Camper Forms are available here - 2012
 

Important Changes - 2012

1) We are now requiring a registration deadline. Your camper's registration must be postmarked by March 16, 2012 to be considered for enrolment.

2) You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as campers will be placed in weeks on a rolling admission.

3) Confirmation of your camper's week will be mailed out by March 23rd.

4) If you want to be considered for a scholarship you must send your scholarship application with your initial registration information.

Camper Requirements
1) A diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder or a related communication disorder
2) Manageable behavior and health care needs, to the level of the staffs training
3) Guardians must live, be vacationing, or have an emergency contact in an 8 hour radius of Black Mountain, North Carolina

2012 Camp Weeks

* High Functioning Criteria
· Language should be easy to understand and appropriate to age level.
· No disruptive behaviors.
· Can be paired with another camper with autism (1:2).
· Adolescent Campers (age 13-17): 
      · Able to participate in group activities that require conversation skills,
        and follow verbal directions
      · Independent in all daily living skills (toileting, bathing, dressing)

** Day Camp Description
We are offering a day camp experience for three days for campers with autism who would like to give camp a try, but are not ready to spend the night. This experience will also be open to past campers who enjoy just coming to camp for the day.
Day Camp will run Wednesday through Friday July 4-6th and go from 8:30 – 5:30. We will serve breakfast and lunch as well as two snacks, still enjoy our trip to the lake at Camp Rockmont on Thursday, and end with our famous talent show. Campers will experience the same camp activities that we provide during our overnight camp program, and the small groups will be split up according to age. The fee for this experience will be announced soon.

Unique Program
We offer a unique program approach of therapeutic recreation specifically designed for people with autism using visually structured programming, 1:1 and 1:2 positive support from well trained college and graduate students, development of independent living skills, and opportunities for engaging in social interaction with peers. You can see what parents, staff, campers, and the media are saying about our program on our testimonials page.

Throughout the day our staff provides our campers with autism with a schedule so that they know what is coming up and what to expect of the day. You can view a photo tour or our camp movie to see what your campers will be doing throughout the day. Through this support from the staff our campers with autism grow emotionally and socially at camp by experiencing social success, being empowered to take leadership roles, successfully trying new things, and being supported in a positive and loving environment.


Activities
With the support of your camper's counselor they are encouraged to explore the camp environment and try activities like arts and crafts, hiking, outdoor games, swimming,  music, creek games, music and motion, canoeing and lake play. We go canoeing and enjoy the beauty of Lake Eden at Camp Rockmont, a local boys camp that is just a few minutes down the road from Christmount. All of our activities are adapted using visual structure so that our campers with autism will understand what is expected of them, and be able to participate as independently as possible.                                                    

Nap and Night Time
Our camper nap break is an hour and fifteen minutes after lunch and the counselors get that time off as well. Activity Directors will staff the camper cabin during nap time, with at least 3 staff on duty each day.
During the evenings there will be 3 counselors on duty who will spend the night in the camper cabin. At night, at least one staff member will stay awake until all campers are asleep. There will also be one Activity Director who will be on duty each evening. They are responsible for helping until most of the campers are asleep, are on call through the night, and then return in the morning for support.

Medication
There will be a nurse at camp to check in medications on Sunday and set up the Medical Administration Record (MAR). During the week our nurse is on call as needed. All of our Activity Directors are trained in a course on Administration of Medication. There will be one staff member whose job is to administer medication throughout the week.

Special Diets
Many of our campers are on restricted diets such as the gluten and casein free diet, peanut allergies, limited sugar and food dyes, and others. If this affects your camper, please contact the camp director at least a week before your camper attends. She will send you the camp menu and then you will be asked to send food to supplement the items that your camper can’t have. Once you know the items that you will be sending, the director will work with you to develop a menu for your camper's counselor and our Activity Director staff to have as a guide each day.

Bullying
Bullying of other campers will not be tolerated at Camp Lakey Gap. We define bullying as when a person is exposed, repeatedly to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons, and he or she has difficulty defending himself or herself. This can be done through verbal derogatory comments, social exclusion, physical bullying, bullying through lies, having things taken or damaged, or being threatened.
We understand that some people with autism will have behaviors that could fit into these categories, but are not bullying. The behaviors will be considered bullying when there is obvious intention behind the actions, and/or when it effects a camper or group of campers to the point that their experience is being effected negatively.
Camp Lakey Gap will make every effort possible to remedy the situation so that all campers can enjoy their experience, but after reasonable attempts at a remedy if the situation continues, campers may be sent home.

Parent/Guardian Housing Available
Christmount has reasonably priced, hotel-like accommodations available upon request. You will need to reserve in advance, as things do fill up as summer approaches.
Call 828-669-8977 to make arrangements.