For many kids, summer camp is a rite of passage. It’s the first time away from family for an extended period of time. There are new activities to explore like horseback riding and archery.
But for kids with autism spectrum disorders or other developmental disabilities, summer camp isn’t always an option.
That's where Camp Tall Tree comes in. The Fenton camp serves kids with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Josh McDaniel is a camp director and the unofficial storyteller at Camp Tall Tree.
He joined Stateside to tell us a story that he started telling when he was a counselor at the camp.
“And half of the story was kind of just so I could get everybody into the spirit. I had a group of 11 to 12 year old boys, which is kind of a hard time where you’re kind of just at that point where things are too cool, like maybe, maybe I’m too cool for this … but also you’re like I still really want to have fun! So you haven’t quite settled yet," he explained.
Listen above to hear McDaniel tell “The Tale of the Lightning Boy,” and hear about the time the lightning boy came to visit the campers in real life.
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