Who goes to APEX Summer Camp?
A broad spectrum of kids attend APEX Summer Camp. Our program is designed for children ages 6-13 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disabilities with or without a diagnosis. Children need proficient language skills (equivalent of 6 years of age) to fully participate in the program.
What is the camper to counselor ratio?
Kids are divided into groups of 8-10 campers. Each group has a dedicated team of 5-6 counselors, usually led by a master’s level advanced graduate student. Counselors are graduate and undergraduate students studying psychology, medicine, speech-language pathology, education, occupational therapy, etc. We typically have a staff to camper ratio of 2 to 1.
What is a typical day at APEX Summer Camp?
The day begins with a morning meeting reviewing the schedule and activities of the day. The camp day is split into four activity periods. The four daily activities will include: social skills lessons, art/science, recreational time (sports and other physical activity), board games and table top games. Each activity period begins with a group discussion reviewing camper expectations and upcoming activities. Each activity period is separated by structured transitions. A lunch break followed by recess occur in the middle of the day. The day concludes with a discussion reviewing the successes of the day and areas for growth the next.
Where is camp?
Our summer program is hosted at a local school in a Seattle neighborhood, within 10-15 minutes of the University of Washington Seattle Campus.
How do I apply?
Apply online by submitting an electronic application in January-February of each year.
What is the application process?
After we receive an electronic application, we will contact each family to schedule a virtual or in-person screening. We aim to notify families if their child has been accepted to the program within two weeks from the screening appointment.
What is the cost?
Camp tuition is $4950. This includes the camp fee and for professional staff services.
Is part of camp covered by insurance?
We do not expect to bill professional services to insurance. Insurance and Washington State rules require services to be provided directly by licensed professionals (as opposed to graduate or undergraduate counselors) in order to be reimbursable.
Are there scholarships available?
Scholarships are available from the UW Autism Center’s Family Scholarship Fund and FEAT of WA Ben’s Fund (for children that have an ASD diagnosis).
We would like to thank Harkla for a generous $5000 donation to support scholarships at Apex Summer Camp!