Our son wasn’t diagnosed with Tourette’s until he was 14, when his loud verbal and physical tics became undeniable. Although, to be fair when a teacher of his suggested it I tried. After all, he already had ADHD and Autism diagnoses. That’s the thing about Tourette’s, it’s never just one diagnosis, it’s a devious cocktail of conditions. OCD and anxiety showed up once we had been educated by the experts and parents that Camp Twitch & Shout brings together every year. The week long camp doesn’t just support our kids, give them confidence and independence, it also supports their families. They host the families in a common area during the week your kid is at camp, they offer discounts to a central hotel and most enlightening they host a 2 day seminar. The seminar is packed with information, unjudgemental understanding, experts both with Dr degrees, PHDs and not least parents like you. Our son wasn’t the typical camper for three years. Because he started out mostly intermittently verbal and needing direction. He blossomed every year. Now we both had to be interviewed by camp staff and there were caveats about needing to stay nearby to get him every year, in case something went south. To be fair, there are kids every year unready to be away from home, the camp doesn’t want to traumatize them by making them stay. Camp Twitch N Shout has dedicated professionals on staff to cover any issue that might arise. The staff and the counselors are phenomenal. They gave our son independence and confidence. They gave us direction and answers, most importantly they gave us hope for a brighter future.
The first year my son attended Camp Twitch and Shout I was so nervous about how his experience would go. The staff was very thorough in gathering information on his health, meds, and him overall that it was reassuring. It was amazing and overwhelming at drop-off to see all the kids with TS. It was helpful that the camp posted photos daily during the week and we caught glimpses of him with smiles. When we arrived to pick him up, he ran towards us and the first words out of his mouth were, "I'm coming back next year!" I shed tears at pickup seeing all the campers sing together and hug before heading home. For some of the campers this is the only week each year that they get to be themselves. My son loved camp and came home from camp with some confidence and independence that he had been lacking prior. Each year he meets new friends and comes back with funny stories about their experiences. Camp Twitch and Shout is amazing!!
My son was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome when he was 8. He wanted to go to a summer camp but we were concerned about how he would fit in. Then my wife found Camp Twitch and Shout. He's been attending every summer since 2013, and graduated from Leadership Training this past summer. He has gained confidence and leadership that has helped him succeed in school. I highly recommend this camp.
I've been volunteering with TICS' Camp Twitch and Shout program ever since I entered the classroom. I've been diagnosed with Tourettes since I was 6 and I wanted to use my education and life experiences to help young kids with the condition. I've spent well over a decade volunteering with several organizations for Tourettes and the various programs TICS puts forth have not only been of the highest quality and experience, but have blown everything else I've worked with out of the water. The impact their programs have on not just the campers and kids who go through them, but the volunteers as well is incalculable. Many have volunteered for years, including those who don't even have a personal connection to it. I can't imagine what my life would be like if I didn't have TICS in it.
My daughter always wanted to go somewhere, where there were many children her age just like her. She had spent every summer at home, not being included in other local activities due to her having TS, and the Tics. Others just didn’t understand her not being able to control them, and would also tell her to sit in Time-Out until she stopped. So, these types of results sent her into a deep depression, and still today it does still haunt her.
She was first accepted to attend Camp Twitch & Shout in the summer of 2015. She was so excited. When she arrived she didn’t know exactly how to handle being accepted, to be wanted by others, to not to be told to sit in Time-Out because of her Ticing, and mostly to be with others her age, that was just like her.
Camp Twitch & Shout changed her so much. It taught her to accept who she is, and to be proud of herself with being different. She learned so much, and that she has super powers. She also learned that being different was a good thing, and to always be open minded towards others that are struggling, to help them out with what they are having to deal with inside, and that it’s ok to be different.
She also was a camp counselor in 2018. She hopes and prays that she’ll be accepted again in the near future, sates Its what God gave me, and to be there for others as well.
Amazing place, and opens up a whole new world just in one week.
I was first able to visit Camp Twitch & Shout during the summer of 2018 and I was blown away by the environment created to support and encourage the kids. T.I.C.S., as an organization, makes a concerted effort to understand the challenges faced by people living with Tourette's Syndrome and I'm glad that we have been able to make camp such a fun oasis that allows kids to just be kids!
I've been volunteering with Camp Twitch and Shout since 2014, and it is truly a life-changing experience. I've learned so much and been able to make so many meaningful connections with others who have Tourette's. Being able to be a mentor for today's children with Tourette's--something I never had the opportunity to receive when I was a child--is only part of what makes CTAS so meaningful to me, but it is the reason I come back every year. The positive impact volunteering with CTAS has had on my life is immeasurable.
My son, Tyler went here for a couple of years and it was awesome!!!! He absolutely loved the camp and the people there. Everyone was caring and accepted him. It was a time when he really needed acceptance and encouragement and the people he met at camp gave him both and then some!! His first year, I didn’t have the money to send him but he wanted to go so bad and they let him on a scholarship payment. I could go on and on about Camp Twitch & Shout...but I’d run out of room. Thank you all so much for the love and support you gave to Tyler!! ❤️ Here’s a picture of Tyler now...still performing.
I’ve been attending Camp Twitch and Shout for 5 years it is a place where we can be unapologetically ourselves. I started as a camper and continue to attend as a counselor. I consider this place my second home. I don’t know how I would have accepted being different without this camp. This camp teaches kids that what makes you different is what makes you special!
My son loved being a camp counselor. He learned he is not alone in the world. He has never used Tourettes as a "disability", but he views it as a different ability. He also made some great friends...
I have been going to camp twitch and shout since it opened! It is a place of love and independence for some many kids that feel like they are alone. As a camper Camp twitch and shout impacted me greatly and made me a happier and better person. Now as a counselor I get to give the joy and live fowared to my campers. This is a life changing place, tics and camp TaS are amazing
