If you're looking for a summer camp experience for your child we hope that the following information is useful. A good idea is to check out camps the summer before, if possible paying a visit to the camps while they're in session.

HOW TO FIND A CAMP

American Camping Association for a list of camps serving special needs - 1-(800)-777-CAMP or (212) 674-4841. The New York Times Magazine Section and other major newspapers have a section listing camps in the back.

Resources for Children With Special Needs publishes a Camp Guide. Each year they hold a Camp Fair. Visitors to the Fair will receive a free copy of the Current Year's Camp Guide.

The Camp Guide is also available by sending a check for $25 plus $8.00 postage and handling to Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc., Dept. PR1, 116 E. 16th St., 5th Floor, New York, NY 10003, email info@resourcenyc.org.

Camp Fair 2012 is scheduled for Saturday, January 28, 2012
from 11am-3pm
Admission is free
Location: Church of St. Paul the Apostle - 405 West 59th Street
(Entrance to Fair on Columbus Avenue near West 60th Street) Manhattan

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• Meet the camp directors
• Get a free copy of the Current Camp Guide
• No child care will be available but children are invited to attend

 

Referral Services:

School & Camp Placements Service
Contact: Madeline Seldon

The Camp Connection
Contact: Lori & Norm Barrie

The Camp Experts
Contact: Marla Leader e-mail: marla@campexperts.com

Try the following sites:
www.kidscamps.com
www.camppage.com
www.campsearch.com

The following are sleepaway or travel camps for children with special needs.

Camp Northwood, Remsen. NY
www.nwood.com
(up to 17 years old). Experienced staff works on building self-esteem through individualized and group camping activities while continuing educational remediation daily.
Contact: Gordon Felt at (315) 831-3621

Camp Summit, Honesdale, PA
www.summitcamp.com
Phone: (800) 323-9908, (973) 732-3230
Eugene Bell, Senior Director
Email: info@summitcamp.com
Summit Camp is a summer sleepaway camp for boys and girls, ages 8-19 with issues including Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD and/or ADHD), Aspergers syndrome, awkward social skills, verbal or non-verbal learning disabilities (NVLD), and/or mild social or emotional concerns. Summit Camp is based on a traditional camp program, in a setting in which recreational, social, and educational activities have, as a primary goal, the establishment or reinforcement of feelings of success, confidence, enthusiasm, and self-worth. It offers full season or partial season. 

Summit Travel Program - Trips for older teens (15-19) with similar issues. Each summer there are trips planned to various locations.

Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck-Center Moriches (all ages up to 21)
Gary Nagle, Director
Call: (516) 878-1070
8/9 day sessions. Sleep over for ages 5-14 or 15-20
in early July. Scholarships available.

Camp Ramapo, Rhinebeck, NY
Serves children with:

This summer camp is ideal for youth who benefit from increased structure and supervision. The program is focused on the development of positive social and self-help skills, forming productive relationships, and having fun in a safe and well cared for environment.

There is a 1:1 camper to counselor ratio within 3 summer programs, each designed for a different age group: Early Adventures (4 to 6 years old), Summer Adventure (6 to 13 years old), and a Teen Leadership Program (14 years old and above). We enroll campers on a rolling basis and currently have openings. Fees are set on a sliding scale.

Information and applications are available at www.ramapoforchildren.org or by calling 845-876-8403. Mike Kunin, Camp Director

Camp Kehilla

Camp Kehilla provides an educational, socially and emotionally safe environment for children wiht special needs not able to meet the socialization demands of regular day camps, but are too high-functioning for traditional special education camps. Summer Day and Sleep-away Camp for Children and Teens with:

www.sjjcc.org

516.484.1545

Camp Maple Leaf
One week day camp experiences in July for ages 9-13 and ages 14-17. Visit beautiful Vermont and attend a fun day camp that focuses on social skills and leisure skills development for children and adolescents diagnosed with Nonverbal Learning Disabilities, Asperger's Syndrome, High Functioning Autism or PDD-NOS. Camp Maple Leaf offers opportunities for campers to expand their social skills while having fun, learning new leisure activities, and taking social risks. Trained peer counselors and highly qualified staff dedicated to a kind and professional learning environment.

http://www.mapleleafclinic.com/camp.htm
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The Devereux Glenholme School Summer Program
Washington, CT, www.theglenholmeschool.org, 860-868-7377
The Glenholme Summer Program provides a rich menu of fun and engaging activities designed to strengthen social skills and boost academic proficiency for ages 10-18.  Residential and Day Programs run in July  and August.

Daycamps

Listings of some daycamps where our members have found sensitivity and success for their youngsters with ASD are available at AHA support meetings, by emailing info@ahany.org or by speaking to AHA office staff at 888.918.9198

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Choosing a Camp or Summer Program for your
Special Needs Child
(Questions to ask when interviewing a director)

1. What are the primary goals of the Camp program?
2. How many campers and counselors are assigned per cabin?
3. What percentage of campers and staff return?
4. How many international counselors are on staff?
5. What are some typical backgrounds and ages of the staff? Minimum requirements?
6. Does the camp do criminal background checks on staff members?
7. What is a typical day's schedule, how structured is it, and how adult directed?
8. How would the camp approach the specific needs of my child?
9. What types of medical services are available on the campgrounds? What type of emergency medical facilities is in the area of camp?
10. How is medication distributed, and by whom?
11. How competitive is the sports program? (ex. Is there a Color War?)
12. What are some typical meals? Are there snacks? Can parents send snacks?
13. Has the camp dealt with learning challenged children on a regular basis? What modifications are made?
14. Is it possible to speak with the parents of children attending camp my child's age?
15. Is academic assistance available for my child? How many campers participate in the academics program and what activities would my child miss?
16. To whom does my child see if s/he has a problem with a counselor?
17. Was any child sent home the previous summer and why?
18. How does the camp deal with campers that misbehave?
19. What type of parent/camper communication is encouraged/allowed/care packages?
20. Are there end of the summer evaluations?
21. What other camps might serve the same population?
22. Are there any hidden costs? (ex. Laundry, transportation, insurance, activity fees, uniforms, etc?)

Reprinted by permission of Camp Northwood