Inclusion & Camper Success
The Camper Success Team is dedicated to ensuring every camper has a safe, positive, and successful experience at camp. This team provides support for camper behavior, mental health, inclusion, and overall well-being. Working closely with counselors, unit heads, directors, and parents, the Camper Success Team helps create strategies that promote positive behavior, emotional regulation, and meaningful participation in all camp activities.
By fostering understanding, empathy, and consistency across all camps, the Camper Success Team helps make sure that all our campers — regardless of background or ability — can thrive in the camp community and experience the joy, connection, and growth that define our program.
Before registering for the Inclusion Program or Chaverim, parents of new campers must contact Sarah Koenig to learn about our application process. We encourage all families to reach out if you have any questions or reservations about your child’s needs and placement at camp.
NEW Camper Care Shelter
Our new Camper Care Shelter provides dedicated spaces, including a recharge room and sensory room, to help campers be their best selves throughout the camp day. The recharge room provides a quiet space where campers can take a break and reset before returning to their camp group feeling calm, supported, and ready to rejoin the fun. Our sensory room is designed specifically for regulation and exploration. This space features sensory input opportunities that allow a camper to regulate their emotions before successfully returning to their camp group.
Inclusion Program
Rising Pre-K–7th Graders
The Inclusion program offers beneficial support for your child’s summer through our Camper Success Team. Whether it be a 1:1 facilitation experience, or simply support and accommodations from our team, we are here to make sure your child feels comfortable and is able to enjoy their camp experience to the fullest. While we are not a therapeutic environment, we work closely with outside therapists in ensuring your camper’s needs are met here at MJCCA Day Camps. We will work with your family and evaluate your child’s current placement to determine if a facilitator is needed. Spaces will fill quickly, so be sure to secure your child’s spot when registration opens.
Chaverim
Rising 7th–12th Graders with Special Needs
Our Chaverim program features a dedicated team of staff experienced in supporting children with special needs, a low camper-to-staff ratio, and access to a wide range of camp activities. Each week will welcome a new small-group cohort of campers who will get to experience all the fun of camp, with activities including arts & crafts, ropes courses, swimming, sports, outdoor cooking, and so much more!
Please Note: We require a minimum number of campers enrolled in order for this program to run.
Learn More About Our Chaverim Program
We do not tolerate behavioral issues that jeopardize the safety and wellbeing of other campers and staff. Failure to adhere to behavior guidelines in the Parent Handbook will result in immediate dismissal with inability to return that week, with no refund. Length of dismissal is at Director’s discretion. If the dismissal extends to future weeks, a credit for those weeks will be applied to your MJCCA account.
A: Inclusion provides the opportunity for children with special needs to attend camp with their typically developing peers. ALL of the MJCCA Day Camp options are part of the Inclusion Program, however, camp staff works closely with families to ensure the camps chosen will be a good fit. The MJCCA’s mission is to provide a safe and fun camp experience. We are NOT a therapeutic program and are not equipped to provide therapy, track behaviors, or collect data.
A: Our goal is to include all campers. In order to best assess if a child is a good fit for our program, we ask families to participate in an intake process. If a child is aggressive, a threat to themselves or others, or, even with extra support from our staff, cannot participate in our program safely, MJCCA Day Camps may not be a good fit for them.
A: Many campers benefit from additional support in order to have the most successful experience. Our Inclusion Director will work with you to determine if a facilitator will be beneficial and available for your child. We do not assume that all children with special needs require a facilitator. If it is determined that your child will benefit from additional staff support, the level of support will be specifically catered to the needs of your child. Our goal is to fully integrate your child into the camp program. We observe each child in the Inclusion Program throughout the summer and communicate with counselors and parents to help ensure success and make modifications when needed. Parents will incur an additional fee per week for the facilitator and for the one-on-one facilitation.
A: While our facilitators are specifically hired to work with children with special needs, they are not therapists. Ideally, they are college students studying special education, OT, PT, or a related field. Additional training is provided and required for all facilitators. Like all MJCCA Day Camps staff, they will participate in an application, interview, and background check process.
A: Yes, your child is welcome to attend before and/or after camp care. However, we ask you to keep in mind that the camp day is long and will provide many different demands of your child. We need to ensure that participation in any extended day program is appropriate. We can arrange for an inclusion counselor to attend before/after camp care with you child for a nominal additional fee.
A: Yes, your child is welcome to ride the bus. Many Inclusion campers ride the bus to and from camp each day. Although we do have a good number of staff on each bus, we cannot guarantee a facilitator will be on your child’s bus route. Specific accommodations for the bus can be discussed with the Inclusion Director.
A: We will work with you and your child to be as proactive as possible through program accommodations, positive behavioral management strategies, and redirection. Behavior challenges will be documented and shared with the parent. If your child exhibits aggressive behavior that is harmful to staff, other campers, or themselves, your child may need to be picked up immediately, suspended, or terminated from the program. We will work with a child as much as possible to ensure a successful experience.
A: All campers at MJCCA Day Camps are expected to use the bathroom independently. This means they should be able to recognize when they need to use the restroom, manage their clothing on their own, and clean themselves appropriately after using the toilet.
In the event of an accident, campers should come prepared with an extra set of clothing packed in their backpack each day. If a camper does not bring a change of clothes, parents will be contacted to provide one, as our camp only has a limited supply available. Any clothing borrowed from MJCCA must be washed and returned. If a camper has multiple accidents, the Camp Director will determine the length of dismissal from camp.
A: If you have any questions or would like to discuss your child before registering, please contact Sarah Koenig, Director, Blonder Family Department for Special Needs, at 678.812.3691 or inclusion@atlantajcc.org. When registering for camp, there is a place on the online registration to indicate that you are interested in the Inclusion Program. You will then be contacted to begin the camp inclusion intake process.