PROSPECTIVE CAMPER INFORMATION

LOCATION: HEARTLAND CENTER*

16965 NW 45 Hwy, Parkville, Missouri 64152 Β 

*Camp Encourage's offices are located in Kansas City, MO, but camp sessions are held at Heartland. Please send any written communication to our offices in Westport at 4025 Central, KCMO, 64111.

We very much appreciate your interest and encourage you to read through each detail below. After doing so, and to express interest in attending our camps, be sure to complete a Camper Application. At any point, please don't hesitate to reach out to us (through email or by calling 816.830.7171). We understand how crucial absolutely every detail is!Β 
For more information about the overall camp experience, activities, and services, click here.

2024 CAMP SESSIONS

We're counting down the days!Β 

March 23-24
Overnight Session 1

Arrival: Saturday at 10am

Departure: Sunday at 3:30pm

June 11-14
Summer Camp Session 1

Arrival: Tuesday at noon

Departure: Friday at 9:45am
(Followed by a slideshow)

July 30-August 2
Summer Camp Session 2

Arrival: Tuesday at noon

Departure: Friday at 9:45am
(Followed by a slideshow)

October 19-20
Overnight Session 2

Arrival: Saturday at 10am

Departure: Sunday at 3:30pm

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

We are currently serving individuals on the autism spectrum that are:

  • between the ages of 10 and 18 at the time of camp,
  • at least fairly independent with self-care skills (showering, dressing, toileting),
  • able to stay with or near the group (with accommodations and adaptations),
  • able to reside overnight (with supports as needed),
  • able to tolerate the outdoors and all that nature brings (bugs, warmth, etc.),
  • interested in the activities on the schedule,
  • successful with a 3:2 or 2:1 child:adult ratio,
  • able to NOT have any access to electronic devices (including a phone) during the duration of the camp session, and
  • not presently exhibiting behavioral or functional needs that would warrant the constant support of 1:1 assistance.

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 ten and eighteen. They reside in the cabins overnight with the autistic campers, participate in all camp activities, and are expected to serve as positive role models. They participate in Camp Encourage like all other campers and are NOT β€œJunior Counselors” or helpers.

Few camps are presently available for the population we continue to serve. When founded in 2008, Camp Encourage envisioned serving a wider population (including those that would benefit from 1:1 support). However, because other area camps exist and because we continue to have a waiting list each year for those described above, we will continue to serve this population. Our services will widen once we feel we are meeting the needs of those above.

If your child does not meet the criteria above, please contact us for references to presently existing camps.

If you are uncertain if this experience would be fitting, please contact us before submitting a Camper Application.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

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
  • increasing personal self-understanding and acceptance
  • increasing social abilities
  • widening awareness of recreation opportunities and skills of recreation
  • connecting with others with similar interests, needs, and/or abilities

SELECTION PROCESS

First to meet the needs of our immediate community, priority will be given to all campers that reside in Missouri and Kansas. If slots remain open, interested campers from outside states will be considered.

LOTTERY DETAILS

For the summer camps, should the amount of campers interested exceed the slots available, a lottery will occur and a waiting list will be started.

When preparing for the lottery, names received prior to the outlined dates will be added into the lottery pool as follows:

  • If an individual has been on a waiting list for Camp Encourage in the past and has NEVER attended, his or her name is placed in the lottery three times.
  • If it is the applicants' first time submitting interest (has never attended, has never applied), his or her name is placed in the lottery two times.
  • If the individual has attended in the past, his or her name is placed in the lottery once.
CAMPER APPLICATION SUBMISSION DEADLINES

For the four-day, three-night summer camps, a lottery will likely occur thus it is crucial you submit your potential camper's application by FEBRUARY 22nd to be included in the lottery. At times, slots are still available even following the summer lottery due to cancellations. Thus, we welcome Camper Applications to be submitted at anytime.

For the weekend overnight camps, slots will be released as applications roll in.

CAMP COST

CampΒ costs include quality planning, specialized materials and supports, meals, comfortable cabins, and tailored activities.

Overnights: $595

Summer Sessions: $1295

CAMPER SCHOLARSHIPS

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 autistic campers.

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.

Download our app to stay up to date on camp sessions, events, fundraisers, and more!
Enter registration code CEKC when creating your account.


View complete app setup details.

Download our app to stay up to date on camp sessions, events, fundraisers, and more! Enter registration code CEKC when creating your account.

View complete app setup details.