laskiplus3

Wow, so much good information from everyone! Thanks so much for all your input. DG98adams - thanks for the suggestion about finding someone from OA. I had mentioned to our SM and the council that I thought we might be able to have the boys help out and use it to earn their disabilities awareness merit badge or towards service hours. No one seemed too keen on those suggestions. As for meltdowns, Josh doesn't have any. I know - you're probably thinking he must be on the autism spectrum or something and that's the reluctance of the troop. He's not. The more people I talk with the more confused I am about SM attitude. The other SM I spoke with all seem to feel there's no problem - even if he's more disabled than I have described to them! I don't get it... shortridge - thanks for the heads up about national, I didn't realize that. I still want to talk with them anyway. I'm going to run a hypothetical by them about our case and see what they think could/should be done. Lisabob - sounds like we're really on the same page here. I really don't understand the reluctance. My son's disabilities are mostly intellectual - he's 13 but reads at a 2nd grade level. In social situations people generally don't realize he's disabled. When I tell them they're shocked. I agree that I need to pick SM's brain and find out what's really going on. I'll wait and see how tenderfoot camp goes first, then I'll have some cold hard facts to discuss with him. kbandit - I think there is some real truth in supervision being hard to come by in our troop. Your suggestion about bringing in a volunteer is a good one. I've already talked with some folks and though they're all happy to help out on day outings, no one is in a position to take time off of work to help out with summer camp. This is where DG98adams suggestion about OA may come into play for next year. It may all be a moot point if he is successful at this year's camp though. This year seems like it's pretty much in good shape. I think I need to start mulling next year over in the back of my mind. Do I really want to even consider sending him with our troop next year (if that is a possibility) given the reluctance of SM? Or do I want to find another equally as wonderful camp that would be happy to have him? I'm glad I have plenty of time to decide for next year....

Thanks for the link shortridge - I will definitely check it out. I'm also planning to call BSA headquarters in TX to see about other similar camps. As for your questions: His troop is going this summer, and they do have a 1st year program that I thought would be perfect for my son, but the scoutmaster nixed the idea. Our council did mention the provisional program to me and gave me some phone numbers to check out for next year. It probably is too late for this year, and since I've already found the tenderfoot camp for this year I'm not going to look any further. I'm trying hard not to assume what the scoutmaster may be thinking. As a parent of 3 special needs kids I tend to have my guard up. I'm always afraid that someone's prejudice is going to keep my son from getting the chance to show what he can do. Could the scoutmaster's concern be legitimate? Absolutely, and I truly think it is, but as a mother I can't help but let the doubts creep in. There will be a lot of things in this world that my son will never be able to do. He will not graduate high school with a diploma, but rather will age out when he turns 21, he will not be able to get a driver's license, etc. But when it comes to the scouts, he's been in since the cub scouts and wants more than anything in the world to make eagle someday. I will do everything in my power to support him in that.

Thanks Lisabob, lots of good information in your post. I did speak with the scoutmaster and he was the one who was concerned about their being enough supervision for my son. We do have a lot of trouble getting people to volunteer for stuff like this and I remember they just about had to beg to get a couple of parents to help out with camp. It was the first year program of the troop's camp that I wanted him to attend, but scoutmaster didn't think so. His first year in scouts I knew camp was a no no (the boys only crossed over from webelos in may right before summer camp. His second year I spoke with the scoutmaster and he felt they would not have enough staff, but promised to watch throughout the year to see how Josh progressed and let me know if he could attend this year. He never did get back to me about this summer so I took that as a no. I contacted council and found out about a tenderfoot camp. After speaking with them, both they and I feel it would be perfect for my son to go to this year. I told the scoutmaster and said that if it works out well, maybe he could go to camp with the rest of the troop next year? He didn't really seem too enthused... I understand your question about whether I left something out, but I really haven't. I honestly feel that if the person who leads each activity just checks to make sure he shows up, and at the end reviews with him where he goes next (he would not be able to follow a written schedule by himself) that he would be fine. I'm thinking maybe I should have called the camp directly and asked them if they could handle him rather than asking the scoutmaster. I'm still trying to understand his reluctance.

My 13 year old son is developmentally delayed and has ADHD, but is in a regular troop. He has done fine with all the day activities including hiking and whitewater rafting. The leaders have asked that I come with on the overnights as he occasionally can wander away when he loses interest in something. I went on a couple of campouts, but no longer can as I have 2 young children and their father is not here. He really wants to go to summer camp but I'm having trouble finding a suitable one for him. We need a good adult/camper ratio. I would prefer not to put him in one for special needs kids because he is in a regular school and regular troop - that would be like a setback for him. I would love to find a regular camp that can accomodate kids with special needs (so far the ones I looked at consider special needs to be things like diabetes - that's not what I'm looking for). Even a camp that's geared for first year scouts might be better. It's tough to throw him in with a group of 16 and 17 year olds and expect him to perform at the same level of responsibility as they do. Though he's 13 in age, he acts more like 9 or 10, a first year scout camp would be very appropriate for him if there is such a thing. We live in NJ and my first choice would be a camp in NJ, NY, PA, CT, DE, MD, or VA, but would consider travelling further for the right camp. Thanks for any suggestions you may have!!!