ADVENTURE CAMPS for AUTISM

Adventure camps for person with special needs especially Autism is a unique experience being offered .This concept was pioneered by The AMAZE Charitable Trust, Coimbatore in collaboration with NALS Outdoors Put Ltd, Coimbatore

Since 2011 AMAZE in collaboration with NALS have conducted 7 Adventure Camps for children persons with special needs and their Families. Six Camps have been conducted in the NALS Coonoor Campus and one in the NALS Manali Campus .More than 150 persons have benefited by the camps.

The campsites are set in the serene atmosphere of the Nilgiri hills or the Himalayas. Families find the camps a refreshing outing away from home, packed with activities for young and old, testing their limits of fear and endurance. High rope activities like Burma bridge Sloth walk ,Commando net , Flying fox ,Rock climbing and  Rappelling and Treks keep the children and families engaged and active through the camp duration .The camps are also lots of fun and families develop new friendships and bonds.

AMAZE is organising an Adventure camp near Pune between ,2-4 October 2015 .Please see the events section for details 

   

Benefits of Adventure Activities and Family Camps

Based on the feedback and anecdotal experiences of the camp participants, the following benefits have been observed:

Physical benefits:

 Improved Health and Fitness

The camps often reveal the importance of health and fitness as well as the benefits of regular exercise and exposure to nature .Subsequent the camps the participants often  include such activities in their regular routine and this improves their health and fitness levels .

Improved Motor skills, Better attention and Concentration

The children and persons with disability who attend the camp sometime show gains in motor areas like motor planning and coordination   and spatial perception   .Regular exposure to rope activities like brought better fine motor grasp for some participants.

Also the trekking activities helped to regulate the hyperactivity of some participants and channelize it in a positive manner .Attention and concentration for cognitive activities improved after regular exposure to such activities.

Social benefits

Children develop group skills and social skills

The activities on the camp site are usually done as a group. This involves following group instructions , working as a team , waiting for ones turn ,adjusting change of plan depending on conditions like weather and so on .These form a great learning experience  for children with Autism who often have difficulties in these areas .

Social skills are developed as they need to  share dormitories or tents , eat as a group and play and engage with each other in the free time .Sometimes typical siblings are also attending the camps and this gives them an opportunity to interact in an inclusive setting .

Families develop bond with other families in the same boat.

Families with persons with special needs are often socially isolated .Catering to the needs of the person with special needs often drains their resources in terms of time, money and energy. Social stigma and lack of social awareness about disability also isolates such families.

At the camps the families get to meet other families just like theirs , they seem to bond quite effortlessly despite varying backgrounds and form lifetime bonds .They understand each other’s struggles and successes and share a stigma free atmosphere in the camps .

Attitudinal

Children develop positive attitude and overcome fear

During the camps we often find some children attempt with ease, the activities that look scary even to neurotypical adults. This often encourages other children and adults to try the activities and helps them overcome their fears .This translates into confidence in other areas that could have been viewed with fear earlier.

Families have more belief in the potential of their children

When children complete challenging activities, families often develop more confidence about the ability and potential of their children in other areas of life where they may be lacking.

Stress relief      

Being with nature and doing fun activities

Camps are usually set in the serene environment of the hills .Surrounded by greenery and breathing fresh mountain air is therapeutic by itself. Doing fun activities in such an atmosphere where there is no access to distractions like the TV or internet or video games make one truly refreshed after the experience.

A much needed break from the routine

The camps provide a well deserved break for the families and children away from the routine and home .Away from technology, with no need to do household chores or office work, the families enjoy the comfortably paced routines at the camps and leave happy and refreshed.