Before Akeela, My son was very rigid and hostile to change. he was rude to many and uncooperative to most. He was, to put it mildly, unhappy about going to Akeela the 1st time. He later told his grandmother that he deliberately tried to not have fun at Akeela just to spite his mother. Yet, by the end, he has many friends he has kept up with as pen pals and was in tears for it to be over. The exercise aspect (a risk area)is inclusive not competitive. the common activities (a high risk area) are friendly not show-off time. The food is excellent. the counselors are deeply engaged. Another older review on this site cited issues with removed/detached staff. I aggressively disagree. My son went in with a wheelbarrow of those issues and emerged demanding to know when Akeela started again. He (and his parents) hope to continue to return for years to come.
My daughter has attended Camp Akeela for four years and she will be attending again this summer in the Beyond Akeela program. My husband and I have seen a big difference in her since she began attending this camp. She has learned to try to new things and has developed a more positive attitude. Prior to attending this camp, her self-esteem was very low. Now she will say that Camp Akeela has helped give her the confidence to try new activities and to try to interact with other kids. Immediately after the first summer at camp, my husband and I noticed how helpful my daughter was around the house and how she was more considerate of others. Yes, this camp is expensive, but it has truly made a positive difference in my daughter's life! I highly recommend Camp Akeela.
My son who was diagnosed with AS has trouble fitting in with nuero-typical children. For 3 1/2 weeks, my son feels a sense of belonging, community and acceptance. He confidently partakes in activities and foster his own independence. He looks forward to 3 1/2 weeks that he can be himself and at the same time is given the guidance and assistance he needs to improve his social skills. What is remarkable is that we see changes when he returns home. For three summer we have had terrific communication with the camp and staff. I was always kept informed and asked for input to make my sons experience successful. Many of the campers and staff have returned every summer and the bonds are amazing. I guess the proof is in the request that I received from my son last night, he pleaded to be able to attend Akeela for both sessions. Choosing a camp for a special child is confusing and scary, Akeela has proven to be a safe and nurturing gift for our son. THANK YOU CAMP AKEELA!!!
Camp Akeela is a place unlike any other. There are not enough words that can be said that fully encompass all that Akeela truly is. Akeela provides an unbelievable opportunity for both campers and counselors alike to grow personally while growing together as a community. The staff is very carefully hand picked and trained to be the best staff possible for the variety of campers Akeela sees each summer. From personal experience as a counselor the last two summers at Akeela, I have not met one parent of any one of my campers that had a bad thing to say about Akeela. Akeela is dedicated to finding the best possible way for each child to fit in, while at the same time, figuring out who they are. It is so rare that you find a place that you can call home after such a short amount of time. Akeela is home, and it is where so many of us have left our hearts, and will leave our hearts, for a very, very long time. "But much more like a family, this place is in my soul". <3
The best summers of my life have been at Camp Akeela as a staff member. I’ve never worked with such qualified individuals and have always considered returning to a place that is so welcoming. The small camp environment allowed me to feel comfortable and become a member of a place, that I now consider, my second home. I have worked closely with the campers and staff that are now my forever friends. Camp Akeela was my address for a few short months, but has positively impacted my professional development and understanding of kids with social difficulties. If I were still a kid, I would tell my parents to send me to Camp Akeela, where they celebrate differences and encourage independence! Camp Akeela, thanks for enriching my life and I’ll always come back to check on the art barn.
My son went there and I did not realize until I picked him up just how miserable he was there. The staff never contacted me about any of the issues until I picked him up. When I questioned the staff and stated that the trained pychologist regarding the issues she did not have an answer. I would NEVER RECOMMEND this camp to any parent who has a child with AS, aspergers or ADHD(the staff does not have a clue how to deal with these children.
I also worked their this summer and I do agree that a lot of the counselors do make fun of the kids. The cabins were very cold at night so if you did not bring a lot of blankets you would freeze. It was uncomfortable to even use the bathroom because they built the toilets so close tot he door.
