For our campers with autism
Approximately 20% of our campers have autism. Autism often interferes with a person's ability to put together the clues of another person’s gestures, words, tone of voice, etc.
This may make new situations, even fun ones like camp, challenging. Social narratives give information in a way that reduces anxiety about new situations.
Our aim is to help campers with autism spend more time having fun at camp and less time in transition.
Reading the social narratives with a caring adult before camp will help campers with autism have a shorter, easier transition at camp. They'll have more time to have fun, learning new skills and independence along the way.
The social narratives use mostly stick figures. They will help campers with autism understand the situations described in the stories and that the people in the photographs are not the only people who do the activities.
Heather Schwartz created the Social Narratives.
We are also grateful to Mayer Johnson, Inc. for their permission to use The Picture Communication Symbols® © 1981/4. All rights reserved worldwide.
Click on each of the social narratives below. Read them with your camper. Each one is a short presentation about a specific topic. The social narratives will enable the camper to transition into the camp experience more easily.
Animals in the forest
Bees
Being kind to others
Breaks at camp
Buses
Campfire
Campout schedule
Canoe safety rules
Canoers
Choices at camp
Eating healthy at camp
Feeling safe in bed at night
Flag
Fun activities at camp
Health
Mealtime
Morning routine
My group at camp
Nighttime routine
Personal space
Private space
Quiet time at camp
Riding horses at camp
Screaming
Setting the table for mealtime
Staying with my counselor
Staying with my group
Squeezing
Time to go home
Touching appropriately
Waiting for my turn
Ways to show my friends I like them
Mealtime
The Dance
Waking up