Susan's Blog

Monday, August 31, 2009

Going To Extreme(s) for our Kids

Extreme Sports Camp for Autism, the wonderful camp in Aspen Colorado that Nat has attended twice now, will be featured on ABC World News tonight!! Autism Speaks Board Member Sallie Bernard is a co-founder of this hugely successful rec program for kids on the spectrum (all the way up and down, whatever that means), and she just told me that ABC did not film when Nat was there, but that I could send in a photo of him for their website (she is in the process of updating the site). I urge you all to watch and consider this program for your child. They do it well and they do it right.

posted at 1:36 pm 4 comments

4 comments

Had the TV news on in the background as I cleaned up dinner and heard the anchor say 'Extreme Sports Camp' in Colorado and I ran into the other room screaming to my husband 'Nat! Nat! Look for Nat!' (As if he would know who to look for).

I scanned all the boys but didn't see him. The boys they showed were just wonderful – you could see the joy of the challenge on their faces and the hard work it takes to do the waterskiing, the climbing, everything. It was just breathtaking in the way they faced the challenges.

I LOVED the man counselor who guided them – patience, faith and absolute belief all rolled into one. He was great. What a great place for Nat, I can see why he likes it, it looks glorious and so soul-stretching in so many ways, something our kiddos sometimes really lack. What a great program.

— added by Penny on Monday, August 31, 2009 at 8:21 pm

Penny, you are the best.
Would you believe I missed it? I called the camp co-founder Sallie Bernard and she told me the segment was filmed during a week Nat was not there.
You must be talking about Doug Gilstrap; he is Nat's favorite, I think.

— added by Susan Senator on Monday, August 31, 2009 at 9:00 pm

Yes, it was Doug! He was marvelous. He 'got it' in so many ways. I loved when he spoke of these experiences at camp opening our children's 'parameters' to cope with so much more when they get home. It expands them. He just exuded patience, pride and understanding. He was 'one of the tribe' as my hubby says.

— added by Penny on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at 6:46 am

"One of the tribe!" I wish I had used that in my book…

— added by Susan Senator on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at 6:55 am