All details can be found at: https://campencourage.org/the-camp-experience/.

Financial Assistance Available

Through fundraising and grant writing efforts, we proudly offer scholarship support for each session.
Scholarship opportunities range from partial to full. When a Camper Application is submitted (to express interest in attending), a Scholarship Application is submitted as well.

An in-depth scoring process is completed and funding is offered to each family according to the score received. Limited full scholarships are available. The more each family can raise or fund, the further our scholarship funding will stretch thus reaching more deserving campers with ASD.

Please do not let the cost deter you from applying. We work diligently throughout the year to make this opportunity available to a variety of campers. A large number of our past campers have received partial or full scholarship support. In fact, all families that have expressed a need for financial support through the application process in past years were offered scholarship funding.

Food is prepared buffet style and allows for choice. Parents are also welcome to send alternate meals.

The mission of Camp Encourage is to provide youth on the autism spectrum meaningful experiences in which they build the knowledge, courage, and skills to be empowered participants in the community. Our camps take place at Heartland Center in Parkville, MO. Each camp session includes both traditional camp activities and activities tailored around the individual campers’ interests.

Outside of camp, we provide free Camp Family events that provide a welcoming space for our campers and their families and our volunteers and supporters.

Key components that make Camp Encourage unique include but are not limited to:

-direct social instruction
-sensory supports
-visual strategies
-positive behavioral supports
-peer models
-the involvement of graduate and doctoral students
-traditional camp activities
-activities tailored around the individual campers' interests
-an accepting, loving atmosphere
-staffed with high quality, well trained volunteers and employees

GOALS for Campers: We understand that each camper has his or her own interests, motivators, strengths, and areas for need of support and growth. Although we provide a great deal of individualized supports, many of our activities also aim to achieve the following set of general goals:

-increasing skills of independence
-enhancing one's self-esteem, self-understanding and awareness
-increasing social abilities and connections
-widening awareness of recreation opportunities and skills of recreation
-strengthening emotional wellness

PEER MODELS
Camp Encourage accepts a limited number of Peer Models to attend camp. Peer Models are individuals not on the autism spectrum, between the age of eight and eighteen. They reside in the cabins overnight with the campers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), participate in all camp activities, and are expected to serve as role models for the campers with ASD.They participate in Camp Encourage like all other campers and are NOT "Junior Counselors" or helpers.