Welcome to S04E10 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! I accidentally invented a virtual summer camp for Spoonies after having a small existential crisis in my Instagram stories.

In this episode, I talk about why summer can feel surprisingly painful for chronically ill and neurodivergent people, especially parents, caregivers, and anyone grieving the life they thought they’d have. Between Long COVID, autism, ADHD, sensory overwhelm, heat intolerance, and the logistical nightmare of trying to “summer normally,” I realized what I actually need is community, ritual, silliness, softness, and something to look forward to.

Enter: Camp Long Haul.

A fully optional, low-pressure, asynchronous virtual camp for spoonie folks featuring themed weeks, crafts, scavenger hunts, campfire chats, hydration flotillas, ghost stories, pacing tips, and absolutely zero requirement to keep up or explain your absence.

Lurkers welcome, goblin mode accepted, no assholes. Grab your flotilla and let's camp!

Key topics

Why summer can feel isolating and emotionally difficult for chronically ill and disabled people
Parenting in a fully neurodivergent household while managing chronic illness
Creating accessible community spaces for Spoonies and Long Haulers
The structure and philosophy behind Camp Long Haul
Low-pressure participation and asynchronous community building
Themed weeks, campfire chats, scavenger hunts, crafts, and low-spoon activities
Pacing, overstimulation, burnout, and adapting expectations
Friendship, belonging, ritual, and chosen family in disability communities
Community rules around respect, consent, and psychological safety
Reclaiming fun, softness, and creativity after trauma and illness

resources

Whose Land — Whose Land
Instagram account for Ray and Stormi (pet enrichment & disability-friendly dog training): Ray and Stormi Instagram and TikTok: Ray and Stormi TikTok
Embracing Enchantment — Embracing Enchantment Podcast

Support this Podcast

I'm a disabled lady doing this whole podcast on my own. If you would like to support the podcast, please subscribe and follow, engage with my posts, comment, and share episodes that resonate with you! Those are the biggest ways you can support me and my work.

If you'd like to get some of my merch, check out my Bonfire shop! All proceeds are funneled back into the podcast for tech or used for community care and mutual aid. I don't keep the proceeds.

I do have an Amazon gift registry that I update for the summer each year. We are a blended family of 6 and all of us have disabilities. Some of our kids have complex medical issues as well as intellectual and physical disabilities, and we're increasingly neurodivergent. Summers get emotional, kids get boring, and the parents work from home without a "village" or the luxury of childcare. This summer gift registry keeps us afloat.

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If you'd like to be a guest on the show or suggest a guest, please use this form! https://forms.gle/q9wiV6mQ4G3SMBu99

Thank you for listening to and supporting A Friend for the Long Haul!

Keywords

Long COVID, Spoonie community, chronic illness podcast, neurodivergent adults, autism, ADHD, virtual summer camp, disability community, accessible community, chronic illness support, CPTSD, pacing, burnout, neurodivergent parenting, accessible joy, online community, disability advocacy, mental health, summer loneliness, chronic illness isolation, low spoon activities, asynchronous community, virtual support group, EDS, chronic fatigue, inclusive spaces