Lynn Renee Photography Blog | A Summer Camp on the Spectrum
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A Summer Camp on the Spectrum

24 Jan A Summer Camp on the Spectrum

Posted at 13:54h in Uncategorized by
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Camp Firefly Welcomes Lynn!

During the course of the summer, there are a variety of different camp experiences that utilize the facilities of the JCC’s Camp Chi up near the Wisconsin Dells including Camp Firefly, an overnight camp for children and teens on the Autistic spectrum.  Now going up I knew I wasn’t going to get the jumping up and down, camera-ready campers that I see during my trips to Chi.  There is a very different energy that you get when photographing a special needs camp, and more importantly different energy that you need to give as the photographer.
Because the camp is set in the JCC's Camp Chi, they can take advantage of all the facilities a large sleepaway camp has to offer.

When I’m up photographing summer camp I usually feel excited and completely overwhelmed at the same time.  It feels like everywhere I look there is an opportunity to capture activity, a sporting event, shared moments of silliness and laughter between campers. I can run up, take a bunch of photos, and run out to the next area of camp knowing I got a lot of good material in only a few moments.
The older teens participate in vocational training while at camp, working various jobs within Camp Chi to help prepare them for an independent life.

Working at Firefly I needed to ease in with the campers, bring my own volume and energy down and try to fade into the background a bit more.  By doing that I got invited into personal moments like this one between two longtime camp friends who had just found out their parents arranged a trip to see each other during the school year.
The low staff to camper ratio makes it so the kids can get all the attention they need during their time at camp.

Water activities were definitely the highlight for these campers, whether it was running the obstacle courses, slides and boats in the cove, or goofing around in the pool with their friends.  Never were the smiles bigger than when everyone was in the water.
Campers exchanging stories with unabashed enthusiasm and enjoyment, the reason why this camp is so important.

When I spoke to the staff of Firefly before heading up they put an emphasis on capturing the friendships that these kids and teens make during their time up at camp.  When typical social situations can be difficult for even the most well-adjusted teen, imagine navigating those waters without all the tools that come naturally to so many kids. It was obvious these campers felt like they could just be themselves here, flowers in their hair, towels wrapped around their neck, among people who speak their language.