My Summer Journey participants hit golf balls during the program in 2022. Created by Autism Community Connection, the camp was designed to help teens on the autism spectrum transition from school into summer break, in addition to helping make new friends and learn life and social skills.
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The end of the school year is often a welcome change for young students — a chance to break out of the rigid school-day schedule and enjoy their summer.
But for young people on the autism spectrum, it can also be a challenging and disruptive time. The routine they’ve grown used to is gone, replaced by a whole new daily reality, said Kelli Higgins, executive director of Autism Community Connection.
“That transition between going to school, summer break and going back to school can be really hard,” she said.
To help smooth over this transitive time, Autism Community Connection created My Summer Journey, a special camp experience for teens on the autism spectrum. The week-long sessions are filled with activities keeping kids in a routine, with a focus of making new friends while working on life and social skills.
In its 12 years of operation, the camp has shown to have a positive impact, Higgins said.
“When these participants come, they’re very hesitant, because it’s a change, it’s different. They’re on their own without their parents’ support, even if we’re there to help them and guide them,” she said. “Then, they start opening up, and you see clicking with new friends and exchanging phone numbers and connecting outside the program.”
To ensure all young people, ages 13 to 19, can take advantage of the program if they want, Autism Community Connection is embarking on a month-long fundraiser. Join the Journey aims to raise $5,000 to help families afford the cost of the camp, if they need it.
“What this campaign will do is help us provide the opportunity for those who want to attend, no matter their financial restrictions,” Higgins said.
My Summer Journey was founded in 2011 by Autism Community Connection — which was known as the Johnson County Autism Support Group at the time.
The organization serves individuals with autism and their families, in and around the Johnson County area, by connecting them with community resources, social events, and enriching programs to help navigate their autism journey.
Parents within the group felt it was important to carve weeklong activities devoted specifically to teens in the summer months, Higgins said.
“We’ll have group activities focused on making new friends, science experiments, cooking experiments, crafts and more,” she said. “The curriculum is designed to keep them busy throughout the day.”
The camp this year has three sessions from June 12 to 30, with each session stretching from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. Participants will meet and be picked up at Earlywood Education Center in Franklin each day before engaging in themed curriculums and community outings.
For example, the first session on June 12 to 16 will include trips to Otte Golf & Family Fun Center, Franklin Skate Club and Hi-Way Lanes. The second session June 19 to 23 takes campers to Southport Ranch, Silly Safaris and Haven Hope Ranch and Stables, while the final session includes trips to two local parks and the Franklin pool.
“All of the outings are tailored toward an experience they might not have an opportunity to do, in a supportive environment with our staff who know how to work with individuals with autism,” Higgins said.
The camps cost $150 per week, though people can register for additional sessions as long as the sessions have not sold out.
But Autism Community Connection organizers recognize the cost may be prohibitive for some families. To combat that, they created Join the Journey.
April is Autism Acceptance Month, and in conjunction with it, they wanted to find a way to provide assistance for families who wanted their children to take part, but couldn’t afford the cost.
“Our registration for My Summer Journey has been open since February, and we’re seeing not that many people registering. We’re thinking that part of that might be the cost of the program,” Higgins said. “There’s a cost, because we’re funding the program, the staff, supplies, materials, rental locations and things like that.”
My Summer Journey has also offered financial assistance. Join the Journey is a way to help more, Higgins said.
Organizers have put together different levels of giving to ideally appeal to a wide array of people. For example, people can give $150 to send one participant to My Summer Journey for one week. A $450 contribution sends one youth to all three sessions of the camp. In addition, Autism Community Connection is hosting a virtual Pampered Chef party with local consultant Sandra Pool, with a portion of proceeds donated to Join the Journey.
Chick-fil-A in Greenwood, at 155 Marlin Drive, is also hosting a dine-to-donate event on April 11.
People donate online, or by sending a check. A link on the Join the Journey webpage makes it easy for people to create Facebook fundraisers.
“Businesses, schools, organizations, they can all create their own internal fundraiser if they want to,” Higgins said.
AT A GLANCE
My Summer Journey
What: A summer program for teens with autism, ages 13-19, which helps keep kids in a routine that can make the transition back to school much easier.
Who: Organized by Autism Community Connection
When: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 12-16, 19-23 and 26-30
Cost: Each weeklong session costs $150. Participants must be able to attend the full week and can register for multiple sessions as long as the session has not reached the limit of participants.
How to sign up: autismcc-in.org/our-programs/my-summer-journey
Join the Journey
Autism Community Connection organizers have planned an April campaign to raise money and provide financial support for teens and families who want to attend My Summer Journey. Their goal is $5,000.
Ways to help
Make a direct online donation of $150 to send one participant for one week to My Summer Journey, or $450 to send one participant for three weeks.
Send a check payable to: Autism Community Connection, 2455 Fairview Place, Box 2 Greenwood, IN 46142. Please put in the memo “Join the Journey.”
Create your own Facebook fundraiser to raise $150 or $450 to support one participant to attend My Summer Journey.
Come to Chick-fil-A, 155 Marlin Drive, Greenwood from 4-6 p.m. April 11. Part of the proceeds will be donated to Autism Community Connection.
Join a Pampered Chef Virtual Party with Sandra Pool, local consultant in April. Orders are due by April 28 and part of the proceeds will be donated to the effort.
Information or donate online: autismcc-in.org/join-the-journey
