Program Description

Camp Discovery is not a summer camp. The activities provided by Camp Discovery are therapeutic and are specifically designed to impact the needs of the group and of the individuals who experience opportunities to learn, heal and grow while having fun!

Community concerns such as domestic abuse, gang violence, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, school drop-out rates, depression and suicide attempts, crime, being unemployable and many other broader social issues are best tackled on the front lines with those who are impacted by and struggling with personal issues which they cannot manage without help.

The mission of Camp Discovery is to develop a non-profit recreation therapy camp offering a natural setting, a safe and accepting emotional environment and goal-oriented activities. These elements allow participants to develop their... awareness of personal strengths and weaknesses, confidence in positive independent thinking skills and awareness of the needs of others.

The therapeutic recreation therapy services which Camp Discovery provides are requested by public and private schools, counseling centers, children's homes, after-school programs, alternative schools, mental health programs and physicians.

The participants include children (primarily) who:

Have emotional/behavioral challenges (including those who struggle with attention, energy and impulse management, those identified as at-risk, those who are in "gifted and talented" programs, those with clinically diagnosed issues, members of families with severe functional impairment or children who have been removed from the home, members of households in poverty, those with gang members or influences and others from situations that might produce special needs).
Children who have mental challenges or disabilities
Children who learn differently
Children who have physical challenges or disabilities
Ancillary groups are organized youth groups (civic clubs, scouting, or churches of any denomination) and senior citizens. Most guest come as a group, however, individual or small group attention is available for victims of trauma or other issues of a more intimate nature.

The activities at Camp Discovery are clinically designed to boldly interrupt, interfere with and challenge patterns of behavior or thinking which are not working for children while simultaneously teaching them "tools for life"!

Recreation is the teaching modality of choice because:

Some of those with whom we share activities have been victims of or witnessed extreme trauma. These experiences are unfortunate for someone of any age but particularly for children. The use of recreational activities as an approach to teaching is less intrusive to one's issues and allows the individual to choose when he or she is ready to deal with difficult areas of injury. Activities include concepts like "Tell an adult who you trust", "respect my personal space" and "I say who can touch where my bathing suit covers".
Some of the concepts which are presented to participants relate to areas which are a source of humiliation or shame (rape, being molested, being told "You'll never amount to anything", " you must have all A’s", repeatedly failing in school, feeling like the best way to "belong" somewhere is in a gang-type social structure, suicide attempts or self-destructive behavior, being taken out of the home of one's parents, having a parent in prison or detoxification, truly believing one is "stupid" etc.)
The use of recreation as a method of teaching concepts often feels less threatening than other approaches.
Activities are presented in "menu format" so participants experience "choice". These choices enhance a sense of pleasure as well as providing a sense of control particularly when one often feels facets of his or her life are out of control.
Concepts are presented in age and socially appropriate manners for the individuals attending. For example: If we are teaching "tools for life" to youth who have a pattern of fighting, cursing, being assigned to in-school suspension or being expelled... we don't say "Be responsible" we say "Keep your Power! 1) Stop 2) Breath 3) Coach yourself and 4) Then choose." Teenagers are much more likely to listen and have successful changes when concepts are presented in a way that teaches the advantages which are available for them. (Activities then follow which offer opportunities to apply the "tools for life which they've learned. They then "Count their successes to turn their weaknesses into strengths.")
The concept presentations include enough information to children and youth for them to know that the therapist does "get" some of the reasons that they are making choices which they are making in the first place. For example: The choice to be in gangs does in some settings provide protection in an otherwise unsafe environment. We use "herds" and their behavior for illustrations. We also say that sometimes finding safety in herds has advantages... like when traveling in a foreign country it is often wise to travel with someone else. However, we need to also have the ability to "Be our own man (or woman)" and "Think for myself". Then activities which require independent thinking skills in order to succeed will follow.

The groups who are the best match for a Camp Discovery experience are those with leaders who can clearly identify their students' issues and the goals of the group as a whole. The participants are assessed prior to coming for their field trips. The therapist goes to their location and gathers data necessary to create a customized program for their needs. Most of the work has already been done before the bus arrives!

Every group is a collaborative effort. A key to the camp's success is the spirit of cooperation between the camp staff and groups from the community requesting support.