Arriving at Camp

When we pull up to the driveway of the camp, there are two people greeting families. I had to stop myself from crying. We spent the next 10 minutes waiting in a line for the gates to open. At the gate, each child is checked in and given a nametag with their cabin assignment on it. Because of a small error, we briefly thought Hailey was in the same cabin as Ashley. I admit I liked this and was relieved. Again, really not good to believe my 9 year old is more capable than a group of adults, but experience has taught us, she is. Next we pull up to the place where the kids get out, each is announced with cheering. Ashley stays with us, while we park. We walk her through “silent cheering”, so she is not overwhelmed. Then a guide leads us to Ashley’s cabin, where her personal counselor is waiting for us. Ashley is really upset; Jason goes to get her stuff, including her security blanket. I give her “emergency calming medication”. She is biting and hitting. I give instructions on Ashley and the talker for a few minutes. Her counselor suggests I leave so Ashley can get settled. A leader takes me to the medication drop off area, while Jason gets everyone’s things distributed to the right places. On the way to the medication station, the leader tells me they have been getting to know Ashley (through her application) for months, and they have been praying about her camp stay. Although they do not have coke, they agree to take a 6-pack from us, to ease the transition for Ashley. This leader goes to find Jason and the coke. Later he tells me, she was very reassuring to him as well. As I stood in line to drop off the medication, I met another mom also crying because she was leaving her autistic son for the first time. I look out the window and see Ashley walking, with 3 people following her. I’m reassured they will at least not lose her, and they seem to grasp the importance of staying on her. Josh’s counselor comes to speak with me and get a little information on him. We say good-bye to each child again. As we leave I am still anxious, but feel the camp is very capable. Josh had settled right in, Hailey looked a little worried, and Ashley was pretty unhappy. I’m actually glad Ashley is non-verbal at this point, so she can’t beg me not to leave her. I remained anxious the entire night. Camp Barnabas has a system where you can email them, and they will reply with a report on your child. I planned to email first thing the next morning. Originally posted July 2011