Our Retreats

About The Awaken Project

Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization

Supporting Families with Autism Through Retreats

Our Mission

Th A.W.A.K.E.N. Project is a non profit organization created to enhance the lives of Autistic children and families through support, education and nourishment.

What Do We Offer?

At The AWAKEN Project retreats we strive to create an energy of healing and renewal for the entire family.

AWAKEN is a camp style retreat where children with Autism and their families are immersed in therapies, healing body treatments, fun group activities and time to play freely.

With a compassionate staff of qualified caregivers and therapists, the entire family will get to experience some of the most promising, compelling and potentially life changing therapies and treatments currently offered!

At AWAKEN retreats children on the spectrum are celebrated for exactly who they are. They will have joy filled days with fun and relaxing activities as well as play based therapies to support their individual interests and needs.

We introduce children on the spectrum to a specially designed diet aimed to heal the body and gut, allowing massive leaps in communication and increase in focus for them. Parents will be provided with cooking classes, recipes, and simple meal plans to support the continuation of this uniquely designed diet for people on the Autism Spectrum.

At AWAKEN we believe the siblings of autistic children to be very special as well, we endeavor to honor them and give them an amazing camp adventure experience! They will have access to all the healing modalities and fun activities, as well as time with other siblings to share and play.

While their kids are in camp bliss, parents are treated with time to themselves which we know can be rare at home. Provided with a wide array of services including self-care spa, yoga, meditation space, and recreational outings parents at AWAKEN retreats get a chance to fall into a state of tranquility while they take time to themselves. We provide an atmosphere that supports parents in finding a deepening connection with self, their partner, and their child. They may choose to join their children throughout their days, or keep space to focus on self care and nourishment. AWAKEN retreats give parents the opportunity to rejuvenate while feeling secure that their kids are safe and happy.

We seek to create a closer bond among family members through retreats that provide a nurturing environment for healing and serenity and workshops that promote family connection.

The Retreats

AWAKEN retreat offerings include:

Diet, Nutrition Plans, and Cooking Classes

To bring healing to bodies with autism, we have created specially designed diet and supplement plans. Each diet plan will be designed based on the needs of your child. We’ll also provide cooking instruction, recipes, and online meal plans to help you prepare healthy meals at home for your child.

Equestrian Therapy

Also known as Hippo-therapy or horse therapy, equestrian therapy has many benefits for children on the spectrum. Horse therapy is used by many occupational, physical, and speech therapists to reach their patients on a personal level. The motor, emotional, and sensory awareness of riding a horse not only helps children relax tight muscles but also increase their balance, posture, mobility, and function.

Riding a horse improves your child’s self-awareness, self-control, and self-confidence. Giving directions to the horse while riding will promote your child’s ability to follow directions, and foster better communication skills. Children on the spectrum will be able to communicate with the horses physically through brushing, feeding, petting, and hugging instead of communicating verbally with the horses. Caring for the horses also builds an emotional bonding, and trust, that can lead to improved communication and social skills.

While riding a horse through the direction change, incline, and speed, your child’s vestibular sensory organs get stimulated. This stimulation not only livens your child’s sensory receptors but also excites and motivates your child to engage.

Aquatic Therapy

For children with autism, aquatic therapy builds stronger muscles, improves balance, and develops range of motion. The water brings a sense of calm to the body and offers a safe place to practice small interactions without the need for long conversations.

Water play is enjoyable and can be the best form of exercise. Water behavioral therapy opens pathways for communication outside of the water and also improved focus. It also presents an opportunity for children to learn to swim, a crucial skill that will keep your child safe from danger in the future.

Music Therapy

Children with autism respond positively to music. It not only brings joy to them but also motivates and engages them. To form a personal connection and build trust, music therapists find musical experiences that strike a happy chord within the child. The soothing music and the formation of trust with another being will bring many noticeable changes. Studies have shown that music therapy can help autistic children improve their social skills, behavior, cognition, sensory integration, and communication.

Art Therapy

Art therapy is a unique form of treatment for autism. It alleviates sensory and behavioral issues, and helps channel autistic behaviors into an outlet of creation and expression.

Your child can forge a beautiful bond when creating art alongside an art therapist.

Children will enjoy exploring various art materials or tackling detailed art projects. Our programs help relieve stress and boost self-confidence. Art therapy not only brings healthy self-expression and builds life skills but also addresses many behavioral issues. Children on the spectrum find it hard to understand tones of voice and facial expression. Hence, conversation can be intimidating and stressful for them. Images can relieve people from the daily battle to find the “right” words. If you’re a person who struggles with words, art is a way to express yourself without them.