LOCATIONS: HEARTLAND CENTER & TALL OAKS CAMP*
*Camp Encourage's offices are located in Kansas City, MO, but camp sessions are held at Heartland Center or Tall Oaks Camp. Please send any written communication to our offices in Westport at 4025 Central, KCMO, 64111.
We appreciate your interest and encourage you to read through each detail below. After doing so and to express interest in attending our camps, complete a Peer Model Camper Application (which will be released on January 2nd each year). For more information about the overall camp experience, activities, and services, click here.
2026 CAMP SESSIONS
We're counting down the days! All camp sessions take place at Heartland Center unless otherwise noted below.
March 21-22
Overnight Session 1
Ages: 10-18
Arrival: Saturday at 10am
Departure: Sunday at 3:30pm
June 11-14
Summer Session 1
Ages: 10-18
Arrival: Thursday at noon
Departure: Sunday at 9:45am (followed by a slideshow)
June 29-July 2
Summer Session 2 (at Tall Oaks)
Ages: 14-18
Arrival: Monday at noon
Departure: Thursday at 9:45am (followed by a slideshow)
July 25-28
Summer Session 3
Ages: 10-18
Arrival: Saturday at noon
Departure: Tuesday at 9:45am (followed by a slideshow)
October 10 - 11
Overnight Session 2
Ages: 10-18
Arrival: Saturday at 10am
Departure: Sunday at 3:30pm
Note: registration for this camp session will open May 1.
PEER MODEL CAMPER ROLE
Peer Model Campers have an extremely important role at Camp Encourage. Not only do they enhance the lives of other children, they also walk away with new perspectives, enjoyable stories, new friends, and lifelong memories.
Peer Model Campers participate in Camp Encourage like all other campers. They reside in the cabins overnight with the autistic campers, participate in all camp activities, and are expected to serve as positive role models.
Peer Model Campers are not incorporated as “Junior Counselors” or helpers. Each is to interact with all campers, enhancing each child’s experience at camp and is NOT to isolate him or herself from the autistic campers.
GOALS
Our primary focus for growth for each Peer Model Camper is:
- increasing each individual's knowledge, understanding, and acceptance of autism
- increasing each individual's appreciation of individual differences
Additionally, just as with our campers with our autistic campers, it is our hope that following the overnight camp experience, our peer model campers:
- increasing skills of independence
- enhancing one's self-esteem
- increasing personal self-understanding and acceptance
- increasing social abilities
- widening awareness of recreation opportunities and skills of recreation
- connecting with others with similar interests, needs, and/or abilities
PEER MODEL CAMPER ROLE
Peer Model Campers have an extremely important role at Camp Encourage. Not only do they enhance the lives of other children, they also walk away with new perspectives, enjoyable stories, new friends, and lifelong memories.
Peer Model Campers participate in Camp Encourage like all other campers. They reside in the cabins overnight with the campers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), participate in all camp activities, and are expected to serve as role models for the campers with ASD.
Peer Model Campers are not incorporated as “Junior Counselors” or helpers. Each is to interact with all campers, enhancing each child’s experience at camp and is NOT to isolate him or herself from the campers with ASD.
GOALS
Our primary focus for growth for each Peer Model Camper is:
- increasing each individual's knowledge, understanding, and acceptance of autism (ASD)
- increasing each individual's appreciation of individual differences
Additionally, just as with our campers with our autistic campers, it is our hope that following the overnight camp experience, our peer model campers:
- increasing skills of independence
- enhancing one's self-esteem
- increasing personal self-understanding and acceptance
- increasing social abilities
- widening awareness of recreation opportunities and skills of recreation
- connecting with others with similar interests, needs, and/or abilities
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
Any individual not on the autism spectrum, between the age of ten* and eighteen may apply. Because Camp Encourage targets social and behavioral deficits often paired the autism spectrum, peers selected need to demonstrate developmentally appropriate social and behavioral skills. Further, applicants must possess patience and kindness, demonstrate acceptance, and be understanding of differences.
If you are uncertain if this experience would be fitting, please contact us before submitting a Peer Model Camper Application.
*Note: We may consider peer model applicants that are between the ages of 8 and 9. Contact us to express interest and to see if a slot is available for the session interested in.
SELECTION PROCESS
A small number of peer models will be needed for each age group of campers on the autism spectrum. After receiving and reviewing each Peer Model Camper Application, we will select applicants that we feel would be a good fit. Preference is often given to returning peers because they have already established friendships and connections with our campers with autism. Depending on the number of quality peer applicants, a lottery may occur.
SUBMISSION DEADLINES
It is recommended you submit an application at your VERY EARLIEST convenience. Although forms are welcomed throughout the year, applicants are encouraged to submit prior to or on the below dates.
SPRING OVERNIGHT SESSION:
Prior to February 1st
SUMMER CAMPS:
Prior to February 22nd
FALL OVERNIGHT SESSION:
Prior to September 1st
SCHOLARSHIPS
Through fundraising and grant writing efforts, we proudly offer Sliding Scale Scholarship Support for each session, as well as limited additional funding for those experiencing additional hardships.
Please do not let the cost deter you from applying. We work diligently throughout the year to make this opportunity available to a variety of campers. A large number of our past campers have received partial or full scholarship support. In fact, all families that have expressed a need for financial support through the application process in past years were offered scholarship funding. For more details about income-based scholarships and hardship funding, visit our Tuition & Scholarships page.
CAMP COST
Camp costs include quality planning, specialized materials and supports, meals, comfortable cabins, and tailored activities.
Overnights: $205
Summer Sessions: $450
*Sliding Scale Scholarship Support and Hardship Applications are available on a limited basis. Please review our Tuition and Scholarships information page for more details.