Camp joins forces with Team Autism 24/7

SANDPOINT— Local kids are well on their way to becoming kind-hearted adults if the Sandpoint West Athletic Club Summer Adventure Camp is any indication.

An annual activity lineup designed to keep kids active and engaged throughout the summer, the adventure camp joined forces this week with Team Autism 24/7 to bring local autistic kids in on the fun. According to SWAC co-owner Sue Helander, the combination is meant to give families affected by autism a dose of summer entertainment while encouraging tolerance among adventure camp attendees.

“Hopefully they’ll come away from this a little more sensitive to the challenges that people with special needs face,” she said.

The camp is bringing Team Autism 24/7 kids in on three afternoon sessions this week. According to camp counselor Hope Woodruff, she sat all the participants down to talk about kind, patient behavior at the beginning of the session, and the afternoon took off from there.

“They’re responding so well,” she said. “Everyone has a fantastic attitude.”

The sheer variety of the activities certainly helped keep everyone busy. Throughout the day, kids played a basketball game called “Bump” and tackled a freeze dance game similar to “Red Light, Green Light” that challenged their reflexes. Later in the day, students stretched their muscles with some basic yoga techniques and then cooled off with a dip in the pool.

There are two weeks left for the camp, which began June 17 and usually attracts about 30 kids each week. In addition to providing local youth with activities to keep them busy during summer vacation, it also nurtures 40 different assets child psychologists have identified as helping youth grow into being good, productive citizens.

“I think it’s just really cool to see that kids are being so accepting,” Helander said.

For Team Autism 24/7, the SWAC adventure camp is the third in a series of special activities free of charge for families with an autistic child. Earlier this month, the nonprofit teamed up with Sandpoint Parks and Recreation for a variety of outdoor activities. The K2 Equestrian Center in Hayden also offered its services to give autistic kids a lesson in horseback riding.

“We just really want to thank these organizations for all their help,” said Lisa Barth, a Team Autism 24/7 co-founder. “Everyone in the community has been so wonderful to work with.”