How do I qualify for the Special Needs Family Camp?
If your family includes a child with a developmental disability (to include, but not limited to, Downs Syndrome, moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, epilepsy or traumatic brain injury), you qualify to participate in our Special Needs Family Camp.
Special Needs children should be able to function safely in a group environment. Although staff to special needs camper ratio will be 1:1 during mealtimes and camp activities, activities will be conducted in small age/ability-appropriate groups.
The following behavioral challenges are not considered appropriate for our Special Needs Family Camp program at this time:
- Children who are abusive to self, others or property
- Children with a history of conduct disorder
- Children with a history of physical or sexual aggression
Any of the above behaviors are beyond the scope of the camp to provide safe accommodations to your child as well as others at camp. Thus, any child who displays any of the above behavioral challenges will not be able to participate in the Special Needs Family Camp program at this time.
Our family is not Catholic, can we still attend?
Absolutely! Whispering Winds is about loving and nurturing families that include a special needs child. We aim to provide a place where special campers and their family members can enhance their confident identity, social skills, physical and thinking skills and positive values and spirituality by opening up our camp and our hearts for their enjoyment. While we offer Mass on Sunday and our speaker sessions and activities will be Christ-centered, we encourage families who may have strayed from their faith or never embraced the opportunity to include God in their lives to come and enjoy this chance to come together as a family for a weekend retreat of respite, support and fun on the mountain celebrating each other as God’s wonderful gifts to one another.
What about my non-disabled, typical children – are they invited to attend with us?
Yes! Families are encouraged to include everyone in their family – including non-disabled siblings – in their Family Camp experience. Separate supervised programming for typical siblings will be offered with their age-appropriate peers so that they can have an equally fulfilling and exhilarating camp experience.
What assistance will my family receive?
A caring and trained Special Needs Buddy will be assigned to your family to serve you and provide any practical support you need to make the weekend restful and enjoyable. Your Special Needs Buddy will be with you at each of the meals and with your special needs child during his/her age/ability-appropriate activities; allowing parents to enjoy their own free-time activities without the responsibility of caretaking. Each Special Needs Buddy has undergone a thorough screening, background check, and has completed our training course.
If your family also includes any typical siblings, age 5 and under, you will also be assigned a Child Care Assistant (CCA) to further serve you and provide you with the same practical support you need to make the weekend restful and enjoyable. Your CCA will also be with you at each of the meals and with your child during his/her age-appropriate activities; further allowing parents to enjoy their own programmed activities without the responsibility of caretaking. Each CCA has also undergone a thorough screening, background check, and has completed our training course. Our CCAs range in age from 9th-12th grade in high school.
Special Needs Buddies and CCAs room in separate accommodations and do not provide medical care. If any of your children require medical care, please make arrangements to coordinate this care with your Special Needs Buddy/CCA so that you can provide it. Whispering Winds has ADA accessible lodge rooms, dining facilities and programming sites. We do our best to meet the needs of each family, pertaining to accommodations, diet, or other requirements that you indicate on your registration forms.
What kind of background does the Special Needs Buddy and CCA coordinator have and how will the Special Needs Buddies/CCAs be trained?
Betty Britschgi will be the Special Needs Buddy and Guest Coordinator for Special Needs Family Camp. She has been involved with education for 40 years, with a bachelors in Music from the University of San Diego and a combined masters in Special Education-Religious Education from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Betty worked for many years at the Diocesan Office of Catechetical Ministry as a consultant in special religious education, training catechists, writing and adapting curriculum for special needs children and youth. In her role at the Diocesan Office, she also consulted with churches to provide full access for persons with disabilities in both their facilities and programs. For 12 years she worked with Camp ReCREATION, a residential summer camp experience designed for campers of all ages with developmental disabilities. She began as a member of the staff and later became its director. The past 2 summers she has assisted at SNFC with music. Betty is delighted to be a member of the team at SNFC at Whispering Winds.
The training program for the Special Needs Buddies includes: introduction into special needs – implications for siblings and families; behavior management; collaborative caregiving (with parents/families); issues of concern (physical care, communication, etc.) and more.
Laurie Mikolaycik will be the CCA coordinator for the Special Needs Family Camp. She has been teaching parent education for 24 years. She is the department chair at San Diego Continuing Education for Parent Ed/Child Development and she has her Masters in Education/Counseling from the University of San Diego. Laurie also is a Professor of Child and Adolescent Development at Point Loma Nazarene University. For six years, Laurie served as a camp counselor and team leader at Camp ReCreation and for three years was a certified catechist for special religious education for the SD diocese. She has been a speaker and consultant in San Diego for issues in parenting and spirituality, and she has also served as a youth minister.
Are your facilities accessible for persons with disabilities?
Our facilities are rugged and inherently connected to nature; with rocks, tree debris, unpaved walkways, and steep vertical grades. That said, our “common area” facilities (dining hall, Founders Hall meeting space, Prayer Chapel, Recreation Hall and 1st floor lodge rooms) can all accommodate persons with disabilities. Please call our office for further detailed information.
What is included in the lodge rooms/dorm village rooms?
The lodge rooms are hotel-style rooms with individual climate control (heat and A/C) wall units and private baths (shower, no tub). Each room provides two twin-size bunk beds. The bottom beds can be pulled out into double beds with twin beds above. Guests are provided with hand soap and toilet paper, but must bring their own linens.
There are eight 1st floor rooms and four 2nd floor rooms (stairs, no elevators) located in both the Juanico and the Milner Lodges.
The dorm village rooms are adjacent private rooms for up to five families with 4 guests per each private room. The village rooms are all controlled with a single climate control (heat and A/C). Each private room provides two twin bunk beds (4 twins total). The dorm village rooms have one shared bathroom with wheelchair-accessible shower, toilet and sink in the dormitory building and are adjacent to the bath/shower building. Guests are provided with hand soap and toilet paper, but must bring their own linens.
There are five private rooms in the Sacred Heart Dorm Village with a common area that includes several additional bunk beds and meeting space.
What is the maximum number of guests per lodge room/dorm village room?
Each lodge room can accommodate up to 6 family members (with 2 family members sharing a double bed).
Each dorm village private room can accommodate up to 4 family members (each with their own twin bed).
What size are the beds so I can know what size linens to bring?
The lodge rooms provide two twin-size bunk beds. The bottom beds can be pulled out into double beds. So, families will need to bring all linens (sheets, blankets, pillows, etc.) for either 4 twin beds or 2 twin beds (for the top bunks) and two double beds (for the bottom beds).
The dorm village rooms provide four twin-size beds in two bunks.
What other linens do we need to bring?
Families should bring all bath and hand towels for each family member along with any washcloths or beach towels (for swimming) that they think their family will need. Families may also want to consider bringing bath mats for the shower and sink areas for your families’ extra comfort.
Are you able to accommodate medications that need to be refrigerated?
The lodge and dorm village rooms do not have refrigerators, but we are able to accommodate space in the dining hall refrigerator if necessary. However, if you are staying in a lodge room, most families find it much easier to bring their own coolers to store their medications. The Food Service team will gladly provide ice for your cooler so you can keep it in your room for easy accessibility.
Can you accommodate special dietary needs?
Our Food Service team greatly appreciates the opportunity to serve you. We recognize that there may be dietary needs such as allergies and our desire is to make sure your needs are met as best as we can. We currently accommodate vegetarian and gluten-free diets, but can also try to accommodate other special needs (i.e., soft foods; dairy-free). Please make note when you register of your dietary requirements and a staff member will be in touch if it is outside our scope to meet these needs.
Do you have RV hookups?
We have two RV spots with electricity and water hookups available and three more spots without hook-ups.
What are the program particulars? For instance: What is the theme? How can I find out these kinds of details?
The theme for this year’s Family Camps is “The Amazing GRace!” Further details are posted on the main Family Camp page. Further program particulars will be emailed to you upon registration. However, if you need more information now, please contact our office and we will provide you with further information.
What if I arrive late to camp on Friday night? How late is dinner served?
Dinner on Friday night is from 5:30-7:00 pm. If you will be arriving after dinnertime, please eat on the way to the mountain. Upon arrival, please call Program Director Paula Bott (619-985-3050) and she will provide you with your lodging site when you arrive at camp.
What is the altitude at Whispering Winds?
Our site averages about 4500 feet.
How’s the weather at camp?
Please visit our Weather page for current weather conditions and average monthly temperature information.
Can the weather affect the challenge course?
Due to safety reasons, if lightning or other dangerous weather conditions occur, we must close down the zip line, climbing wall and low elements course.
What should I pack?
You will find a packing list for camp in the list of family camp documents that will be emailed to you upon registration. Please keep in mind that weather shifts can happen quite suddenly, so always come prepared for hot/cold or wet/dry weather.
Is there a dress code for camp? What about bathing suits?
You do not want to bring “dressy” clothes to family camp. All of our paths at camp are dirt roads and you will likely get dirty one way or another. In general, our expectations for camp attire are driven by modesty, showing sensitivity to the concerns of others at camp. In our swimming areas, we ask that gals wear one-piece bathing suits or a bikini with a t-shirt over it. We also limit swimwear to appropriate areas only.
If my child wants to bring a friend with him to family camp is that OK?
If your non-disabled, typical child is at least 6 years old, he/she may bring another non-disabled, typical friend to camp. Just register the child with your family and add him/her in the individual food fee. We are currently not staffed to provide additional resources for friends that are age 5 or under or have special needs.
Can my child be in the same age group as their sibling close in age?
Siblings and friends can be in the same age group for programming, however, the older kids need to come down and be in the younger age group. There will be an opportunity to do this at check-in time.
For Grandparents’ Day on Saturday and Sunday, may parents and children who wish to come up just for the day participate in the activities and pay the Grandparents’ Day fee?
No. This option is only for grandparents coming to visit their families already at camp.
Are pets allowed at camp?
For the comfort of all, no pets are allowed at family camp.
Is there a minimum age requirement for the Zipline?
No. There is no age or height requirement, however, the participant must fit into the challenge course harness or saddle and follow the safety standards. It is up to the discretion of the challenge course leader to decide if a participant is safe and if the participant is making the choice to participate on their own.
Where can I get copies of camp forms? I lost my waiver, how do I get another one?
All of our forms are available to download and print from the list of Family Camp documents that will be emailed to you upon registration. Waivers are online and accessible here and from the Special Needs Family Camp page.
How do I get to Whispering Winds?
Please see our Directions page.
When is my balance due?
Full payment needs to be received 14 days before the start of camp.
If I need to cancel, may I receive my deposit back or apply it to next year?
Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable, and cannot be applied to next year’s Special Needs Family Camp. A great deal is involved in registering/unregistering a family. The deadline to cancel and receive a refund (minus the deposit) is 15 days before camp starts due to the unique staffing required for the Special Needs Family Camp weekend. Any cancellations after that will not receive a refund.
Still have questions?
Give us a call at 619-464-1479 or e-mail us at office@whisperingwinds.org; we will be glad to answer any questions you may have.
