Summer Day Camp Program for Children with Autism

  Canada

• British Columbia: 
Courtenay

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: July 12 - August 2, 2008

Description: The Comox Valley Child Development Association provides services for children with special needs and their families. With the help of international volunteers they would like to provide social and recreational summer day camp program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ages 10-15 years. The children are quite high functioning in certain areas, but often struggle with social skills and the mastery of appropriate communication and behaviour. The project will include one week intensive training of the volunteers followed by the 2-week day camp with the kids.

The volunteers will learn about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and how to support these children in a social/recreational program. Under the direction of the camp leader, the volunteers will support the children to participate in small group activities, preparing lunch meals, exploring the community on daily outings. The group work is intended to provide children with specific tasks and encourage both appropriate social and communication skills. Volunteers will also help to create a handbook about summer activities for youth in the Comox Valley drawing on the experiences of the workcamp. The volunteers involved in this project will gain valuable insight into the world of autism.

Stretching along the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, the Comox Valley is a collection of rolling mountains, alpine meadows, rushing rivers, pristine lakes, lush forests, fertile farms, sandy beaches and green parks. The City of Courtenay (20,000 inhabitants) is the urban and cultural hub of the Comox Valley with its downtown considered to be one of the most vibrant and charming downtowns on Vancouver Island and an incredible cultural district that includes theatre, art gallery, museums and paleontology centre.

Qualifications: Volunteers need to be fluent in English.

Cost in US$: $290 US

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: motivated to work for a charity project within an international youth team, tolerant, open-minded and cooperative young person with adventurous spirit.

Age Range: 19 - 30 years

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi and World Wide Participants.

Participants Travel to Canada Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

CADIP - Canadian Alliance for Development Initiatives and Projects's Mission Statement: CADIP promotes peace, cooperation, tolerance and understanding in international, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural surroundings. The organization also promotes patterns and examples of civil activities focused on serving others, on building social ties and strengthening communities, on supporting civil society development. Aims and general objectives: * To promote volunteering as an expression of civic contribution * To strengthen the international contacts among young people * To build tolerance and understanding in multicultural and multi-ethnic surroundings *To promote multiunderstanding among youth all over the world * To facilitate the individual growth of the volunteers through the acquisition of work, life and learning skills * To work for the recognition and promotion of non-formal learning * To support the community initiatives and assist in community development.