Once the school year is over, many families with children on the autism spectrum are stumped. Even if your child qualifies for Extended School Year programs, those programs are limited in length and unlikely to include fun recreational activities.
Luckily, quite a few camps cater to kids with autism. Less luckily, many of the camps listed in the directories listed below are quite expensive. To find day camps and/or less expensive options, check your local camp listings and fairs, and be sure to contact your local YMCA and/or Jewish Community Center (JCC).
• Federation for Children with Special Needs (Northeastern United States)
The Federation for Children with Special Needs has collected a set of linked camp listings for various disorders. While there is a set of camps that are specifically for kids with autism, it's worthwhile reviewing those that cater to kids with learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and other issues that might overlap your child's specific areas of challenge.
• OASIS Camp Listings for Kids with Asperger Syndrome
OASIS is a comprehensive website for Asperger Syndrome, and their camp listings are fairly extensive. Be aware that they do skew toward programs that are appropriate for higher functioning kids.
Autism Summer Camp
www.summitcamp.com
Summer Camp for children with mild emotional concerns. Ages 7-17
• Easter Seals Summer Camps
Easter Seals provides summer camps and recreational programs for children and adults of all abilities. These programs are geared solely to people with special needs, which means they are not inclusive.
• The Center for Children with Special Needs (Northwest United States)
Search by type of camp and type of disability to find the right match for your child. These camps are largely in the state of Washington or nearby.
• Very Special Camps
Very Special Camps is a website dedicated entirely to listings of special needs camps. They list several dozen camps around the country that are specifically dedicated to kids on the autism spectrum.
• YMCA Camps
YMCA camps are not specifically geared to special needs, but most will work hard to find a way to include your child. If you're more interested in day camp than residential camp, contact your local YMCA. If you have both typically developing and autistic kids, both can attend a Y camp -- and, even better, both you and your kids can take part in year-round Y activities.
• Kids' Camps Directory: Camps for Kids with Autism/Aspergers
This is another general camp directory, but it includes an impressive collection of camps and programs specifically geared to kids on the autism spectrum. Search by state.
• Jewish Community Center (JCC) Camps
Like the YMCA, the JCC strives to include people of all abilities in its programs. Some JCC camps (like the one in Medford, N.J.) have terrific support for inclusion. Others are more than willing to admit your child with a 1:1 aide. And some will work with you to include your child without special support. While JCC camps are nominally Jewish, all are open to youngsters from any religious background. To find a local JCC camp, call your local JCC.
• Wilderness Inquiry Family and Youth Programs
I've never experienced this organization's special needs family wilderness programs, but gave them a call and found that they are knowledgeable about and accommodating to the needs of autistic people. Accommodations include picture boards and visual supports, special menu planning, and up-front interviews with families to ensure that all needs are met.
The following is a list of camps that might be beneficial to your child if he/she has autism.
4-H Camp Bristol Hills
Abenaki-Mascoma Day Camp
Abington Parks and Recreation Department
AccesSport America
ADA Camp Carefree
Adaptive Sports Center
Adventurelore Programs
Adventure Zone Inc.
Agassiz Village
Aspire Summer Camp
Bear Hill 4H Camp
Berkshire Hills Music Academy Summer Program
Berwick Boys Foundation
Boys Scouts of America
Breezy Hill Farm
Bridgewater Recreation Commission
Camp Agassiz
Camp Allen
Camp An-Se-Ox
Camp Aspetuck
Camp Barrington
Camp Burgess & Hayward
Camp Calumet
Camp Candlewood
Camp CaPella Inc.
Camp Carlson
Camp Cedar Hill
Camp Chickami
Camp Clark
Camp Common Ground
Camp Communicate
Camp Coniston, Inc.
Camp Connolly
Camp Discovery
Camp Echo Bridge
Camp Edith Read
Camp Emerson
Camp Encore Coda
Camp Farley
Camp Farnsworth
Camp Fatima
Camp Favorite
Camp Fire USA, Eastern Massachusetts Council
Camp Frank A Day
Camp Habonim
Camp Half Moon
Camp Harkness
Camp Harrington
Camp HASC
Camp Horizons, Inc.
Camp Howe, Inc.
Camp Huntington
Camp Jabberwocky
Camp Jewell YMCA
Camp Joy
Camp Kaleidoscope
Camp Katoya
Camp Kee-wanee
Camp Laurel
Camp Lawrence
Camp Lawroweld
Camp Lewis Perkins
Camp Lincoln
Camp Marshall
Camp Massapoag
Camp Massasoit
Camp Maude Eaton
Camp Mechuwana
Camp Merrie-Woodv
Camp Nokomis
Camp Northwood
Camp Otter
Camp Pattagansett
Camp Pennacook
General Disability Cont'd
Camp Pikati
Camp Pine Cone
Camp Polliwog
Camp Putnam
Camp Ramapo
Camp Rice Moody
Camp Runels
Camp S.T.A.R. (Supporting Therapeutic & Accessible Recreation)
Camp Sangamon
Camp Satucket
Camp STAR
Camp Susan Curtis
Camp Thorpe
Camp Timber Trails
Camp Timbercrest
Camp Triumph
Camp Twin Hills
Camp Virginia
Camp Wapanacki
Camp Watchaug
Camp Waziyatah
Camp Wee-Kan-Tu
Camp West Woods
Camp Wind in-the-Pines Girl Scout Camp
Camp Winnetaska
Camp Woodhaven
Camp Yomechas
Center Church Camp Asto Wamah
Clover Patch Camp
Duxbury Bay Maritime School/AccessSail
Easter Seals Camp Hemlocks
Easter Seals Summer Camps
Exploration Summer Program
Grotonwood General
Gresh Academy West Hills Day Camp
Harbor Explorers at Piers Park Sailing Center
Harbor Hills Day Camp
Hillside School Summer Term
Inly School Day Camp
Kettleford Day Camp
Lions Camp Pride
Madden Open Hearts Camp
Maplewood Country Day Camp
Mascoma Day Camp
Med O Lark
Newton Therapeutic Recreation Program
Nobles Day Camp
Oceanwood
Onyahsa
Outdoor Explorations
Outward Bound U.S.A.
Pequossett Summer Program
Performing Arts Center of Metrowest
Pinewoods Dance Camp
Playball Baseball Camp
Polliwog Creative Arts Camp
Ponkapoag Outdoor Camp
Raynham Parks and Recreation Department
Rolling Ridge
Roxbury YMCA
Search Beyond Adventures
Seawood Day Camp
Seeds of Peace
Somerville YMCA
South Shore YMCA Camps
Student Hostelling Program, Inc.
Summer Camp Hale Reservation
Summer Youth Sailing Program
Techgirlz
The Bridge Center Summer Camps
The Drama Play Connection
The Giving Camp
The Guided Tour, Inc.
The Paul Center for Learning and Recreation
The Summer Camp, Inc.
Tiny Tadpoles
UNH 4H Camps
Universal Access Program
Variety Club Camp and Developmental Center
West Suburban YMCA
Whispering Pines Day Camp
Windsor Mountain Summer Camp-Deaf Plus
YWCA
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Confidence is Cool Summer Camp
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Neil Klatskin Day Camp
Pine Tree Camp
Sprout, Inc.
The Charles River Center
Variety Club Camp and Developmental Center
Wediko New Hampshire Summer Program
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Confidence Connection
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SOAR
Summer@Carroll
The Learning Camp
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