Our Programs

Our Approach

We design our recreation programs with neurodiverse kids and youth in mind. 

We have a high staff to camper ratio:

Small group sizes allow our campers to make their mark on the community and build a sense of belonging. With 1 staff for every 2 campers, we can provide customized care to ensure every child experiences success.  At Camp Kirk this looks like ‘sideline coaching’ to navigate a social conflict, going to the Rock Throwing Range when frustration spikes, or getting prompts for upcoming transitions. 

Our programs are non-competitive:

We play team games, however, there is not a big focus on winning and ‘being the best’. We aim to provide campers with an environment where the focus is on trying (and trying again!), learning from mistakes, and being part of the group. We often find our campers opt-out of programming when there is attention drawn to who wins/loses, and they end up missing out on the benefits that come from just joining in.

We take a nurturing approach

A child sitting in the corner by themselves may be shy. But they could also be overstimulated, confused by the instructions, or having a tough time joining in the social mix.  At Camp Kirk, we try and hold back assumptions about surface behaviour so we can get a true understanding of a child’s needs.  We go the extra mile to get to know our campers and their families so we can create care plans to bring out the best in each child. 

We have a Group Focus

Many of our campers have a tough time excelling in large groups. However, they are at a stage where they are ready to learn the skills needed to tackle social settings and develop meaningful friendships. For this reason, our programs are designed to be small, but with a group focus. This gives our campers the perfect setting to practice conflict resolution, perspective taking, and compassion.