Leading by Example: Meet Camp Franklin's Summer Interns - Franklin Center

Summer Camp Can Be an Integral Part of Childhood...

The memories—of meeting new friends, playing group games, creating art projects, laughing in the afternoon sun—define and structure the long, open-ended weeks of school break.

Yet, for many neurodiverse kids, summer camps bring challenges and barriers that prevent them from opting into the fun. The overstimulating environment, lack of scheduled breaks to regulate, staff who are not trained and equipped to meet their needs… These hurdles can be insurmountable, and lead to summers spent at home.

Welcome to Camp Franklin: A Summer Designed for Everyone

At Camp Franklin, K-12 students with neurodiversities have the opportunity to experience the joys of camp in an environment perfectly tailored to fit their needs. Each summer, Camp Franklin offers a wide range of academic, recreational, and social skills programs for kids with autism spectrum disorder and individual learning needs.

In the morning, Parliament and Learn2Learn camps ensure students don’t lose momentum on their academic progress and classroom routines, building and maintaining skills in reading and mathematics. In the afternoons, they dive into a variety of exciting activities, including Cardboard Creations, Splash Zone, Ninja Warrior, Summer of Service, Robotics, and State Fair Cooking.

From Campers to Leaders: Meet the Interns

While the younger campers are busy making memories in the afternoon sun, four Franklin Academy and Capstone students are gaining foundational workplace experience right alongside them. As Camp Franklin interns, they are discovering that the young campers aren't the only ones having a summer to remember.

The interns went through a real-world application process including submitting resumes, filling out a questionnaire, and completing an interview. Chloe Herzog, Enrichment Program Manager, took notice of their effort: “They were so professional; I was very impressed! All interns provided me with a resume and answered all the interview questions calmly and clearly.”

The interns received their job offers and schedules indicating which camps they’d help out with. They attended an orientation to set expectations and get the training they would need. Finally, it was time to clock in.

On the Clock: A Day in the Life of a Camp Intern

Each week, the teens assist afternoon camps with a variety of tasks. The core responsibilities are to provide supervision to ensure the safety of every camper, to build positive relationships by supporting campers and modeling appropriate behaviors, and to assist lead staff by setting up and cleaning up after each activity.

One of the interns this summer, Dylan, summed up his work as follows: “the main thing is keeping them on track, making sure they're following instructions and doing what they’re supposed to be doing. Being patient. Having fun with them.”

A day on the job could include passing out supplies and snacks, encouraging a hesitant camper to try something new, reiterating rules and expectations, modeling an activity, and leading the group game during a transition time.

Growing a Great Idea

The idea for a summer internship came about three years ago. Chloe noticed how helpful and capable some of the older campers were, and thought it would be a perfect opportunity to offer job experience. Now, the program has grown from one intern to four!

Two of our interns are back for a second year, building on the skills they grew last summer. That’s the case for Alex, who shared; “I wanted to experience being an intern again, because I did it last year, and it was great. I wanted to, you know, make money, but also teach these kids how to be a leader. I wanted to be an example.”

Another intern, Elliott, had already demonstrated his excellent leadership skills to Chloe when he assisted the Middle School Dungeons and Dragons Club during the school year, serving as their Dungeon Master. He’s continued to mentor and connect with some of those same students this summer.

The Comfort of a Familiar Workspace

The internship has provided a great opportunity for these young adults to practice workplace skills in a safe environment. Franklin Center is a known quantity to them. The sights, the sounds, the smells, and the classrooms are all familiar. They know how to get around, and who they can come to if they need help. This removes a major variable when it comes to stepping into the workforce.

That’s exactly how Dylan feels: “I chose to become an intern to have my first job experience be somewhere that I am comfortable. Somewhere I have people who I can talk to. I didn’t want to jump into the workplace, working at a Culver's or something, where I don't know anyone.”

So far, the interns have knocked it out of the park, shares Chloe. “I can tell they are excited to be here, and they've all been so helpful! I love to see them break out of their shell and connect with our young campers and collaborate with other staff.”

“I chose to become an intern to have my first job experience be somewhere that I am comfortable. Somewhere I have people who I can talk to.”

– Dylan

The Power of Representation

The kids have really taken to the interns, and it’s no surprise. A special perk to this program is that the young campers have the opportunity to look up to someone who shares their experiences with neurodiversities. That representation is powerful, and could even inspire them to step into the same leadership shoes someday.

What started as a simple observation three years ago has blossomed into a powerful, full-circle community initiative. The Camp Franklin internship program proves that with the right support, familiar surroundings, and a chance to shine, neurodiverse young adults can thrive in the workforce.

We are incredibly proud of Alex, Elliott, Dylan, Ray, and our entire team for making this summer one for the books. We can’t wait to see where their newfound confidence and skills take them next!

💡 Words of Wisdom for Future Interns

Academy and Capstone students - are you interested in pursuing an internship with Camp Franklin next summer? Here’s a couple of words of wisdom from this year’s cohort!

“It's a good experience and it’s just something that you should try.”
“It's nothing to be scared of.”
“Oh, and interviews are something you should dress up for!”

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