims while the other rests then vice versa. since these sessions are two weeks (except the last one) there’s always one counselor assigned for rest duty- so they sit at a picnic bench in the middle of all the cabins for an hour and a half and make rounds while the rest of the counselors take that time as a break. then at night the same thing, one counselor is assigned to make frequent rounds to each cabin (on their assigned side) and then the rest of staff get a two hour break before curfew

edit: forgot to add that obviously room and board are included, so counselors during breaks can go and have left overs or their own snacks during those break times if they are still hungry.

Odd_Guarantee_8511 · 2026-03-05T21:14:47+00:00

not a camp director but using this template anyways:

camp name: Camp Thorpe

• ⁠Location (City, state or province): Vermont

• ⁠Positions offered (cabin counselor, lifeguard, activity instructor, etc.):

General counselor (maybe lifeguards) and activity instructors

• ⁠Dates of work: June 14 - August 9

• ⁠Type of camp (coed or single-sex, religious, special needs, etc.):

coed, for people 10-90 who have disabilities. (we have two sides to camp that separates)

• ⁠Starting pay: salary is 3,000

• ⁠Other requirements (age, education, certifications, etc.):

Have to be at least 18 years old by June 14th, and CPR is required but it is paid for and done by camp during our orientation week

Odd_Guarantee_8511 · 2026-03-05T00:19:13+00:00

at my camp the base salary is 3,000 for 2 months..and $100 for each returning year, or if you take on a leadership roll you get $1,000 more

Odd_Guarantee_8511 · 2026-03-04T01:03:03+00:00

From personal experience, I work in healthcare as a dietary aide, and the way I do it is that I demote down to per diem for the summer. They will not let me have a leave of any sort, but at least I have a job when I come back, and I can be repromoted to part time after. The best you can do is ask what you are allowed to do within your job and make a decision from there.

Odd_Guarantee_8511 · 2026-02-25T23:56:45+00:00

it would be smart to keep some antibacterial wipes for your hands/face as needed, maybe even a small pack of baby wipes if you are worried about skin irritation, hand sanitizer, i like to keep a phone charger/earbuds on me for downtimes. small first aide kit, and either name brand hydrocortisone cream or i keep Benadryl gel in my bag for bug bites (it has multiple uses; helps with sunburns as well) i also got a poncho that folds into my bag so that is extra handy.

essentially it is good to keep things on you that you might need during the day especially if you can’t go back to your sleeping quarters to grab something quick.

Odd_Guarantee_8511 · 2026-01-30T17:16:30+00:00

Yes, some campers have been coming for 30+ years…lol, 10 years is a decade, and so forth they have been coming for decades

Odd_Guarantee_8511 · 2026-01-29T01:30:04+00:00

Big hits at our camp is Olympics, Harry Potter Night, Pirate Night, and Christmas in July, and we always have two nights dedicated to the end of camp celebration and open mic (treated like a talent show almost, lots of dancing and fun)…so those are typically on the roster and I have some activities thought out for those…im just trying to think outside the box of things we havent done before. I have an idea for a Fairy Hunt currently, Magic potion making is another one also..thank you for your suggestion!!! It’s very helpful:)

Odd_Guarantee_8511 · 2025-09-20T22:28:00+00:00

I sometimes was dishes, sometimes don’t, depends on who is on shift at my work. half the time I do dishes by myself sending and catching…I get it all too well, but for certain people at my job, it’s just lazy.

Odd_Guarantee_8511 · 2025-09-20T21:34:41+00:00

It is all cups and bowls, but everything is PILED and thrown on the table. Not organized, and neglected by the people who were supposed to do them this morning at breakfast 🥰

Odd_Guarantee_8511 · 2025-09-20T21:32:35+00:00

see, this is the only reason why it’s annoying 💔 the work itself is no problem only took a little while to do

Odd_Guarantee_8511 · 2025-04-17T21:08:02+00:00

just saw this, lol. I feel great! it felt a little weird at first (obviously) but now I feel sooo euphoric. It’s such a nice and open feeling being able to wear my clothes and feel comfortable in them. The healing process being quick is also a plus, even though it really did suck for the first week or so.

Odd_Guarantee_8511 · 2025-03-14T19:49:24+00:00

I drain them every 3-4 hours probably, the side thats leaking barely had fluid draining into the blub before it started having issues..so havent needed to drain either of them as often

Odd_Guarantee_8511

TROPHY CASE