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At Camp Southern Ground, inclusion isn’t a feature – it’s the foundation of our Summer Camp program. In this blog, Admissions and Inclusions Manager Melissa Zehe shares how our intentional accommodations create an environment where every camper can thrive. From sensory-friendly tools to staff training, these supports aren’t extras, they’re essential in making camp a place of confidence, connection, and belonging for all.

Read on to see how we meet kids where they are — and how these thoughtful practices empower campers of all abilities to grow, connect, and just be kids.

• Noise canceling headphones are used to significantly reduce the sound in an environment, helping campers feel more comfortable, engaged, and able to enjoy the moment.
• First / then boards are visual displays of something a camper prefers to do that will happen after a non-preferred task is completed. Using simple language is best, for example, “First directions then swim” instead of “First we will listen to directions then we can swim.”
• Visual schedules indicate the order of daily activities using pictures, icons, and words for each day of camp.
• Visual timers help with transitions, or preparing for transitions, and setting a time limit for breaks.
• Communication cards are a non-verbal tool that staff may use when a camper is escalated and no longer responding verbally to questions. These cards have frequent requested items that may be desired by the camper to help them begin the process of returning to baseline.
• Visual checklists are visual representations of a routine that include the individual steps needed to accomplish a task. The difference between a visual checklist and a visual schedule is that on a checklist, the order of the steps does not matter. The task/routine is considered completed when all items on the list are checked off.
• Sensory spaces are thoughtfully designed, calming areas where campers can take a break and reset when they feel overwhelmed. These spaces are equipped with tools, textures, lighting, and activities that cater to a variety of sensory preferences – whether a camper needs quiet, movement, visual focus, or tactile input.
• Weighted blankets provide deep pressure stimulation (DPS), which can help children feel calmer, more secure, and more focused. This therapeutic tool also supports sensory processing, emotional regulation, and hyperactivity.
• Social stories are short, individualized narratives designed to help children understand and navigate social situations, expectations, or behaviors.
• Sensory carts (or bags) are typically filled with various materials and objects designed to provide a sensory experience through touch, sight, and sometimes sound. They are often used as tools to support sensory development, regulation, and exploration for our campers.
• Staff training. One of our most impactful accommodations is the extensive training every staff member receives before campers arrive. Each team member completes over 100 hours of hands-on and classroom instruction, including earning Tier 2 Crisis Prevention Program Certification through the Marcus Autism Center, equipping staff to provide inclusive, compassionate care and support to campers with a wide range of needs.

Our goal is to remove barriers so that every child can fully participate, grow in confidence, and build lasting friendships. These intentional supports allow neurodiverse campers and those with varying needs to thrive alongside their peers, not apart from them.