Professional FAQ's

Can my students receive school credit for attending camp?

Yes. In fact, many campers in the past have participated in our program to meet extended school year needs. Most of our campers are mainstreamed at school, but do receive services through Individual Education Plans (IEP) or 504 Plans. Because of the structure and consistency of our program we are able address both the social skill and academic needs that our campers might be working on during the school year. We provide academic activities that students may be eligible to receive school credit for. We offer daily instruction in reading, writing, organizational skills, and environmental education. We have also had campers who received credits for physical education.

What about medications?

The vast majority of our campers take one or more medications on a daily basis. After a child is accepted, the parents are provided with a medication authorization form. This form identifies the child’s current medication regime which is signed by the parent and their child's doctor. All medications for the session are required to come in blister packs and given to the nursing staff on check in day. Camp Buckskin’s nursing staff dispenses medications at meal times (8:00 am, 12:30 pm, and 5:30 pm) and before bed (9:00 pm). While we understand the importance of med holidays, we strongly recommend that a child who benefits from them at school continue taking their medications at camp.

Why thirty days? That seems like a long time.

We get asked this question a lot. We are serious about helping our campers make changes in attitudes and behaviors. To give the process the best chance for success, we need time. If the issues requiring improvement were inconsequential or 'easy to fix' they no doubt would already have been corrected.

There are programs that mention ‘social skills’ or 'self esteem' in their literature that run 5-7 days. Our 50 years of experience have shown that kids need 2-4 days to settle in and adjust. They are then comfortable enough to work on learning and practicing the new attitudes and habits. Behaviorists have shown that it takes a minimum of 21 days to produce meaningful changes in attitudes and habits; that is to unlearn one habit and begin learning a new one. As such, we believe there is no substitute for repetition and reinforcement. The more time the camper has, the more they can learn, practice, and change, and the more likely those changes are to stick.

What is the level of training of your staff?

We have a very extensive 12 day pre-camp training for all of our staff. This training includes both conceptual knowledge and a great deal of practical skills, as both are necessary to best help each individual camper. This training time also allows the many individuals on staff to become familiar with each other. They need to communicate effectively and work well together to provide the necessary structure and consistency for the campers. Some of the topics covered are: active listening, counseling techniques, reality therapy, choice theory, behavior management, and conflict resolution. The initial training includes a seminar with a Board Certified Child and Adolescent psychiatrist. This component seeks to further educate the staff about the needs of the children we serve and to help them better understand the medications our campers benefit from.

How do you share information with parents about the child’s stay at camp?

Since we believe our role is to help parents to help their child, we share pertinent information about the child’s stay at camp. This information should allow parents to help their child continue and build upon the progress they make at camp throughout the following year.

Through the guidance of counselors and teachers, our campers work each day to meet both personal growth and academic goals. The camper’s progress is recorded and evaluated by these staff. This information forms the basis of our post camp report.

This report contains a summary of the camper’s achievements in various activities including any special awards he or she earned. The reading evaluation outlines the progress made on the specific goals provided by his or her parents and/or teachers. We also address specific teaching strategies or approaches utilized while working with the child. The Goal Attainment Summary reports the progress the child made on the social skill goals identified by the child’s parents. This summary describes how the child’s needs presented at camp, what techniques or approaches staff utilized, and the results of those efforts.

Are there any possible funding resources that might help pay for camp?

While we are unable to offer scholarships, there are several options for financial assistance that one can explore. Firstly, school districts can provide funding if the child in question has an Individual Education Plan and is in need of extended year services. Churches and S synagogues have provided partial scholarships. Some of our campers have received help from civic organizations such as the Lions Club, Rotary, Elks, and Knights of Columbus. A list of civic organizations near you can be obtained from your local Chamber of Commerce.

Additionally, local businesses might be willing to provide donations towards a camper scholarship. Adoptive parents have received significant help from state adoption subsidies. Some insurance companies might offer assistance pending on the provider and coverage. Finally, county agencies have occasionally provided assistance.