Summer Camp

All campers sleep in the air-conditioned Retreat building. Each camper has their own designated sleeping area, with a twin bed, clothing cabinet, hooks to hang items, and a laundry bag. There is a male and female side, and campers are placed in one of our six cabin groups – these are named Fire, Water, Earth, Sun, Moon and Stars.

Yes, and day campers will join them.

We offer the optional sale of t-shirts, hats, and other Summer Camp store items during check-in and check-out. A drink and snack machine is available, cash or card. There may be opportunities to purchase items during day or weekend outings. If campers bring money to camp, it will be processed during check-in. This ensures it can be tracked by camper.

You can find a suggested packing list here (link coming soon!). The number of items is up to you. When packing, please keep in mind your camper’s length of stay, how many times per day the camper normally changes, and various weather conditions. Please label as many items as possible to be sure the right items come home with your camper.

Items left behind will be kept in the lost and found until October. If you are missing items, you are welcome to visit Summer Camp to view the lost and found bin and retrieve any items that belong to your camper.

We take care to hire individuals who are committed to working with adults and youth with disabilities. Many are international students, studying in areas such as education, social work, and psychology. All camp counselors undergo a rigorous, two-week training process.

We hire both male and female counselors. Male campers may have female counselors taking care of them, but male counselors will not assist female campers with personal hygiene.

Campers will be busy making friends, participating in activities (on and off campus) and eating delicious meals – all while having fun! Below is a basic schedule.

• 8-9am- Breakfast
• 9-12pm- Activities
  • Pocahontas State Park, Tuesday
  • Horseback Riding, Monday (females) and Wednesday (males)
  • Sports, Music/Drama, Nature, Cooking, Arts & Crafts, Outdoor games
  • Swimming
• 12-1pm- Lunch
• 1-2pm- Siesta / Down Time
• 2-5pm- Activities
  • Sports, Music/Drama, Nature, Cooking, Arts & Crafts, Outdoor games
  • Talent Show, Thursday
  • Swimming
• 5-6pm- Dinner
• 6-7pm- Evening Activities (campfire, movie night, fishing, etc.)
• 7-8:30pm- Cabin Time with fellow campers and staff

All the classics! Below are sample menu items that we serve.

• Breakfast- cereal, muffins/bread, pancakes, eggs, bacon/sausage and French toast
• Lunch- turkey melt, chicken salad, chicken or bean burritos, chicken stir-fry, sloppy joe, general Tso’s chicken, grilled cheese sandwich, and falafel and rice
• Dinner- beef or veggie lasagna, burgers/hot dogs, tacos, BBQ chicken sandwich, curry chicken, broccoli or chicken alfredo, baked spaghetti and beef stroganoff

We rotate menu items for variety. To keep our campers healthy, there is fruit at lunch and a salad bar for lunch and dinner.

We can accommodate vegetarian, lactose-free, gluten-free, low carb, and diabetic diets. The kitchen is a nut and shellfish-free facility. If your camper has food allergies, please include that on your application so we can accommodate.

We are able to puree food as needed, and counselors are ready to cut food into smaller pieces to assist campers. If your camper has a specialized diet, consider sending food or supplemental drinks. Please share all relevant information on the application and call if you have any questions.

Yes, if they are nut-free. We ask that you only bring snacks that can be kept in the camper’s room (unless they require refrigeration). This is important so that snacks are not shared with other campers.

Day campers will be served lunch at camp. If the camper arrives at 8:30am, they can join us for breakfast. If the camper plans to arrive closer to 9am, please eat before arriving, as breakfast will have ended.

We provide a 1:4 counselor to camper ratio. If the camper currently receives 1:1 support in an educational or support setting, please contact us to determine if SOAR365’s Summer Camp is the right fit.

Medical staff (RNs, LPNs and CNAs) are on site and available to administer prescription medication to campers. We require all campers to pre-package medications. All medications, vitamins, and supplements brought to Summer Camp must be in the original bottles with label, with an extra 2-day supply for emergencies.

We prefer that medications are placed in a “bubble/blister pack” by a pharmacist. If your camper’s medication dosage has changed, a new prescription label must be obtained and sent with the camper. Once your camper has been approved for Summer Camp, you will be sent a medical consent packet to complete at least 2 weeks prior to their first day of camp.

We have a nurse on duty Sunday (12:00 pm – 9:00 pm), Monday-Thursday (6:00 am – 10:00 pm) and Friday (6:00 am – 1:00pm). Our Nurse Supervisor leads a team of health care assistants and works with the Camp Director to ensure campers stay healthy and happy.

In addition, all camp counselors are certified in First Aid/CPR. Nursing staff store all medications under lock and key. Only the nursing staff and medication administration-certified staff distribute medications. During overnight hours, a nurse is on call.

Our main goal is for campers to have a safe and happy time while at camp. However, accidents may happen, or a camper may become ill. Summer Camp staff will notify parents/caregivers immediately of any incidents or if the camper becomes ill. If a doctor or hospital visit is necessary, we will go to Chippenham Hospital, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, or Chester ER (urgent care) and notify you know immediately.

If it is determined that it is not in the best interests of the camper for them to stay at Summer Camp, you will be required to take them home.

Most campers have a positive experience at Summer Camp. Sometimes, however, a camper will have difficulty with emotions and/or behaviors. There may be a variety of reasons for this: change in routine, change in location, not being used to living in a group, etc. We will do whatever we can to assist the camper in adjusting to the Summer Camp environment.

Occasionally, campers have gone home early for sickness, behavior challenges, personal reasons, weather related issues, personal choice, and other reasons. All campers must have a plan in place to be picked up early should the need arise.

If the camper continually exhibits harmful behaviors (to themselves or others) – such as hitting, kicking, biting, swearing, hair pulling, etc. – or experiences anxiety that impacts their ability to participate in Summer Camp activities, we will contact the parents/caregivers and discuss different strategies to help the camper adjust. If the strategies are not effective, we will contact the parents/caregivers again and talk about the next course of action, which may be sending the camper home.

Occasionally campers have gone home early for sickness, behavior challenges, personal reasons, weather related issues, personal choice, and other reasons. All campers must have a plan in place to be picked up early should the need arise.

Campers who leave Summer Camp early for any reason (homesickness, illness, behavior, etc.) are not eligible for a refund. We will only issue a refund if Summer Camp closes early.