Back to "Family Camps"Special Family Camp is designed for kids and adults with special needs and their entire families to enjoy a camp experience in an inclusive, supportive environment. Spend Memorial Day Weekend in a beautiful outdoor setting, and enjoy camp activities like archery, boating, fishing, arts & crafts, hiking, marine touch tanks, adaptive bikes, pony rides, and more.
Past participants share their favorite aspects of Special Family Camp:
- A welcoming, supportive environment for kids with special needs, siblings, parents, and other family members
- A team of dedicated volunteers and staff to support you throughout the weekend
- Networking and resource-sharing with lots of other local families with kids with disabilities
- Adaptive activities for all ages and abilities
- A flexible schedule allowing you to set your own pace
- A beautiful setting on Vashon Island
Who Can Attend?
Special Family Camp is geared toward kids and adults with all types of disabilities, but all family members are welcome and encouraged to attend, including siblings and extended family.
Special Family Camp & COVID-19
We recognize that COVID-19 is a very real and potentially harmful virus that spreads easily from person to person and is particularly harmful to people who are vulnerable due to their age or underlying medical conditions. It is the responsibility of the community at large to minimize the spread of the virus to protect the most vulnerable and to reduce stress on our health care systems.
While we understand that COVID-19 may not be under control by the spring, we are confident that we will be able to operate in-person family programs in 2021. We will be operating with more data, more information about the virus, and clear operational guidelines. Camp Sealth will be following all Washington State guidelines as well as the American Camp Association Field Guide for COVID-19.
With that in mind, each family must make their own decision about whether participation in an in-person program is the right choice given their own specific needs and situation.
Special Family Camp might look and feel a little different from years past. Rest assured that these changes are only temporary until we feel safe operating “as usual” again. We are implementing a multi-level prevention strategy to keep families healthy, including health screening, masks, frequent cleaning and handwashing, and social distancing. All participants attending must be willing to comply with COVID safety procedures (to the best of their ability).
Here are a few of the known changes and safety protocols we will need to implement:
- Cabins & Bathrooms: Only members of the same household may share a cabin, per Washington State guidelines. Each family will have their own cabin, and will be separated from others to be able to maintain distance. Families will be assigned bathrooms to reduce crowding, and bathrooms will be cleaned at least twice per day, with soap, hand sanitizer and wipes available.
- Meals: Meals are offered as pick-up boxed meals (family-style), which you can eat indoors at socially distanced tables or at various outdoor locations.
- Activities: Activities will be modified slightly to meet safety requirements, including limiting shared equipment, increased spacing between participants, and cleaning between uses. All activities will be outdoors. Unfortunately, we will not be able to offer Kids’ Club (respite care) during this year’s event.
- Health & Safety: Each family will be required to complete a health screening form / attestation on arrival and have their temperatures checked. Anyone showing any illness symptoms or who has had recent COVID-19 exposure will not be allowed to stay at camp. Masks will be required when interacting with those outside of your household, both indoors and outdoors, or whenever you cannot stay at least 6 feet apart. Medical exemptions for mask-wearing are allowed.
Activities
This event is designed to be as action-packed or as relaxing as you want it to be. The schedule is flexible, allowing you to do only for the activities you want to do. Activity options will include archery, boating, arts & crafts, pony rides, hikes and more. Try riding an adaptive bicycle provided by OutdoorsForAll (there’s a bike for everyone – seriously!). In the evenings, gather around the campfire for songs, skits, and s’mores, and a family scavenger hunt.
Meals & Accommodations
Families stay in camp-style cabins with basic utilities. Each family is housed in their own room, although may share a building with another family. A limited number of accessible cabins are available. Bathrooms are located nearby in separate buildings. Most cabins are heated. A discount is offered if you would prefer to stay in an unheated (open-air) cabin. All meals are provided during the weekend, and snacks, coffee and tea are also available. Nearly all special diets can be accommodated.
Dates, Cost & Registration
Dates: May 29 – 31, 2021 (Saturday to Monday)
Cost
- Tier 1: $150 per person (youth and adult)
- Tier 2: $100 adult, $80 youth
We offer tiered pricing for Special Family Camp. Select the pricing option that works best for your family. Tier 1 reflects the full cost of operating this program; Tier 2 is partially subsidized by donations. There is no difference in the program based on which tier you choose. Some DDA/DSHS funds may be used to pay for Special Family Camp (Note: You must check with your caseworker to confirm eligibility for using DDA funds before registering). We also offer financial aid if the cost still presents a barrier to your family.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
How to Register
Registration is open until April 30. Space is limited, so early registration is recommended. Register now online using this link:
Questions?
Contact Carrie Lawson with questions about this event at carriek@campfireseattle.org.