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This is the Thurston County Inclusion logo. It is Yellow and Teal and the "C" looks like hands being held together.
Green Grass Field

Summer Camp 2026 FAQ

  • How much does camp cost?

We are thankful for our generous grantors, donors and sponsors who help make our summer camp free and run on a donation basis only (please see How can I support TCI? below).

 

  • Where do we hold camp?

Faith Lutheran Community Center

7075 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey, WA 98503

We have access to an air conditioned gym, class room, indoor kitchen,fenced outdoor area, and field!

 

  • Who are participants at TCI’s camp?

Our participants are youth that range in age from 5 to 22 and are individuals with and without intellectual/developmental disabilities. They represent over 43 schools in Thurston County. 

 

  • How do I register for camp?

You can find registration information on our website. Registration Opens April 25th

 

  • What are the different sessions?

Mondays :

12:00–2:00 PM

Green Session 6th–8th grade

Orange Session 9th–12th grade & Transition Students (stationary) 

(Groups will run concurrently but separate)

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Tuesdays

  • Yellow Session 10:00am-12:00pm 5 years old - 5th grade

  • Blue Session  1:30pm-3:30pm-5years old -5th Grade 

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Wednesdays

  • Teal Session 2:00-4:00pm 9th–12th grade & Transition Students (traveling teen camp) 

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  • Tell me more about Wednesdays Teen Traveling Teal Session

This session is geared towards the older age participants to provide them a unique opportunity. Through this field trip style camp participants are experiencing many activities and places in Thurston County with peers. Each week will be a new location and theme! Previous years we have gone to Loc-Oly Kitchen for cooking class, Wolf Haven, bowling, and activities included LEGO and STEM, craft days, among more. You will receive a detailed list of locations planned before you start camp.

 

  • How are age cohorts determined?

​Age cohorts are designed to support positive peer connections and meaningful friendships. These groupings are based on developmental stages and social needs, helping participants engage with peers who are at similar ages and life experiences. This structure encourages peer support, confidence-building, and a sense of belonging while allowing staff to tailor activities and support appropriately for each group.

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  • What should families expect from camp, and how do I know if it’s a good fit for my youth?

​Our goal is to create a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible camp experience for all participants. We strive to meet a wide range of needs and offer supports such as quieter spaces and noise-reducing headphones upon request.

That said, our camp environment may not be the best fit for every youth. Camp days often include group activities, varying noise levels, transitions between activities, and depending on the program, movement between locations (such as our travel-based session). For youth who experience significant difficulty with group settings, louder environments, frequent transitions, or new locations, this program may feel challenging.

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We encourage families to carefully consider their youth’s comfort and support needs when registering. If you are unsure whether our camp is a good fit, we welcome you to reach out to our team to discuss your youth’s needs and explore whether our program can provide a supportive and positive experience and check out one of our year round programs before registering. 

goal we are actively working toward.

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  • How many days a week is the camp?

​At this time, our camps are intentionally designed as single-day experiences due to several factors, including limited staffing (all of our staff—including our directors—are part-time), the fact that we do not currently have a building of our own, rising venue and facility rental costs, and our commitment to keeping our camps free and accessible to families.

As our organization grows and additional resources become available, we hope to expand both the length and frequency of our camp offerings.

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If you have resources, partnerships, or connections related to short- or long-term venue use, we would love to connect. Please reach out to info@thurstoncountyinclusion.org—community support plays a meaningful role in helping us grow.

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  • Where does your funding come from?

​Our programs are made possible through generous donations, community sponsors, and grant funding as well as the small program fees we charge throughout the year.  We are also thankful to receive support from Thurston Mason Developmental Disabilities under their Public Health and Social Services grant sector.
If you have questions about our funding, please reach out—we’re happy to share more.

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  • Why don’t you offer respite care?

​While our programs are supportive and inclusive, we are not licensed or structured to provide respite care. Our focus is on activity-based programming rather than individualized caregiving.
If you have questions about what our programs can offer, please contact us.

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  • Can I drop off my youth, or do I need to stay on site?​

Drop-off is allowed for participants who meet our program and safety requirements. Parents and caregivers are also welcome to remain on site if they choose, provided they acknowledge that they do not have a disqualifying offense, in accordance with our participant policies.

If you choose to drop off your youth, we ask that you keep your cell phone with you, ensure the ringer is turned on, and remain within 15 minutes of the program location in case we need to reach you. If you have questions about drop-off eligibility or on-site expectations, please review our participant policies or contact us for clarification.​​ 

 

  • What does my child need to bring to camp?

We would like your child to wear their camp t-shirt, a water bottle, and a nut free snack. Please label all items. 

 

  • Who is staffing this camp?

TCI has a few staff, event support and board members who will be in attendance. They will be supported by volunteers each session. There are lots of eyes and support for your child. 

 

  • Can my child come with a friend or sibling?

Yes. Please register both participants for our camp and indicate that they may want to be grouped together. If they are different ages and would be in different camps, it is OK to sign them up for the same session. 

 

  • Does camp fill up? What happens if it does?

Yes, our camp did fill up in previous years and we expect it to again this year. There is a waitlist.  

 

  • I cannot drop my child off at camp. Is there any transportation?

TCI does not provide transportation. If your child is able to take the bus or bike, that is allowed and just requires an additional form signed. We also encourage you to reach out to other parents who may be interested in carpooling. In addition you may utilize the Bus Buddies and or Intercity Transit’s Dial a Lift for help with transportation (neither are affiliated with TCI)

 

  • What does a typical day look like?

We have many themes and activities for our sessions and you can expect:

  • Check in (parent/caregiver signs participant in)- Split off into groups by ages and meet with the group leaders for name badges and small group welcome activity.

  • Large group activity to discuss the flow of the day and upcoming activities

  • Rotate through different stations in small groups. Every group gets an opportunity to engage with stations

    • If a youth is having trouble with transitions they may stay at the desired activity and will be supervised by the station leader. 

  • Snack time-roughly 30 min of snack and conversation, this is also a time for some youth to have a quieter reset before our other activities that end the session

  • Guardians pick up

 

  • What happens if it rains, is smokey, too hot, or other weather conditions?

TCI has policies related to inclement weather. If the decision is made to move indoors and offer no outside activities or cancel, this will be sent via email to your registration email. 

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  • What if my youth needs breaks or a quieter space?

​We offer breaks and quieter areas when available. Please let us know ahead of time if your youth may benefit from additional support and be sure to note that in the participant waivers.

 

  • What is your staff-to-youth ratio?

We maintain appropriate ratios based on age, activity type, and safety guidelines for details based on ages and more please connect with us.

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  • What if we can no longer attend?

​If your plans change, please notify us as soon as possible so we can offer the spot to another family.

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  • Can I sign my participant up for more than one session?​

Elementary and middle school participants may register for one session time only. If additional spots become available, we will reach out to families about the possibility of joining another session.

Teen participants (for both the stationary and travel camp programs) may register for one or both sessions, depending on their interest and availability.

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  • Who can I contact with questions?

​If you have questions before or after registering, please reach out to our team—we’re happy to help. Please note that our team is all part-time and response times may vary especially during peak programming times, we appreciate your patience. 

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  • How can I support TCI?

There are many ways to support us, including Monetary Donations, Sponsorships, and item donations. Please see our website for more information: https://www.thurstoncountyinclusion.org/supportus 

 

More Questions? Please email at info@thurstoncountyinclusion.org

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