Respite Care

We offer Respite Care services through our Best Week Ever Day Camp program that runs for 10 weeks from June-August. Camp Orchard Hill will help with grant funding for two weeks or 10 days of camp and families are welcome to book additional weeks at the normal price. This is a fully inclusive setting where campers with support needs attend with their 1:1 and participate in activities alongside typically developing peers.

We also offer care through Respite Saturday events that are scheduled during the off-season. (Often September-December and April-May). This is a one day opportunity for fun and social interaction in a supportive setting. Campers bring their 1:1 or request 1:1 support from Camp Orchard Hill (limited availability). Campers that have graduated from services may be approved to continue in a group setting.

It is our number one goal to ensure safety for your camper and to set up the correct support so they will be successful in our setting. If your camper is eligible for 1:1 support in their school setting, we request that you book the same coverage for the full time they are at camp. If a camper attends school in a life skills classroom with a low student to staff ratio and built-in support, they will also need support while at camp.

In order to protect the safety of our programs, 1:1 staff must be official support, employed by an agency and assigned to the camper. The agency is then responsible for the appropriate background clearances and training required to work in a childcare setting. While parents and family members are experts in their own camper’s needs, our policy considers the safety of the full program and applies consistently to all families. If a family member is an official agency caregiver and assigned for camp hours, they are approve to provide coverage in our setting.

We understand that obtaining coverage can be a difficult task. We’re not an agency that can arrange support, but through helpful partners we have learned some tips and helpful language. Our recommendation is to reach out to the agency or school that provides support for your child and ask for direction finding coverage for respite in our community setting. You might ask them to amend your child’s packet to transfer school hours to community hours for the summer. You can also give us a call to discuss specific recommendations for your situation.

As 1:1 support, BHT’s are free to manage the needs of their client and provide adaptations for activities, while our summer staff manages the needs of the larger group of campers. Campers should remain with their assigned group to participate in activities and build friendships as much as possible. BHT’s should communicate needed breaks or early departures to the cohort leader or head counselor. Our leadership team is available to assist with BHT questions, resources, behavior management or crisis intervention. For full details, please refer to the handout:

When a camper wears a diaper or requires assistance with toileting or bathroom hygiene, we request that a nurse or nurse’s aide attend camp as part of their support team. Our staff team is not trained for toileting assistance and for safety reasons will not be able to provide this type of care.

YES! Camp Orchard Hill is an approved respite camp for families with a waiver through Luzerne-Wyoming Counties MHDS. Please discuss with your supports coordinator and contact us with questions!

To ensure that campers receive appropriate support while they are present at camp, grant funding is currently available for Day Camp programs only. We are working hard to grow our accessibility and opportunities for the future!

It’s our goal to serve your camper! In most cases, our kitchen team is able to find solutions for campers with food allergies and dietary needs. For full details, read our Allergy and Dietary Needs at Camp Orchard Hill and reach out to discuss individual circumstances. Campers are also welcome to pack lunch in their book bag so that they have access to familiar options at lunch time.