What Different Can Do

April is a special month for all of us at Camp Southern Ground! As an inclusive residential summer camp, we love accepting and understanding of our campers who are developing with differences such as autism, ADHD or other developmental conditions. We know they don’t just deserve a chance to go to camp - they make our camp better for everyone.

What Different Can Do is a month long campaign to flip the perception of "different" on its head. Kids who are neurodiverse are often considered "different" and sidelined, marginalized, isolated, even bullied by others, having a detrimental impact on a child's self-esteem, confidence, and mental health. At Camp Southern Ground, we see differences as secret strengths. Through the experience of summer camp, we celebrate every child as unique, and send them home with a mindset to see others through a new lens – one that recognizes differences as assets. One that changes the world for good.

Normal is Overrated

Every year at summer camp about 40% of kids have some type of developmental difference. They bring curiosity, love, compassion, and joy to our camp community, and they always remind all of our campers and staff that “normal” is boring. Our neurodiverse friends help all of us feel a little better about the ways we’re different.

Join The Conversation!

We’ll be sharing stories and expertise all month long, but we want to hear from you as well! Are you a person living with a difference like autism, or are you raising a child with a difference? We’d love for you to share your story and use #WhatDifferentCanDo to help promote awareness.