This week, Mike Carr takes us to John13.org’s summer programs for autism, where young adults with varying abilities form sibling-like bonds. They engage in vocational training, with some even landing jobs at Crux Climbing Gyms! The camp combines job skills with fun activities, bringing joy to everyone involved. Stay tuned for videos showcasing the first week of camp!
A Real-World Look at Autism Skills Development: The Story of John13 Summer Camp
I want to switch things up a bit this week. Instead of our usual tech reviews and products for adults with severe autism, I want to share something really special with you. It’s about this amazing place that’s making a huge difference in our autism community – a place where young adults are really coming into their own, making friends, and just flourishing.
I’m talking about the John13 Summer Camp. It’s run by our sister nonprofit, John13.org, and honestly, it’s pretty incredible what they’re doing there. They’ve created this perfect environment where people with autism can just be themselves while learning and growing. Over the next few posts, I’ll take you behind the scenes and show you what makes this place so magical – from the skill-building programs to the mentoring relationships, and yes, all the fun they’re having too!
The Heart of the Program: Peer Mentorship and Friendship
You know what really makes John13 Summer Camp so special? It’s this amazing thing we do with peer mentoring. We’ve got young adults from maybe 18 up to their mid-30s, and we pair up folks who are more verbal and independent with those who need a bit more support. It’s not rocket science – we just want everyone to feel like they’re part of this big family where everyone helps each other out.
And let me tell you, the bonds these guys form are incredible. Our more verbal campers get to step up and help others communicate and navigate daily life, which is just beautiful to watch. But here’s what really gets me – the campers who face bigger challenges? They’re teaching everyone else these priceless lessons about patience and what it means to truly celebrate the little wins in life.
These relationships… they’re not just your typical friendships. They’re more like siblings, you know? And that’s what makes this whole thing work. Sure, they’re all learning new stuff, but what’s really magical is watching this little community grow together. It’s honestly the most heartwarming thing to see.
Vocational Skills: Preparing for the Real World
Let me tell you about another awesome part of John13 Summer Camp – we’re really big on helping our campers learn job skills. It’s not just about having fun (though we definitely do that too!). We know a lot of these young adults are starting to think about what they want to do for work, and we want to make sure they’re totally ready for it.
And we don’t just sit around talking about jobs – we actually get in there and do the real stuff. Like, we set up situations that feel just like actual workplaces. Our campers practice things like how to talk to coworkers and bosses, how to handle specific job tasks, and just getting comfortable with what it’s like to be at work every day. The whole point is to help them feel super confident and capable when they go out to get jobs. We want them to absolutely crush it out there in the working world!
Trust me, seeing their confidence grow as they master these skills… it’s just incredible. They’re not just learning how to work – they’re discovering what they’re truly capable of.
Success Stories: From Camp to the Real World
Let me tell you about another awesome part of John13 Summer Camp – we’re really big on helping our campers learn job skills. It’s not just about having fun (though we definitely do that too!). We know a lot of these young adults are starting to think about what they want to do for work, and we want to make sure they’re totally ready for it.
And we don’t just sit around talking about jobs – we actually get in there and do the real stuff. Like, we set up situations that feel just like actual workplaces. Our campers practice things like how to talk to coworkers and bosses, how to handle specific job tasks, and just getting comfortable with what it’s like to be at work every day. The whole point is to help them feel super confident and capable when they go out to get jobs. We want them to absolutely crush it out there in the working world!
Trust me, seeing their confidence grow as they master these skills… it’s just incredible. They’re not just learning how to work – they’re discovering what they’re truly capable of.
The Perfect Balance: Work and Play
Hey, I want to talk about something really important at John13 – we’re not just about work and training! I mean, that stuff matters, but we’re huge believers in making sure everyone has a blast too. It’s all about finding that sweet spot, you know?
You should see our campers when they’re doing art projects or getting outside for adventures and games – their faces just light up! It’s the most amazing thing to watch. And here’s what’s really cool: when they’re having fun and just being themselves, that’s when they really start coming out of their shells. No pressure, no stress – just pure joy.
That’s actually our secret sauce – mixing the fun stuff with learning. Because when everyone’s relaxed and having a good time, they’re picking up all these super important social skills without even realizing it. And those are the skills that stick with them long after camp is over. I honestly think that’s why our program works so well – we never forget that at the end of the day, these are young people who deserve to have as much fun as anyone else!
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Our Summer Camp
I’m so excited to show you guys what’s actually happening at camp! Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing some really cool videos from our first week. Trust me, you’re going to want to see this – it’ll give you a real peek into the magical little world we’ve created here.
You’ll get to watch our amazing campers in action – everything from practicing job skills to making new friends. And oh my goodness, the pure joy on their faces when they’re with their camp family… it just melts your heart!
The energy here is absolutely incredible. Everyone’s working on something different – some groups are doing team activities, others are having these amazing discussions, and some are learning specific job skills. But what really gets me is seeing these young adults trying things they never thought they could do. They’re pushing their boundaries and just blooming right in front of our eyes. It’s like watching someone discover their own superpowers, you know?
The Role of Our Staff: The Heart and Soul of the Program
I just have to take a moment to gush about our incredible team at John13. Seriously, these folks are the real heroes who make everything possible. The way they pour their hearts into helping people with autism… it’s just amazing to watch.
And it’s not just that they’re great at their jobs – though they absolutely are! It’s how they really take the time to get to know each and every camper. They figure out what makes them tick, what they struggle with, and what they dream of achieving. Then they work their magic, giving each person exactly the kind of support they need, when they need it.
You should see them in action – whether they’re running activities, helping someone through a tough moment, or just being that cheerleader on the sidelines. They’re always right there, making sure everyone’s having the best time possible. I honestly don’t know where we’d be without them. These people aren’t just staff – they’re more like guardian angels in camp t-shirts!
Looking Ahead: Growing the Program
I can’t even tell you how excited I am about where John13 Summer Camp is headed! We have some huge dreams—helping even more people with autism build real-life skills, make true friendships, and find jobs they actually enjoy. It’s so important, and it means everything to us.
The best part? As the autism community grows and evolves, we’re growing with it. We’re always looking for ways to make camp even better—whether it’s adding awesome new activities, improving job training, or just making sure everyone has a place where they feel completely accepted and free to be themselves. Because at the end of the day, that’s what really matters.
So, stay tuned! Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing tons of videos and stories from camp. My hope is that by showing what we’re building here, we can inspire other communities to start something similar. And honestly? This is just the beginning. I get chills thinking about all the possibilities ahead. We’re onto something really special, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us!
Final Thoughts: The Importance of Community and Connection
What really makes John13 Summer Camp special is the way everyone connects. We’re building more than just a place for skills and job training—we’re creating a home where folks with autism can really be themselves, build lasting friendships, and grow in their own way.
Want to check us out or lend a hand? Just hop over to John13.org! We could always use more friendly faces to volunteer, generous folks to help fund our programs, or local businesses to partner with us. Every bit of support changes lives.
Thanks for being in our corner! We’re excited to share more snapshots from camp and the amazing success stories we see every day. Keep an eye out—the best is yet to come!
Transcript
Mike Carr (00:03):
Well, welcome back this week for a little change of pace. So instead of doing product evaluations and discussions of technology that works for the severely and profoundly autistic adults, we’ve decided to take you into the community and actually show you a real world setting in a summer camp kind of situation where our sister organization, our nonprofit, john thirteen.org, is taking a range of skills, a range of folks from late teens to mid thirties, and having them interact with one another in some amazing ways. So higher functioning folks that have more verbal skills are sort of budding up with lower functioning folks and building that almost sibling like relationship where they’re helping one another out. We take you through some vocational skill building things that they then can get out and get out into the real world and get paid for. Our son has actually now got a job at crux climbing gyms in autism, as does one of his buddies. But also mix those vocational, those job training skills with things that are fun, things that are exciting, and you’ll see the smiles and you’ll see the joy on some of the kiddos faces, adults faces, and their colleagues. And our John 13 staff take them through all kinds of activities. So the next few videos is the first week, three days of our summer camp, and you’ll get to see different environments that we’re working in and some of the cool things that are going on. Hope you enjoy it.
