Inclusion
Capital Camps is committed to the concept of ‘camp for all’. We welcome campers of all backgrounds, denominational affiliation, gender, race, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status, including those with a range of intellectual, emotional, and physical abilities. We offer an array of supports. A central part of our staff training and mentoring relates to creation of safe spaces for all campers. To accomplish this, we have a Camper Care Coordinator and a team of Yoetzot (licensed social workers, therapists, clinical psychologists, school guidance counselors, and seasoned educators) who oversee the mental, social, emotional and spiritual health (MESSH) needs of our campers and staff. We also recognize that some campers may need additional support. Our Atzma’im (independence) program provides an increased level of support for campers with additional support needs. We partner with parents and caregivers to determine if we can meet an individual camper’s needs.
For more information, please contact our Community Care Coordinator, Adina Golob at adinag@capitalcamps.org
Creating a safe, welcoming and supportive camp begins well in advance of the summer. We ask that all parents inform us of any additional medical, physical, or mental health needs so that we can best support your camper at camp. For campers who need additional support, we have our Atzma’im program (see below)
The Atzma’im program, which is available to rising 3rd through 10th graders, leverages our fully ADA compliant campus, talented supervisory staff, and specially trained counselors to provide additional daily living and social/emotional support for campers with medical conditions, physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, ADHD, learning disabilities, speech/language disabilities, Tourette syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorders and mental health issues. Campers receive support based on their specific needs, not merely based on the type of disability. Atzma’im staff may develop individualized plans, utilize monitoring and/or additional counselor support, and other strategies to ensure a safe and fun experience. Atzma’im campers live and participate with their peers in all aspects of camp life. A central tenet of Atzma’im is that the camp community as a whole benefits when everyone is included. There is a special assessment process to determine if a camper’s needs can be accommodated in our Atzma’im program. Our Community Care Coordinator and Atzma’im Coordinator are available to answer questions and to guide families through the application process.
11th and 12th grade alumni of Atzma’im may apply for our Atzma’im Internship Program. This program parallels our Leaders-in-Training (LIT) and our Counselor-in-Training (CIT) programs with additional support. Just as the LIT and CIT programs prepare campers to be counselors, the Atzma’im Internship Program works on pre-vocational skills to prepare campers with additional needs to be staff members as part of our supportive employment program. All LITs and CITs, including those interested in the Atzma’im internship program, need to submit a supplemental application for admission to these leadership development programs.
Capital Camps is a community where all gender and sexual identities are welcomed and included. Campers and staff can choose what pronouns and/or name they would like to use at camp. Our cabins are separated by gender and grade level, cabin assignments may be made by gender identity. Requests from our camp community to be housed by gender identity should be made directly to our Camp Director. Parents or guardians are required to participate in the conversation with the camper and Camp Director prior to the beginning of the summer. We will work with gender-fluid and non-binary members of our camp community and their families before Camp to help them identify an appropriate cabin assignment
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