Including you: Vincent's Clubhouse hosts camp for kids with autism

The Flagler County organization is celebrating five years.

By Jake Montgomery
| 10:20 a.m. July 26, 2021

Abby Holmes, paraprofessional for Flagler Schools and volunteer, with her son, Ethan Holmes, 6, camper. Photos by Jake Montgomery

Noah Dorries, 7, with Kayla Ingram, registered nurse, volunteer. Photos by Jake Montgomery

Erica Flores, president and founder of Vincent's Clubhouse. Photos by Jake Montgomery

Tracy Smith, volunteer. Photos by Jake Montgomery

Jackie Olson, OTR/L volunteer. Photos by Jake Montgomery

Amanda McCrimlisk, volunteer. Photos by Jake Montgomery

Nancy Moses-Bennett, speech language pathologist, volunteer. Photos by Jake Montgomery

Morgan Berry, 10, camper with Vincent Cona, 13, camper. Photos by Jake Montgomery

Hyden Noyes, 5, camper. Photos by Jake Montgomery

William Bianco, ESE teacher for Flagler Schools, volunteer, with Brian Zayas-Ortiz, 14, camper. Photos by Jake Montgomery

Haley Olson, 15, camper. Photos by Jake Montgomery

Travis Reynolds, 9, camper. Photos by Jake Montgomery

Aimee Corbett, 10, camper. Photos by Jake Montgomery

Vincent Cona, 13, camper. Photos by Jake Montgomery

Bailey Leichty, 13, camper, with Chris Leichty. Photos by Jake Montgomery

Michael Steele, 5, camper. Photos by Jake Montgomery

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

Vincent's Clubhouse celebrated its fifth year with its fourth summer camp, for children with autism.

Founded by Erica Flores, the organization's mission is "to serve children with autism and other special needs through collaboration with communities and schools by creating engaging and inclusive social opportunities, summer camps, support groups and advocacy programs."

How the Clubhouse was founded

The following was originally published on the vincentsclubhouse.org:

Picture a beautiful, sunny, Florida summer morning. I was standing in the kitchen when my son, Vincent, asked me if he could go to summer camp with his cousins. I looked into his big, brown eyes, and I told him a lie. I told him the summer camp his cousins attended was filled up, and no more kids could go. The truth is he, couldn't go because Vincent has autism.

The traditional summer camp was not equipped to meet the needs of children with autism. It was then that the idea of Vincent's Clubhouse came about.

Vincent's Clubhouse, a nonprofit orginization, was founded with a mission to establish summer camps that are engaging, fun, safe and educational for children with autism, and other sensory disorders.

With a lot of hard work, dedication, and love, in June 2017, we hosted our first Vincent's Clubhouse Summer Camp. It was a wonderful success! We were able to provide children who would not have otherwise been able to attend a summer campwith an experience of a lifetime.

— Erica Flores, president and founder

This year's camp included a visit from a K-9 unit from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, an ice cream truck, a visit from the Palm Coast Fire Department, and a yoga class from Hot Yoga Studio in Palm Coast.

One parent, Heather Dorries, said: "Noah has the best time, and we're so grateful to have found a camp not only willing to take him, but one that was thrilled to have him. They were phenomenal with checking in about Latex allergies and making every activity inclusive. He already can't wait until next summer. Thank you, Vincent's Clubhouse, for caring and loving our sweet boy this week."

The organization hosts monthly social events that are announced via Facebook and a mailing list. At 6 p.m. every third Wednesday during the school year, Vincent's Clubhouse hosts a support groups with Flagler Schools at the Government Services Building.

To be added to the mailing list, email [email protected].

About autism

In 2020, the CDC reported that approximately 1 in 54 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to 2016 data.
- 1 in 34 boys identified with autism
- 1 in 144 girls identified with autism
Most children were still being diagnosed after age 4, though autism can be reliably diagnosed as early as age 2.
Research indicates that genetics are involved in the vast majority of cases.
Studies have shown that among identical twins, if one child has autism, the other will be affected about 36 to 95 percent of the time. In non-identical twins, if one child has autism, then the other is affected about 31 percent of the time.
Over the last two decades, extensive research has asked whether there is any link between childhood vaccinations and autism. The results of this research are clear: Vaccines do not cause autism.

Source: www.autismspeaks.org