Camp Focus:

Description:

SPECIAL NEEDS CAMP ---- WHAT’S SO SPECIAL?

Camp Kodiak is an integrated, residential camp primarily for children and teens with Attention Deficit Disorder, Learning Disabilities, Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities and Asperger Syndrome. We have 234 campers each session ranging in age from 6 to 18. They come from all over Canada and the US and from overseas. Approximately 20% of our campers are neurotypical, mainstream campers without any identified disability.

Our objectives at Camp Kodiak are to build confidence and self-esteem, to enhance social skills, to foster independence and to provide an exciting and satisfying camp experience. This is achieved by providing a safe, nurturing, predictable environment, a mature, professional staff and a very low camper-to-staff ratio.

We are not a program for campers with severe behavioral problems.

WE PROGRAM FOR SUCCESS!

Many of our campers have very little confidence and poor self-esteem. Everything that is important to kids is hard for them; school, sports and maintaining friendships. Many are hesitant to take on new challenges. In order to ensure that campers get the most out of their Kodiak experience we have developed a core program of 12 activities to which all cabin groups are scheduled. They include the Red Cross swimming program, water sports (water-skiing, knee-boarding, & wakeboarding), sailing, canoeing, kayaking, team sports, tennis, archery, arts & crafts, drama, high ropes and rock climbing. Campers are encouraged, but never forced, to participate in all of these activities with their cabin groups. In addition, there are several times each day when campers are able to choose their own activities and pursue personal interests independent of their cabin-mates.

Everything we do at camp is planned with a view to teaching skills, building confidence and improving self-esteem. We achieve this by carefully structuring all of our sports and activities to ensure success. Teaching is done by skilled instructors who break tasks down into manageable chunks and present them in a logical sequence. In this way we can be sure that our campers will be successful. We acknowledge every accomplishment, and never miss the opportunity to provide positive feedback and recognition. Our athletic instructors de-emphasize competition, stress co-operation and sportsmanship and model appropriate attitudes and behavior. We offer over 50 sports, crafts and educational activities to ensure that every camper will experience success in many different areas.

SOCIAL SKILLS PROGRAM

Many of our campers are young for their age. Many are lonely kids who do not have a best friend. The development of social skills is a main focus of our program. We work on teaching campers how to make friends and how to maintain friendships. This teaching happens all day long, while we’re doing cabin clean-up, having lunch together or playing baseball.

We also work on social skills in a more focused way. We use our drama program as a vehicle for teaching social skills. The program we implement with each cabin group is determined by the age and the needs of that group.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Monday to Friday, right after breakfast, everyone in camp has an hour of academic instruction. There are two components to the academic program, Option 1 and Option 2. Parents select their camper’s academic program prior to their arrival at camp. Campers in Option 1 receive academic tutoring. Campers in Option 2 receive instruction in an educational activity such as music, drama, dance, gymnastics, pottery, photography, computers, etc.

PROGRAMS FOR OLDER CAMPERS - 16 to 18 years of age

In addition to our regular program, we offer an L.I.T. (Leader-in-Training) program to our campers aged 16 to 18.

L.I.T.s receive training in various areas, depending on their abilities and interests. Some receive instruction in basic psychology, child development, camper management and teaching methods. They spend part of their day working with younger campers or assisting in a specialty area under the supervision of a staff member.

For others, our L.I.T. program is more work oriented. It is designed to meet the needs of teens who are better suited to a vocational experience. These L.I.T.s receive job training, and with supervision, assume responsibilities such as serving tables in the dining room, running the camp store and assisting with some of our office routines.

CLUB KODIAK - A PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULTS - 19+

Club Kodiak offers many of the same activities we provide for our younger campers, but there are more choices, less obvious supervision, more freedom and an integrated life-skills program. There are subtle differences in the terminology we use. “Counselors” have been replaced with “advisors” and campers are referred to as “guests”. Guests select most of their own activities and there are several interesting excursions out of camp. Please go to www.campkodiak.com/club for details.

OUR STAFF

An important reason for the success of our program is our staff. Approximately one half of our counselors are trained, certified professionals from the fields of education, psychology, social work, child care and recreation. Every cabin has at least three counselors. At least one, and often two are professionals. The remaining staff are university or college students, most of whom are working towards a career in one of the helping professions. The camper-to-staff ratio is 2-to-1. All of our staff undergo a rigorous training period before the campers arrive and all new counselors go through a police background check.

FACILITIES & ACCOMMODATIONS

Camp Kodiak is located in the picturesque Parry Sound vacation area. We are on a 425 acre site with 4 kms. of lakefront on a beautiful, secluded lake. Campers and staff live in modern, lakefront, tongue-in-groove log cabins with electricity and full bathrooms with shower. Every cabin has a large deck overlooking the lake.

Our facilities include a large 2-storey recreation hall, a large 2-storey dining room, a modern, well-equipped health center, a pottery studio, a stained glass studio, a photographic dark room, an exercise room, a basketball court, tennis courts, a baseball field, a soccer field, a beach volleyball court, a badminton court, an archery range, a go-kart track, a dirt bike track, a large, safe swimming beach, water-ski area, sailing area, canoe/kayak beach, 3 out-trip sites and miles of riding and hiking trails.

NUTRITION

Campers are served 3 meals and 2 snacks per day. All meals are prepared according to the recommendations of the Canada Food Guide. A vegetarian alternative is available whenever meat is served.

Meals are prepared with low sugar and additive content, and are planned to provide a healthy and balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Seconds are always available and most dietary requirements can be accommodated.

MEDICAL CARE

Camp Kodiak has a comfortable, well-equipped Health Center staffed with a doctor, 3 nurses and a nursing assistant. Camper medication is administered by the medical staff. In case of an emergency, we are just 25 minutes from a hospital in Parry Sound.

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation to camp is by highway coach from Yorkdale Shopping Center in Toronto. There is no extra charge for this service. Parents who prefer to drive their camper to or from camp are welcome to do so.

Camp personnel are available to meet campers at the airport in Toronto and to return them to the airport at the end of camp. There is no extra charge for airport service as long as campers arrive and depart within our pick-up and delivery window.

Special Accommodations:
ADD Asthma Diabetic Food Allergies Hearing Impaired Speech Impaired Vision Impaired Weight Loss
Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities, Tourette Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, Turner's Syndrome, FAS,

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