Beginning in 2008 Camp Howe partnered with The National Inclusion Project to build inclusive camping experiences designed for youth with and without disabilities to be together in the same program. Camp Howe's Echo Program has a 40 year history of providing youth with disabilities an inclusive educational and recreational summer camp experience.

Camp Howe shares the vision of The National Inclusion Project of a world where young people with developmental disabilities are totally immersed in all life has to offer. The desegregation of programs, jobs, services, and educational opportunities will benefit children with and without special needs. We will break down barriers that divide by helping families obtain the services, support and financial assistance that makes full inclusion possible. We will work to educate the public and motivate society to move toward full inclusion as a way of life. The National Inclusion Project grew out of the relationship between Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel and Diane’s, then 13-year-old son, Mike who had been diagnosed with autism. Clay met the Bubel family while pursuing a career in special education. The bond between Clay and the Bubel family grew strong as they shared a vision of a world where children like Mike could be fully immersed in society. Both Clay and Diane had witnessed children with disabilities repeatedly turned away from activities opened to typical children. They knew with the right support system doors could be opened to these individuals that had thus far remained closed. An organized effort could encourage and facilitate community inclusion and empowerment of individuals with disabilities. This shared goal grew into reality on July 28, 2003 when Clay officially announced the creation of The Bubel/Aiken Foundation. In 2009 to have a name that better spoke of their mission, they became The National Inclusion Project.

The National Inclusion Project has been actively developing its Let’s ALL Play Program programs inception in 2004. Today, the Foundation supports 35 recreational programs nationally. Providing this grant to Camp Howe is another exciting step towards TBAF’s goal of full inclusion. “We feel that partnering with Camp Howe will help us further our mission to open doors in communities nationwide for children with disabilities to experience everything life has to offer” says Jerry Aiken, Executive Director. Through the Let’s ALL Play Program, the Foundation supports recreational programs in their efforts to implement inclusive camps by providing a model, funding, and training.

In 2008, the Foundation enlisted the services of the Center for Social Development and Education and the University of Massachusetts – Boston to assess the implementation of Let’s All Play. Overwhelming evidences showed that children with disabilities improved self-esteem, social skills, confidence to participate and sports and motor skills. Campers of all abilities were equally likely to develop friendships with each other. This research mirrors the impact of a Camp Howe experience fall ALL our youth.

 “We are very excited to work with The National Inclusion Project to open even further Camp Howe to those special children with disabilities,” said Terrie Campbell “The National Inclusion Project has experience supporting inclusive program on a national level and we are very pleased to join their team to provide local youth the most successful and inclusive summer program in our area. The support we received allowed us to provide an inclusive experience for more youth with disabilities in an enhanced way. We hope to build on our past successes to grow our program stronger and meet the needs of the youth that we serve.”

The Echo program typically accounts for approximately 15% of campers registered. In addition to this, there are many youth with disabilities who are higher functioning who enrolled in our traditional program. The difference between our Echo Program and Traditional Program is simply that youth in the Echo Program have staff assigned to them to assist in their inclusion and success at Camp Howe. At camp, all campers are treated equally and respected and included in all areas of camp life. Camp Howe’s policy of acceptance of youth with a disability is based on the youth and the camp community benefiting from their inclusion. If the needs of the youth are beyond the capabilities of the camp we try to work with the families to have an adult who knows the child attend with her for no additional cost.

Our strongest asset is the community that has been established at Camp Howe, one that is accepting of differences in others. This forms the basis of all that we do and forms a community that truly embraces and values the differences in other. In a community of this kind, true life lessons can be experienced, learned, practiced and understood by all youth. In this environment youth have the freedom to explore their own personal biases, self concepts and social pressures and the opportunity to make life effecting change.