A lot of high school students spend their summer getting in the required community service hours for college scholarships.

One group of students signed up where all they had to do was, be a friend.

But, you can't put a dollar value or a grade on what they're giving...And getting.

Point to the plane. Look at it. Look at it Daniel.

Shh. Shh. Pah, pah...

What do you do at the desk?

You sit at the desk.

Yep.

Can you draw a table?

Welcome to summer camp. This is the center for *teens with autism. The range of the neurological disorder is as diverse as the number of campers. One on one attention is critical so as well as having a personal teacher, each camper has their very own "friend."

Rosemary Mbanaja, Autism Summer Camp Volunteer; I learned that he can talk but he just chooses not to.

They have to find a reason to talk.

Laura Brumfield, Camp Principal; They've gotten them to do things that we haven't been able to get them to do as professionals, or their teachers or their parents.

They came to honor their commitments but most had no idea what they were in for...

It's honestly life changing.

Hamburger
Hamburger.
French fries...

Brittany Shaw, 15 year old Volunteer; It opens your eyes and it helps you see more of what the kids are all about.

They were also able to see that little steps in life are sometimes major milestones.

Ma, bah, bah, bah. Say, mmm

When you make that connection and can help a friend who has "Never" spoken, utter the beginning sounds of words...It means something.

Rosemary; Got him to say, duh, fuh, tuh, and ummm. And his mom cried.

Stephen; King usually speaks in the third person about himself.

So, Stephen Mccrory uses his gift for art to reach his friend. He knows it matters if you speak correctly in the first person.

Stephen McCrory, King's Friend; Very, very subtle differences that really make for a huge difference in, socially, being able to relate to people.

King; You can draw glasses like I'm wearing glasses.

Point to the boat, boat. Look at it; point to the boat. Good job.

Matisha Kirkconnell came to volunteer for two weeks last year; she stayed for six and is back again.

Matisha Kirkconnell, Hooked on Volunteer experience; Before I came to camp, I wanted to be a marine biologist and after I left here, I decided I wanted to be a behavioral analyst now or a clinical psychologist.

Matisha; I thought I was teaching them things by doing flash cards with them and stuff, but I came to realize this year that they're actually teaching me a lot more than I'm teaching them.

Principal; They're our future leaders.

And they're not going to be intimidated by our kids who have special needs...and that means that these folks are going to be more accepted in the community.

Brittany; I'm proud...It just makes me feel inside, like, Yes, I'm doing this, you know, I'm doing something right.

Matisha; It's the greatest feeling knowing that you've....been a friend to someone who really needs it.
Angels In Our Midst "Autism Camp"