Camp ALEC

Camp ALEC began in 2014. This unique camp for children with physical disabilities whose primary communication mode is AAC (augmentative and alternative communication), offers independence and confidence for campers from all over. Camp ALEC is a week of learning together with adult educators and campers under the direction of Dr. Karen Erickson and Dr. David Koppenhaver. Campers spend 3 hours daily in literacy activities in a 1:1 setting. The rest of the day, campers enjoy a typical camp experience which can include rock wall climbing, swimming, talent shows, camp songs, campfires, and more! While campers are enjoying camp experiences, the adult educators are in the classroom receiving further training in a Level 2 Literacy Academy with Dr. Erickson and Dr. Koppenhaver. At the conclusion of camp, families receive informal descriptive reports detailing the results of literacy assessments and trialed interventions to share with their educational teams back home. Educators will leave with a deep understanding of literacy instruction for complex children, which they can share with their colleagues. Camp ALEC moved to Rocky Mountain Village in Empire, CO, in 2024. Guess What!? We have a documentary that is now streaming on Disney+! This mini-doc for their People and Places series features Camp ALEC in full expression. Check out the trailer below, then go watch on Disney+. https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entity-6b02934d-b6ed-4f6b-8ab0-89149f493709