Camp Haverim

Camp Haverim ("Haverim" means Friends in Hebrew) began at the JCC on the Palisades with four students enrolled in 1994. By 2013, we were able to provide programming for more than 70 families and look forward to expanding each year to meet the needs of the community. For children and teens with autism and other cognitive and developmental delays, who attend 11 months of special schooling, and have sufficient communication and self-help skills to independently participate. The camp provides: Social skills training, swimming and water park activities, sports and adaptive physical education, scademic enrichment, music, art, dance, yoga, therapy dogs. A unique feature of Camp Haverim is the face-to-face home visit our head teachers are required to make prior to camp to coordinate academic and behavioral programs for each camper. Head teachers may visit campers in their school setting and/or at home. Staff members are trained to work with every child in their group based on camper needs. Group sizes are between 4 and 8 campers. Each group is staffed by a head teacher, head assistant, several assistants and volunteers. Head teachers and head assistants are post college-age adults who are either certified as a teacher of special education or have extensive experience with the ASD and special needs population. Paid assistants are students, 18 years or older. Our volunteers are junior and senior high students. Our teen volunteers, who act as social role models for the campers, have long been one of the most special aspects of the Haverim program. We also have a certified Behaviorist on staff to provide intervention when necessary. Our specialists are credentialed in their respective areas of expertise. 1:1 staffing is provided wherever needed.