Working with the horses has especially helped the campers, she said. “It seems to have opened up their social skills. Working with horses had been reported to provide a breakthrough for kids who are not verbal. They respond to horses like no other animal.”

Lisan Tiger, 16, said he especially liked the horses.

“I liked practically the same things as he does,” he said, pointing to fellow camper Michael Black Elk, 16, from New Mexico.

“My main thing was meeting Kyle and Garrett and Corri,” Michael said.

Corri Horsechief was not a camper, but attended camp with his younger brother to make him feel more comfortable.

Lisan, already a skilled artist, said he also enjoyed the arts and crafts.

Crow, a math and science teacher who has known Daphne Hamon since they were children, said she has seen children with similar issues in her classrooms.

“The biggest thing I have learned is how difficult it is for these kids to communicate with us,” she said. “It’s not a problem for them to communicate, but it is for me to understand.

While pitching stones with Garrett, Crow talks about movies campers saw this week, mentioning the cartoon Spirit as one of Garrett’s favorites.

Garrett started speaking rapidly. Crow understood.

“He’s talking about the movie, he knows all about ‘Spirit,’” Crow said.

She said she learned “not only do we have to teach these kids the game, but how to play the game.”

“With Garrett, I have to say, ‘This is what we’re going to do and how we’re going to do it.’”

Daphne Hamon said people with autism spectrum disorders need structure in their lives.

“We post the daily schedule, and if there is any change, we hold up a light,” she said. “If nobody’s in charge, they take to wandering.”