Adaptive Bible Camp Offers Inclusive Summer Fun for Eden Prairie Kids

Unlocking the Potential of Every Child

Tailored Curriculum and Flexible Approach

The Adaptive Bible Camp's curriculum is carefully crafted to cater to the unique needs of its participants. Unlike the church's traditional Vacation Bible School, which features singing, dancing, and structured activities, the Adaptive Bible Camp takes a more flexible approach. Music, for instance, is adapted to accommodate non-verbal children, with a focus on creating different sounds and rhythms rather than singing. Crafts are less intricate to accommodate visual impairments, and the timing of activities is more fluid, allowing the children to explore at their own pace."If an activity is not going as planned, we'll just move on. No big deal. It's not worth getting frustrated or whatever," explains Rachel Casper, the director of children and family ministries at Eden Prairie UMC. "Sometimes, if the kids are really into something, we'll just stick with it a little bit longer."

Personalized Attention and Sensory-Friendly Spaces

The Adaptive Bible Camp's registration process is designed to ensure that the staff is well-informed about each child's specific needs before they arrive. This allows the team to create a tailored experience, catering to the individual's preferences and sensitivities."We know that there's going to be kids that are sensory seekers, so we know that these loud instruments are going to be great," Casper says. "We know that we have one kid who was just overwhelmed with loud noises and crowds and chaos. So we have a sensory space for him to go take a break during the loud time, and that's OK."

Fostering Connections and Belonging

The Adaptive Bible Camp's inclusive approach has been a game-changer for families who have previously felt ostracized from their churches. Casper, whose own son was once asked not to return to a different church's children's ministry program, understands the importance of creating a welcoming environment."There are so many people that I've talked to that have been ostracized from their churches. Their kids can't participate. They've been told not to bring their kids back to church. So one parent will stay home with the kid while the other parent goes to church and worships," Casper shares.At Eden Prairie UMC, however, the Adaptive Bible Camp ensures that every child can fully participate, without judgment or exclusion. "I just really wanted to create a program where the kids could participate in everything and no one would think anything of it. Everybody could participate in everything," Casper says.

Flexible Scheduling and Unstructured Play

The Adaptive Bible Camp's schedule is also tailored to the needs of its participants. While the church's traditional Vacation Bible School runs from 9 a.m. to noon, the Adaptive Bible Camp takes place from 10 a.m. to noon, providing a shorter and more manageable timeframe."An hour shorter – sure you do a little less stuff – but at the same time, you've got more energy to do what you end up doing," says Cole Dewey, a 2019 Eden Prairie High School graduate who volunteered at the 2024 Adaptive Bible Camp.The camp's schedule also includes unstructured free play at the end of each session, allowing the children to explore their interests and decompress after the structured activities. "If you want to play foosball, if you want to play LEGOs, if you want to play a game. It's your time to just relax because we've been asking them to focus for the last two hours," Casper explains.

The Presence of Therapy Dogs

Another unique aspect of the Adaptive Bible Camp is the presence of therapy dogs, which Dewey highlights as a significant advantage over the traditional Vacation Bible School. "Also: dogs. There are no dogs at traditional VBS," he notes.The camp's regular therapy dog, Bailey, has been a fixture since the program's inception, providing comfort and companionship to the participants. In 2024, when Bailey was unavailable, volunteer dog Wrigley stepped in to fill the role, further enhancing the camp's welcoming and calming atmosphere.

A Quieter, More Intimate Setting

The Adaptive Bible Camp's smaller enrollment, compared to the church's traditional Vacation Bible School, also contributes to its unique atmosphere. While the traditional VBS sees an enrollment of 40-50 children, the Adaptive Bible Camp's enrollment has grown from 4 in its first year to 12 in 2023."It's intentionally quieter," says Serra Dewey Vickery, Cole's mother and another adult volunteer. "There is more than a one-on-one ratio of adult volunteers to children enrolled, with all of the adult volunteers, several of whom are special education teachers or parents, trained in working with special needs children."

Fostering Meaningful Connections

For families like Becca Turley's, the Adaptive Bible Camp has been a transformative experience. Turley, whose 13-year-old son Mason has attended the camp for two consecutive years, made the 80-mile drive from their home in Bird Island to ensure Mason could participate."I thought, 'Wow, that would be great for Mason. I think it's important for him to have kids that he can truly connect with,'" Turley shares. Unlike traditional Sunday school settings, where her son can struggle to sit still, the Adaptive Bible Camp provides a fun and engaging environment where he can thrive."I just like that they make it fun for them, and they're patient. Like they're in there playing, and they just make it a good experience, not something where, 'Oh, I have to go in there and just sit down and listen,'" Turley says.For Casper, the director of children and family ministries, the "squeals of delight" from the Adaptive Bible Camp participants are the true highlights of her year. "That's what it's all about," she says, "is being like every other kid and participating and feeling the love of Jesus."