At Camp Fire, we set out to better understand and respond to the needs of youth with ADHD, autism, and other neurodiverse experiences. However, through our research, we discovered that many young people, even without clinical diagnoses, were experiencing challenges often associated with ADHD and Autism—such as sensory sensitivities, anxiety, and overwhelm.
Some things that made youth anxious, in their own words:
- “There are too many overwhelming things happening at once”
- “Really loud really bright really sticky really dry”
- “In tight spaces with a lot of people”
- “Something unexpected or new comes up”
- “I don’t have friends around to talk to in new social settings”
In partnership with the Alliance for Camp Health and Tickit Health, we gathered insights from over 1,000 youth through the MyView Digital Empathy™ Screening Tool during summer of 2024. We also engaged five affiliates through interviews with camp nurses, assistant camp directors, and camper support teams to understand how camps are responding to the mental, emotional, and physical health needs of campers.
We suggest that it’s much more effective to proactively create inclusive spaces that uphold dignity, where all young people can express their true selves.
Camp Fire invests in an inclusive programming model by:
- Designating camper support staff teams who are trained to meet youth needs
- Offering spaces for escape, rest, and recovery during camp
- Adapting activities and dining hall seating arrangements to account for a range of sensory sensitivities
Additionally, program staff create opportunities for youth to articulate their needs throughout camp, increasing access to helpful and caring adults who listen.
The result?
Designing programs for youth with dynamic support needs ultimately creates settings that are simultaneously accessible to sensorily over-stimulated youth with ADHD and Autism AND other youth who experience sensitivity, overwhelm, and anxiety. This is done without participants having to sacrifice their wholeness or their ability to be present in authentic ways.
Read the full Accessibility in Action report here:
Interested in learning more about Camp Fire’s inclusive program model? Check-out our Equity in Action report here: https://campfire.org/blog/article/equity-in-action/
