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[quote=Anonymous]Hi all - this is OP back again with an update..... DS *loved* Camp Kodiak this summer!!!

He spent 4 weeks total at camp. Read all the background upthread for why we picked this camp for DS!

I am fairly hands off with DS - he doesn't have a lot of support needs, and he's extremely easy going/low anxiety about new things. His SN are more of how he comes across to others, annoys others, gets teased, etc. So once we dropped DS off at the bus stop (and he was very excited), I sort of washed my hands of the four week experience, figuring that if there was a problem, camp would call me. But otherwise, assume that worst case, he was "fine but not having a lot of fun". And more likely case he was having a mostly good time.  The kids send almost no letters home, and camp posts Facebook pics (which obviously only show the kids having tons of fun), and otherwise I just trusted that the system was working. And it was! I know that another kid in the cabin, his mom was more nervous and called several times to get feedback - which camp is happy to do.  They do send a 5 page writeup home from the counselor to let you know how they did at the end of summer.

Anyhow, long story short, we got no calls home and DS had an awesome time, and it's exactly what we hoped for:  A traditional camp (swimming, campfires, arts and crafts, canoeing etc) where they just soften the edges a bit to make it more accommodating for kids with different social needs. So no competition, no badges (in fact, DS came home with a bunch of "This Certificate certifies that Larlo participated in Archery" lol), and activities are optional (but you have to get dressed for and attend everything). DS described the kids as pretty similar to kids at his (nerdy, quirky) gifted school, but when telling stories, you definitely pick up on kids having minor social SNs. Like, one kid had frequent bad tantrums, and another was moody, and there was a mean bully in another cabin who arbitrarily picked on DS's cabin. And in the Facebook pics, some of the older kids looked a bit more HFA. When we did bus drop off, one kid was having major elopement (parents would be walking him to the bus, and about 10 feet away, he would just bolt), and the counselors and directors were working gently with the mom to sort it out for 30 minutes (eventually, with mom's permission, they physically put him on the bus).  DS is not an eloper,  but seeing the camp in action for that kid made me feel like the kids were in good hands. My only "cons" on the camp were (i) kids are allowed to bring and have 20 mins/day of screen time (DS would have been fine going without); and (ii) the counselors seemed a bit more hands on for activities than we were as kids (eg horseback riding only with a counselor holding onto the reins; pottery involved the counselor ultimately painting and baking the piece; glass making involved the counselor ultimately welding it together).  I don't know if that's just 2023, or if that's because kids needed more assistance, but DS would have liked a bit more independence (but he wasn't complaining either).

DS came home a Chatty Cathy (very unlike him) and only positive things to say (though admittedly, he's a super positive kid).  I felt like he was in good hands.

As far as international kids, they told me about 30% of the kids are international (and DS mentioned several kids from the US and UK). You have the choice of doing pick up and drop off at camp (3-4 hours drive north of Toronto), bus pick up/drop off in Toronto, or I think they also coordinated picking kids up from the airport/getting them on planes.  The bus drop off (which we did) took them back to the airport, and I gather some kids were immediately checked in to fly unaccompanied home, and some parents flew in that morning from elsewhere in Canada/USA, got their kid from the bus and hopped right back on a plane.

Anyhow, I know parents on here are always looking for camps for their SN kids, and we highly recommend Kodiak. Feel free to ask any questions ..... [/quote]

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