Camp Orion is an active day camp in Midtown Atlanta for children ages 5-13 who have neurobehavioral challenges including ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome. The focus is on social skills, self regulation and most importantly, self esteem.
Camp Orion offers a typical day camp to ensure a successful camp experience for campers who need a smaller 1:4 teacher to camper ratio.
Each camp week includes:
- A lively thematic focus with high interest camp activities including dance theater, crafts, art exploration, gardening, cooking, yoga, recreational games, and outings in Atlanta.
- Skill building activities to foster growth in: problem solving, understanding social cues, managing frustration and anger, expressing needs and emotions, cooperative play, and making friends
- A low 1:4 teacher to camper ratio taught by Orion School teachers
Camp will be held at The Orion School
458 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta, GA 30308
www.theorionschool.org
Hours:9:00am-3:00pm M-F
The fee is $395 per week
Before Care (starting at 8:00) & After Care (untiil 5:00) available for an additional fee
Questions? Contact: ccarden@theorionschool.org or call 404-551-2574
Four 1-week thematic sessions offered:
“Sensory Sensitive Adventures” - June 6th - June 10th
Campers will have a blast exploring textures, tastes, sounds, sights, smells, and movement as well as building positive relationships through experiential opportunities.
“Building Friendships” - June 13th - June 17th
Lego My Lego day, food creations, cooperative games, unique construction projects and team building experiences will ensure a week of supportive friendship connections.
“Old School Camp Friends” - June 20th - June 24th
Camp fun the way you remember it – including camp buddies, tents, lanyards, s’mores, tie dying, silly camp songs, color war games, and mock campfire activities.
“Wacky Water Week” – June 27th - July 1st
No pool needed when there are water balloons, ice cube play, water games galore, and watery art projects…all designed to foster positive relationships.
CAMP ORION Q & A
1. Can my child visit the camp before it starts? Of course! Once a child is registered for camp, we have the opportunity for new campers to visit, meet camp teachers, and explore space shortly before camp begins.
2. What does Camp Orion know about children with complex challenges including ADHD and Aspergers? The Orion School is one of the only Atlanta schools with a mission specifically to help students who have more complex profiles that include social and emotional challenges. Camp Orion is carefully structured to meet these needs.
3. What other types of conditions are represented at the camp? Campers may have a range of conditions that typically co-occur with complex ADHD - including SPD, anxiety, depression, OCD, tics, Tourettes disorder, mood disorders, executive function disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, and LD. On a case by case basis, we are also an inclusion camp for children who have other conditions and can benefit from our small group structure. We are not able to meet the needs of children who need a lower ratio than 1:4.
4. How many campers attend, and what is the staff-to-camper ratio? Camp Orion keeps the same low 1:4 staff to child ratio that we do for our school program. We limit camp enrollment to better serve the needs of our campers.
5. Who are the counselors? Our camp is staffed by The Orion School teachers who have experience planning appropriately for and teaching the same population of children in a group setting throughout the school year.
6. What about if my child needs medication during the camp day? A medical release is included in the application packet so camp teachers can ensure that medication is given.
7. How are discipline and behavior issues handled? We have a camp wide positive behavior support plan in place to help our impulsive and inflexible campers regulate behavior. This constant, tactile reinforcement increases student confidence and communicates teacher expectations by focusing on positive, desired behaviors rather than the negative consequences.
8. What is your social skills program? Social skills are addressed throughout each camp day. In addition, direct instruction social skill activities are also used to teach pragmatic skills and social and emotional intelligence. The Alert Program is used as another tool to teach self-awareness and regulation. This program also provides a sense of power and control over campers’ bodies and choices.
9. How does the camp deal with special food concerns?Although snack is varied and errs towards healthy choices, we have special treats throughout camp such as s’mores JThe camp provides alternative snacks that meet the dietary needs of campers who have food allergies or are on restricted diets. Camp Orion is also a Peanut Free Zone.
10. Is there any academic tutoring available as part of the camp fee? The goal of the camp is a typical camp experience for campers who need a bit more support to experience camp success. There are often camp teachers available who are interested in tutoring after camp hours. Arranging and paying for this service is done directly with the teacher. Ask when you register if you would like to contact a teacher.
11. What are the goals for campers? Do parents receive any sort of reports about their child? The goal for campers is to have fun, learn strategies, and increase self esteem through successful experiences. There is a daily activity and behavioral report sent home for each camper as well as a weekly recap.
12. How is communication handled? Before camp begins, parents receive an informational packet with detailed information about the goals and activities for each week. Parents can talk informally with the teachers at drop off and pick up but, are encouraged to schedule a time to talk for more than a couple minutes. Camp teachers understand the need for ongoing communication and information sharing about each camper.
13. Most importantly, How do I know if my child a good fit for Camp Orion? We are a camp for children who may or may not have the diagnosis, but may have the following core ADHD symptoms in varying degrees: inattentiveness, distractibility, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity. Note that our typical camper has a more complex profile that is not so easily defined by a diagnosis. Despite often being curious, outgoing and creative, he/she might have any number of the following related challenges:
* Is in a smaller, more structured classroom environment during the school year
* Struggles in a traditional camp or school setting
* Has difficulty making and/or keeping friends
* Misinterprets social cues from other children and adults
* Gets overwhelmed in new, unstructured, or even what are perceived as exciting and fun situations
* Conflict resolution skills are not well developed
* Must win. Does not handle losing well
*Tends to be inflexible
* Will not stay on task or may not attempt task if not interested or afraid they might fail in some way
* Despite interest, does not consistently finish tasks
* Interpersonal skills may present as inappropriate or even rude
* Cause and effect are not always understood
* Repeats off behaviors despite redirection and intervention
* Seems younger than peers
* The concept of time is limited
* Has poor handwriting
* Has difficulty with executive function disorder – for example consistently struggles with disorganization
* Is relentlessly outgoing and talkative or does not engage with others
* May have low self esteem or inflated sense of self
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