Adam's Camp

Three years ago we took the kids on a 7 mile hike- we had been camping for 3.5 weeks and decided they were ready for a finale hike before we trekked to our new home in the Sonoran Desert. The halfway point was a beautiful waterfall- we were blessed with the sighting of a bull moose and the beauty of the mountains- but the thing that made the hike unforgettable was a couple- they were so good with helping us get the kids back down the mountain

and then the said, "Hey! Are you here for Adam's Camp?"

And that was just the beginning...

We later learned that Adam's Camp partners with Snow Mountain Ranch- a 5,000 acre camp near Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake, and Winter Park. Adam's Camp started 32 years ago- here's an awesome video about what it's all about...

Registration opens in November every year so when we returned to Tucson I set my phone alarm and when it opened I immediately registered.

This was our third summer at Adam's Camp. The first year Bentley was in a more clinical setting with a speech therapist, physical therapist, dance therapist, and musical therapist, as well as, volunteers.

The last two years Bentley has been in the program that is less clinical- he still has goals- but they go on several adventure trips a day and have one overnight.

Next year he will be in the next level which means he'll have three overnights- they'll work heavily on his independence (cooking together and all the other daily tasks that one does) in addition to several adventures a day.

Adam's Camp is probably like many adventure camps across the country- there's high and low ropes courses, a huge tubing hill, hikes, canoes, swimming, bumper cars, the list goes on...

It's not the adventures that keep us coming back... it's the developmental leaps our three kids make while we are up there.

Clayton and Lily attend the sibling program. Again, they do the adventure programs- but in addition they have discussion groups every morning that focus on who they are in the family.

Research and personal observations show that the siblings of kids with disabilities often times come out on top- they are extremely high achievers, talented, and empathetic- but they also feel like all the attention is always on their siblings- that their needs always come second- and that sometimes they're invisible. So while I know that Clayton and Lily are probably gonna turn out alright- I am hyper aware that they have voices and a need to be seen and heard too.

On the last day of camp every year the counselors share the qualities and characteristics of the siblings and the siblings read the letter they have written to their sibling with Down syndrome (we go during DS week every year).

The part of Colorado that we visit has cool mornings in the 40's and highs in the 70's/80's- it's one of the most beautiful places in this country with the Rocky Mountains, the greenery, and so many lakes. Snow Mountain Ranch has some of the kindest youth and staff working all summer. All of these things and more combined would give us enough reason to return- the reason we keep returning is because of the gains that we see in our kids. Research and stories indicate that kids who return to the same places year after year with their families are instilled with a strong family identity- rooted deep. So while David and I would probably prefer a new adventure every summer we know that our kids look forward to Adam's Camp every year. We also see how the the trained staff manage to help Bentley grow exponentially every year.

When it comes to our kids I know we are all trying our best. I have so many doubts about every decision I make- so many tears have been shed about my decisions. On balance I know I am doing my best and that they're gonna grow because of us and in spite of us. There is peace in knowing that some decisions are good ones- and I think our return to Adam's Camp- for at least another year- is one of those decisions I won't regret- I haven't thus far...