Camp with a cause

Children with autism are spending this summer learning new skills.

By TRAVINA COLEMAN

GORE — Daphne Hamon said she was willing to do anything to help Kyle live a normal life.

Kyle, 13, lives with Aspergers’ disorder.

And now after what she calls tremendous progress, she has teamed up with a group of dedicated people to help other children who suffer from the disorders associated with autism.

Aspergers Disorder is a milder variant of autistic disorder. Both Aspergers disorder and autistic disorder are in fact subgroups of a larger diagnostic category. Though grammatical, their speech may sound peculiar due to abnormalities of inflection and a repetitive pattern. Clumsiness may be prominent both in their articulation and gross motor behavior.

Camp Grey Squirrel is the first of it’s kind in Oklahoma. It’s a 501(c)3 organization with the mission of providing affordable therapy for those suffering from the debilitating disorder.

And by all accounts, Kyle is very normal.

With curious eyes and quick responses, to an untrained eye – i.e. the general public – Kyle is functioning normally.

“We tried a lot of things,” Hamon said. “Including going casein-free in his diet.”

She said she has thought about going gluten-free, but said Kyle eats like a horse.

“I can’t keep that from him,” she said. “And we do give him cheese sometimes.”

This particular diet was made famous by Jenny McCarthy, whose son suffers from autism. So Hamon put him on the casein-free diet which calls for the elimination of milk protein, or casein.

Hamon saw wonderful results.

“He does wonderful on the diet,” she said.

Her personal struggle to create a path for Kyle to follow, in order to keep him functioning in society, is now being passed on to others.

At Camp Grey Squirrel, coordinators are committed to making every effort to provide a variety of activities based on the expressed interests from the parents or guardians and the kids. It is part of the mission of Camp Grey Squirrel to provide as many activities as possible at very little to no cost to the families. The camp is residential by the week, but will also offer play groups and other trips.

Hamon hopes for more sponsors so the bigger plan can happen sooner.

“We just joined the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce,” she said. “And we will be having lots of activities to raise money coming this year. The camp will grow.”

In the future, the camp plans to offer equine, martial arts, music, arts and crafts, and other therapies year-round to children with ASDs with the financial help from sponsors.

They are working with the local university, Northeastern State University, to have students majoring in special education and any of the therapies work with our kids under the guidance of their faculty, Hamon said.

“There is a support group for autism in Tahlequah,” she said. “But there is no camp like the one we have.”

Hamon said the closest she knows of is in Texas and Colorado.

“We need something here,” she said. “Something all children struggling with it here in Oklahoma.”

Corri Horsechief and his brother, Garret, were two of the five campers who came out to the inaugural event.

“I like it,” he said. “My brother likes it a lot. He gets a lot out of it.”

The Horsechiefs are from Tahlequah.

Another camper who was having a great time was Lisan Tiger. He sat working quietly on his clay sculpture before lunch.

The camp was hosted by the United Methodist Boys Ranch, and was treated to lunch from Fin and Feather Resort and Soda Steve’s.

Steve Pool donated all the campers’ meals.

“It’s something we could do,” he said. “We are happy to come out and do what we can. This is an important camp and we thought we could help.”

Volunteer and board member Laurinda Crow, said the camp is very important.

“This camp was going to make whether we had one or 50 kids here,” she said.

But the bills are piling up and the Hamons are looking for some more help.

“Each camper for a one-week session, costs around $1,100,” she said. “The therapists we have to hire to come in aren’t volunteering their time. We have to pay them.”

Hamon added that sponsorships are available.

“These children thrive on this kind of activity,” she said. “They need the structure and the socialization. The soak it in and you just see the difference and know how much it’s helping them.”

Horsechief said his favorite activity so far was the horseback riding.

“It was great,” he said. “Doing something you don’t always get to do.”

Hamon said more is in store for the camp once they purchase some property she thinks would be perfect for the permanent camp near Cookson.

“We would like to start the cabins soon,” she said.

“But it took five years to get off the ground, and I am pleased with the turnout.”