By Becky Davidson (Camp Lakey Gap ‘01-’09)

Typically, I wake up 15 minutes before I have to meet my camper, PROMPTLY at 8:15. Night duty is long, and the folks being relieved when you get there are ready to pass the responsibility on. Sometimes the campers are up and ready, sometimes not so ready, but whatever the level of alert, the day's fun begins right away.

Something important for me to remember when working with people with autism is to make sure I have the camper’s schedule completely ready before I get there. I usually do it the night before so that both my camper and I know what to do and I'm not feeling rushed to find objects, pictures, or anything else (the schedule that I am referring to is something that you will learn more about during training week.) A quick check of the schedule and we're off to breakfast. An interesting situation is when I have 2 campers. One is always a little quicker, especially about meals, than the other. Having someone walk with my eager camper can work sometimes, and providing activities to do while waiting for the other camper to finish is a great way to ward off boredom and frustration for the quick moving camper. Something small and quick in my backpack gives me and my slower camper time to finish eating. Also--I really try to make sure that I get time to eat- even if my camper is finished before me. If I need help at mealtimes, I ask for it. The Activity Directors (AD) are there to assist and they do not want you to be hungry and trying to be an effective counselor at the same time.

Morning schedules seem to go by quickly. A quick outdoor or indoor activity, a snack, the other activity (outdoor or indoor), the pool, then lunch, and nap!! A tricky thing for me here is making sure that the camper is able to check his or her schedule at each transition for every activity, again this is an important aspect of helping a person with autism navigate their day. Getting people with autism familiar with a new routine can make everyone's time at camp a lot more fun-- not as anxious.

Another time needing creative teamwork is getting ready for the pool. Some campers need me to be in my swimsuit and ready to go already, some can play in the pool with an AD while I change. It’s always different from week to week. And then there's the chilly pool. Its chilly, its chilly every year, and every year it takes courage to brave the waters, but it gets easier as the summer moves along, and because the campers love it, I get through it. Many people with autism love the pool because it is a calming and a soothing sensory experience. It’s a big part of camp for a lot of them and it is my duty to make sure they have the best time. Just having a positive attitude about it helps a lot, and I can do anything for an hour (three times a day!)

By lunch everyone is hungry (and the salad bar is a great option), then off to naptime--and off duty. Naptime is great. I take the time usually at the start of the summers to take advantage of the great trails at Christmount, then by the middle to end, I am out like a light. It’s a great break-time to sleep, or get something to eat that's not cafeteria food. A respectable chunk of time to reboot (1 1/2 hours). Again, being prompt after nap time is very important to the staff working nap duty, they typically have not had a break yet and are ready for their off time.

Then it is off to song time a fun and interactive musical session. We sing lots of silly camp songs so it is important for me to be enthusiastic so that my camper will want to join in and enjoy the activity. Then it’s off to the pool again (go ahead and have your swimsuit on when you pick up your camper from nap). Then the afternoon activity: a snack, and then usually something different, a hike, or a cool arts and crafts project, and Music and Motion. Dinner is next, salad bar again included, followed by the Special Event.

Special Event is different day to day, and also changes week to week depending on our campers. By the time campers and counselors arrive, everything is set up by the ADs and ready to roll, but a lot of work goes into getting these ready. Its especially important to have a fun and excited attitude about this because it is new to my camper- so its not a routine that they are already comfortable with, and its later in the day right after dinner- so folks might be a little more tired. Having an energetic attitude about the activity is a great way for me to boost my camper’s interest and ultimate level of enjoyment in the activity. The ADs and floaters (counselors who don’t have a camper that week) work very hard to make them fun for everyone.

Home stretch-- off to the pool one more time, then off to shower and bed. The ADs let me know when to go up with my camper so that not everyone is trying to shower at the same time, and depending on my camper's needs, my level of involvement may be very much or very little in showering. Again, if I need any help, I just ask for it. Once I've checked in with Night Duty and have been cleared to head home (no earlier than 8:30), its time to relax! Another successful camp day!

This is kind of a false end to the day. You do get to go back and relax in Davis Hall away from campers, but there are still a few little camp-related duties to take care of. “Daily Notes” (you will learn about these at training) must be written every evening (Mon-Thurs.) and turned into your STEP group leader’s box. This is even more a challenge when you have two campers, double the notes! They really aren’t difficult though, if you just recall the details of the day you can have them done in no time. Also, on Monday evening you are required to fill out the “Floater Information Form”, Friday’s you fill out the “Stuff I Wish I’d Known on Sunday” form, and on Wednesday or Thursday evening you will be working on your camper and counselor awards. Most of the time staff will work on these things together, so it can still be fun and relaxing.

Another important thing to mention, or just reiterate, is the difference it makes for me to have a positive attitude while working with my campers with autism and the other staff. Just as a negative attitude is catching, so is a positive one. I do get tired and frustrated and just plain worn out, but my job is to make sure the campers have a good time. I know that for my camper, myself, and for other staff, a good attitude and a sense of humor go a long way. I always have a great time at camp, despite the challenging times, and always come back for another great summer at Camp Lakey Gap!