Choosing Camp

​Is my child a good fit for this camp?
Camp Meadowood Springs is best for campers with communication and/or social learning challenges. It is open to children meet one or more of the following:
  • Have a diagnosis that affects communication, speech and/or social learning
  • Have received or currently receive speech therapy and/or social skills training and would benefit from carry over support
  • Are a sibling or friend of a camper with a speech/language need
​What needs indicate a child wouldn't thrive at camp?
Camp Meadowood Springs reserves the right not to admit children with severe behavioral or emotional disorders resulting in significant verbal or physical aggression, those with significant health impairments requiring specialized nursing staff, and other campers whose needs are determined to be outside the staff’s scope of practice. Some signs that a child would not be a good fit for Camp Meadowood:
  • Children who become escalated or dysregulated during group activities
  • Children with emotional/behavior disorders that cannot be served in the general education setting at least 50% of the time
  • Children who need 1-on-1 instruction/prompting in order to participate appropriately in a group setting
  • Children who have difficulty transitioning between activities
​What is the difference between the Day Camp and Overnight Camp programs?
The Day Camp program is 4 days in the middle of the Overnight Camp program. Day Campers come during the day (8:00 – 4:00) and participate in breakfast, lunch, 2 rec periods, Team Time, therapy time, free time, and rest time.
The Overnight Camp program is a residential program in which campers stay the night in cabins for 7 nights.
What is the age range for campers?
Our summer camp program is for ages 6 - 14. Our leadership training program (JACITs) is open to ages 15 - 16. 
​What if my camper doesn't know anyone else going to camp?
Don’t worry! The majority of our campers come without knowing anyone ahead of time. Everything we do at camp is about helping campers develop meaningful friendships and a sense of belonging. 

Registering for Camp

When does registration opeN?
Registration begins August 1st. 
how do i reserve a spot for my camper?
A $35 deposit is due with the initial application. Applications received without the deposit do not guarantee a spot at camp. 
Camp is expensive. are there financial aid options?
We want camp to be accessible for all, regardless of your ability to pay. We are lucky to have generous sponsors who fund scholarships for our campers. Visit our Dates and Rates page for more information on how to apply for financial aid (scroll to the bottom of the page)
​Why does the camp Ask for a copy of my child's IEP?
We want camp to be a successful experience for all of our campers! The IEP contains valuable information about what a child needs to be successful. It gives us hints about how your child learns. It also gives clinicians a “starting point” when planning therapy before they’ve met your camper. Our staff takes confidentiality seriously. Only staff who have “need to know” will have access to the document.
When is camp and how much does it cost?
For information on our session dates and the cost of camp, visit our Dates and Rates page. 

Preparing for Camp

What should my camper pack?
All registered campers will get a full camping list mailed to them. Here are some basics you don’t want to forget!
Flashlight
Water shoes (not flip-flops)
Bug Spray
Sunscreen
Sleeping bag & pillow
Jacket
How do I ensure my camper is in the same cabin as their sibling/peer?
Campers are assigned to cabins first by gender and then by age. If you would like to request your camper is in the same cabin as a friend, please make a note on the application. You can also contact our office.
Can I do anything to prevent homesickness?
It is normal for campers to experience some homesickness! Usually it sets in around the end of day 2, when some of the “newness” of camp is wearing off and there is still a lot of camp left. Our counselors and staff are familiar with homesick campers and do a great job encouraging them. For most campers, homesickness is short lived. Here are some things you can do to help prepare your camper.
  1. Make sure your child feels like they are part of the decision-making process. They are more likely to feel homesick if they feel forced to come to camp.
  2. Let your child help plan for camp. Show them when camp starts, how long it will last, and when they will be picked up. Show them pictures from the website. Talk about camp activities. Campers feel more confident when they know what to expect.
  3. Don’t share your doubts or fears. Try not to say things like, “I’m going to miss you so much, I don’t know what I’m going to do while you’re gone.” Keep the focus of off the separation and how you’ll fell. Instead, try something like, “You are going to have so much fun at camp! I’ll miss you, because I love you. But the week will fly by and I can’t wait to hear about all your adventures!”.
  4. Write letters BEFORE camp. We have a letter writing station at Camp Drop Off and encourage parents to write AT LEAST one letter before they leave. Getting mail will make your child feel loved and remembered. Leaving pre-written letters at Camp Drop Off allows your camper to start receiving letters right away.
  5. Don’t make promises about early pick-ups. These kinds of deals almost always lead to more intense homesickness. It also gives campers the impression that you don’t believe they can make it through the whole week.

Life at Camp

What is a typical day like?
Each day at camp is unique, but we follow a predictable routine to give our campers structure. The schedule gets tweaked depending on the summer and the session, but here is a sample schedule:
7:45 Morning Stretch and Flag
8:00 Breakfast
8:45 Cabin Clean Up
9:15 Rec 1
10:30 Morning Snack
10:45 Therapy
11:15 Free Time
12:00 Lunch
1:00 FOB (rest time in cabins)
2:00 Team Time
2:45 Grid Card
3:00 Rec 2
4:15 Shower
5:00 Master Class
6:15 Dinner
7:15 Evening Activity
8:30 Cabin Time
9:00 Lights Out
What is the food like?
Our head chef serves delicious, healthy, kid-friendly meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our chef works hard to ensure our menu provides options for all our campers. Every meal includes fruit and vegetables. Vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options are available. Campers are asked to put at least 3 items on their plate but they are not forced to eat each item on their plate. If a camper does not like the main meal, they have the option of making themself a sunflower-butter sandwich. For the safety of all our campers and staff, Camp Meadowood is a nut-free environment.
Do Campers choose their own activities?
Yes. Campers sign up for a Master Class at the beginning of the week. The Master Class meets every day to develop a skill the camper is interested in (ex: cooking, dancing, drama, etc). Campers also have two rec periods each day. There are 2-3 choices for each rec period. Campers sign up for their choice of rec activities the day before.  Campers also have 30 minutes of “Camper Choice” time each day in which they have time to try out new activities or re-visit favorites.

Working at Camp

What Makes a great camp counselor?
We are looking for people passionate about our mission of creating an inclusive camp environment for children. We are looking for team members who:
  • Like working with others in dynamic team environment
  • Are patient and flexible
  • Can remain calm in stressful situations
  • Are able to visually and physically monitor child safety
  • Are easily directed; can accept feedback from supervisors
  • Are physically active - they need to be able to run, climb stairs, etc
When does staff need to be at camp? What if I need to Leave EArly or Come late?
Priority is given to staff who can attend all training days and camp sessions. View this years Staff Schedule.
I want to become a speech language pathologist. Can i work at camp as a student clinician?
We love to have aspiring SLPs on our staff! To be a student clinician you need to be a college student enrolled in a SLP or related degree program. You must also have 25 SLP observation hours. If you don't meet those prerequisites, we would still love to have you on our counseling staff! All staff get some training in speech/language therapy basics. We can also make sure you get to observe some of the therapy sessions if you're interested.