Frequently Asked Questions

Weekend sessions:
Friday 6:30-7 pm
Sunday 2 pm

4 Day session:
Dec 27 1-2 pm
Dec 30 2 pm

6 Day sessions:
Sunday 1-3 pm
Friday 2 pm

12 Day sessions:
Sunday 1-3 pm
Thursday 2 pm

The Health History and Examination form is good for one year from the date that the physician signs it. Please remember however, that while a new physical is not required for each session, it is your responsibility to inform Easter Seals Wisconsin camps of any significant changes in physical, medical, emotional, or behavioral conditions that occur between sessions.

Our two camps (both located on our 400 acres of land) house 10 unique programs that cater to a wide range of abilities while providing a much needed break for parents and caregivers. 

Camp Wawbeek's core philosophy is to encourage campers to challenge themselves with new experiences and set goals for new accomplishments.  Camp Wawbeek houses our camper group programs: Wawbeek, Trailblazers, Transition Team, Pioneer, and Young Adults Aspergers (ages 15-25).  Campers are paired with peers of similar age and interests in groups of 4 to 6 depending on care needs.  Each group has two counselors that take care of the needs of the entire group,  whether it be personal care or just a friend to talk to you.  The Young Adults Asperger's session offers a care ratio of 1:2.  Camp Wawbeek serves campers ages 7 and up.

Our Wisconsin Elks/Easter Seals Wisconsin Respite camp provides care to individuals with medical conditions, behavior disorders or known physical aggression, and/or multiple disabilities that require one on one support to function.  Respite Camp's core philosophy is to provide a much needed break to parents and caregivers with loved ones that require one-to-one supervision twenty-four hours a day, while providing a camper with a unique camp experience catered to their individual needs.  In addition to their 1:1 program, Respite Camp offers an Asperger's and High-functioning Autism program with a care ratio of 1:2 for ages 7-18.  Each camper is a paired with a counselor that maintains the camper's daily routine.  Respite camp serves ages 3 and up. 

Please go to our registration page.  From there pick out the appropriate camp application by either applying directly online or printing out the pdf and sending it in.  Please note that it may take up to two weeks before you receive a response from us.

Flying down a zipline … canoeing down a river … camping under the stars … making friends … cooking on an open fire … becoming more independent. Most parents of children with disabilities may say that these things are not for their child. “My child in a wheelchair can not participate on a climbing tower. My child that wanders can not sleep outside under the stars. My child with seizures can not go canoeing down a river. My child that relies on me to meet all of their needs can not become more independent.” But all of these things can happen and do happen every year at summer camps.

Thousands of children and adults with mild to severe disabilities attend camps all over the country every year; and every year the campers grow as people. Each person can benefit from attending a camp program. Along with the camper, the families can benefit greatly from sending a child to camp. But there is a fear of many parents and families to send an individual with disabilities away to a camp. It is hard to allow someone to take complete responsibility for your loved one, especially if it is an individual with involved disabilities that even you some times struggle in meeting all of their needs. One parent with a son with severe cognitive delays and physical disabilities stated, “Our son is 14 years old and I didn’t think we could send Jimmy anywhere because he is so involved and critical. We’ve used the camp for four years now. Jim was in good shape when he came home and was genuinely well taken care of.”

Benefits for Camper

Campers with disabilities can benefit in many ways from attending a camp. Camp is a unique environment that allows a camper to experience many different things that the parents may not have the expertise, time, supplies or energy to provide that opportunity to their child. A parent of a camper with autism that attends Easter Seals Respite Camp in Wisconsin Dells commented, “Jared has benefited by experiencing so many things that we don’t have the energy to try with him because of challenging behaviors in public. It opens up his life so much because we can’t do it.”

The benefits seen in camp expand much further then the new experiences. The American Camp Association (ACA) conducted a study of camper outcomes including self-esteem, independence, friendship skills, social comfort, peer relationships, adventure & exploration, and environmental awareness. These areas all reported significant growth; and there was substantial evidence that much of the growth was maintained six months later. (ACA, 2005)

Camps for people with disabilities allow the camper to have a place where they fit in. “When I’m at Camp Wawbeek, my disability just melts away,” says Ashley, who has been attending Easter Seals Camp Wawbeek for 10 years. “The people there don’t really care what disability you have. Instead, you are accepted for who you are.” The campers get the chance to meet people that are just like them and that understand what they are going through.

The National Camp Evaluation Project (NCEP) conducted a study of children with disabilities in specialized residential outdoor programs and found that significant growth was found in the campers. From pre- and post- test scores from parents and counselors the areas of significant growth included social interaction, communication, self-help, independence, and self-esteem (Brannan, et al., 2003).

Camp is also a great opportunity for campers to gain independence. Many parents and caregivers are very hesitant about sending a child with disabilities to a camp setting. Often times parents have never been away from their child overnight and the camp experience can be very nerve racking. “We didn’t realize that Elijah needed this way more then we did to promote his independence. He is gong on eight years old and hasn’t been away from us before,” reported a first time camp parent.

Young adults with disabilities are community placed in group homes or residential facilities. This becomes a very hard transition if the individual has never been away from their homes and families before. Camp is a great chance to start the transition process. The camper receives the opportunity to be away from home in a fun environment. At the end of the session the camper learns that they are going to be picked up so that their stress is less. This process may be challenging for both the camper and parent at first, but in the long run it gets easier and really does increase the camper’s independence.

Benefits for Families

“Our family looks forward each summer for the week Kyle is at camp. It really gives us the freedom for those six days to come and go as we please. We have three children without any disabilities so we have the luxury to just pick up and go without the need to worry about who is going to watch Kyle or where he can go for the day,” commented an Easter Seals Respite Camp parent.

Taking care of an individual with disabilities can be very draining on the entire family. Often times, through no fault of the parents, siblings of the child with disabilities are pushed to the side because the care and attention required is very great. Finding a place where an individual with a disability can go that the caregivers trust will allow the family to have a guilt-free break and allow siblings to have the undivided attention of their parents.

Some parents and caregivers feel guilty when they think of sending the child with disabilities to a camp in order to have some peace in their own lives. One parent of a first-time camper commented, “The break was nice. It’s hard to admit that, because you feel guilty for saying that you need or want that break.” Often having a child that needs a lot of care away from the home allows parents to do basic things that many take for granted such as housework, shopping, getting away for a couple of days, sleeping through a night, or visiting with family. 

Having these breaks can help keep the families together and keep the camper at home longer. Knowing that a camp session is coming up can get a caregiver through those really stressful moments. And being rejuvenated during that time away can give the caregiver a new energy to keep going.

It is very important to find the right camp for both the family and the individual with disabilities. Both need to feel comfortable in order to have a positive experience. This comfort level may take a while to develop for a camper, so the caregiver and family’s feelings are just as important. Concerns are natural for caregivers in making this choice.

Easter Seals Wisconsin Camps is A.C.A. (American Camp Association) accredited. Our camps have consistently received 100% in the accreditation, which is a challenge and fairly unheard of. For 100% certification there is need for around the clock registered nursing, and more. It is helpful to start with the American Camp Association (ACA) website. This will find camps in your area that are accredited by ACA; which ensures that camps meet requirements and standards for a safe and high quality camp program.

TOP FIVE QUESTIONS TO ASK THE CAMP DIRECTOR

1. What disabilities and ages does your camp serve? This will help you find out right away if your camper is a good fit. Don’t be afraid to tell the director about your child and be honest about care levels or behaviors. This is important information for the director to help determine if it is a good fit for everyone involved.  Ages and disabilities we serve are listed on our programs page. and our new to camp page.
2. How many campers is one counselor responsible for? Depending on the type of disabilities and the needs of the child, it is very important to know if the counselor is going to be available for the campers they are responsible for.  Easter Seals Wisconsin Camps ratios are covered under the FAQ "What is the difference between Camp Wawbeek and Elks Respite Camp?"
3. What type of training does the camp provide the staff? This will help you to determine the experience and the background of the staff. Many camps have extensive training programs, while some may not. Also ask about the camp director’s qualifications. At Easter Seals Wisconsin Camps our staff go through a minimum of one week of training before the summer starts.  Program staff receive 2 weeks of training, while our AmeriCorps members receive 3 weeks of training.  Training includes a number of topics including policies and procedures, abuse and neglect, personal care and promoting independence, lifts and transfers, CPI (nonviolent crisis intervention training), adapting activities, diversity, disability awareness, record keeping, outcome based programming, nursing and medical information. Program and Leadership staff also receive driver and van training, Professional Rescuer CPR and First Aid, and training with some of our specialty programs such as ropes, pontoons, and tractor driving.
4. What types of programs are offered to the campers? There are many camps with different specialties. Some camps are travel camps, some have special themes, while others have traditional camp programming. See if this fits your child’s interests. Camps may be different lengths of time; day camps, two to three day sessions, week long, or two weeks long.  All of Easter Seals Wisconsin Camps programs are listed on our programs page.  When you select a program dates are provided or linked on each program page.
5. What medical personnel are available to campers and when? If your child takes medication or has health concerns, is there appropriate medical staff on site to deal with these situations?  Easter Seals Wisconsin Camps has at least one nurse on site for every weekend session and up to 3 nurses for week long sessions.  Our nursing staff provides 24 hour care.

A visit to the camp is recommended to observe the camp in action. You can see the types of campers, the interactions that staff have with the campers, the programming, if the campers are engaged in the activities, and the facilities. This also gives you the opportunity to meet the camp director and get an overall feeling of the camp. Call ahead and the camp director can set up a time for you to meet with the medical staff, programming staff, and maybe even some counselors. This is also helpful for your child to see camp before they go. This may help with the transition of being at a new place.

Attending camps are beneficial for the camper, caregivers, and families. Camps are amazing places where new experiences take place and independence is developed. The first time can be a nerve racking experience, but minimizing the worry is half the battle. Talk to parents, families, caregivers, and campers about their experiences. The benefits of camps for people with disabilities are tremendous.