Camp Sealth – for Kids of All Abilities
Jessica Adams wasn’t sure if it was possible for her medically complex, “neurospicy” 7-year-old son to have the kind of carefree fun she experienced at summer camp as a kid. Jamie has a host of special needs from being born premature. He’s legally blind, has severe lung issues, and half his body is weaker than the other because of a tethered spinal cord. He has developmental delays, autism, and ADHD.
Jamie and his twin sister Lily had tried a few camps in the past, but none of them worked out — until they came to Vashon Day Camp this summer at Camp Sealth.
“Oh my gosh, they had SUCH a blast!” Jessica said. “The counselors said they did great. Every day, I was like, ‘Are you sure this isn’t too much?’ and they said, ‘No, he’s good. He’s great.’”
Camp Sealth offers an inclusive and supportive environment for young people and families with special needs of all kinds, from disabilities and accessibility needs to chronic medical conditions and neurodiversity. The same is true of all our programs, in the summer and throughout the year.
Each week at Camp Sealth, there are three healthcare professionals who dispense medications, provide first aid, and manage campers’ records and care plans for children with medical needs and diagnoses that require special attention.
Ensuring a Supportive Experience
Jessica called Camp Sealth ahead of time to fill them in on extra help Jamie would need here and there. He was just starting to learn to use his walking cane, for example, so counselors could help him practice. Having a hand to hold while walking on bumpy roads could prevent falls. He would probably need an occasional break from group activities, so counselors gave him time and space to choose different things to do.
“One time, a counselor took him to play with water and wash a car,” Jessica said. “He absolutely loved it. He raved about how he got to wash a car — for, like, three days afterwards.”
Lily also had a great time. Her favorite activities: tie-dying shirts and visiting the horses. Jessica loved hearing her spunky girl come home and tell her about new friends she had made.
“She got to have her own camp experience without being tied down by the differences,” Jessica said.
Lily and Jamie are “built-in best buddies” and homeschooled. This was the first time they had ever spent most of the day off on their own, Monday through Friday. They had such a great time their first week, they went back again in mid-August — staying overnight once each week.
“I was so amazed at how well it went,” Jessica said. “It was life-changing.”
Jessica had never had so much time to herself and was amazed at how rejuvenating it felt to go out to lunch with friends, to clean the house without it getting messy all over again five minutes later, and to just relax.
“My soul felt so refreshed and regenerated after those two weeks,” Jessica said. “It was an incredible, incredible experience. We’ll definitely keep coming back year after year.”