Melanie Barnett
10 Summer Camps for Individuals with Special Needs Open 2021
Sending an individual with special needs to camp can be the experience of a lifetime for them. Due to COVID-19, many kids, teens and adults with special needs have faced isolation from their peers. Going to camp — a welcoming environment for making friends, exploring nature and trying new activities — can be just what they need this summer.
Check out these camps for individuals with special needs open summer 2021.
1. Friendship Circle
Friendship Circle of Michigan, located in West Bloomfield outside Detroit, is offering eight weeks of camp this summer. Three weeks of day camp will take place on Friendship Circle’s Meer campus in West Bloomfield from June 21-July 9. Campers will build friendships, learn critical social skills and engage in summer fun.
Friendship Circle is also offering three weeks of day camp at Camp North Star Reach in Pinckney, Michigan July 12-30. Each camper will begin and end their day at Friendship Circle with a daily trip to North Star Reach on an air-conditioned and movie-equipped charter bus. Day camp at North Star Reach, located in the great outdoors, will consist of lakefront activities, swimming in the pool, arts and crafts, nature walks, and more! Two sessions of overnight camp at North Star Reach will take place August 2-13.
2. Talisman Summer Camps
Talisman Programs, located in Zirconia, North Carolina, offers multiple summer camps for individuals with autism, ADHD, Aspergers and other learning disabilities ages 6-22. Talisman shares that its camps provide leadership opportunities, social skill-building and enhance personal accountability while fostering increased independence and self-esteem.
Talisman overnight camps will take place this summer in four sessions June 12-August 8.
3. Children’s Association for Maximum Potential
Children’s Association for Maximum Potential (CAMP), located in Center Pointe, Texas, offers seven sessions that are six days and five nights for children, teens and adults ages 5-50 with special needs and their siblings. CAMP says it modifies traditional summer camp activities like horseback riding, swimming and sports to include campers’ physical or developmental needs.
CAMP programs will take place this summer from May 23-August 13.
4-5. Easterseals Camps
Easterseals’ affiliate organizations, with locations in Chestertown, Maryland and Madison, Wisconsin, are offering summer camps for campers of all ages and abilities.
Easterseals Camp Fairlee in Maryland is offering camps this summer from June 27-August 26. Easterseals Camp Wawbeek & Wisconsin Elks/Easterseals Respite Camp have camp sessions this summer June 13-August 20.
6. The League for People with Disabilities
The League for People with Disabilities, located in Baltimore, Maryland, provides life-changing camp experiences for individuals age 7 and above with physical, emotional, cognitive and multiple disabilities. Camp Greentop says it was specifically designed for people with special needs.
Camp Greentop is offering multiple camps this summer from May 28-August 13.
7. Camp Lee Mar
Camp Lee Mar, located in Dresher, Pennsylvania offers summer programs for kids with special needs with a curriculum incorporating an academic curriculum and speech therapy with traditional camp activities.
Camp Lee Mar will run its 2021 session from June 23-August 10.
8. Camp Ramapo
Camp Ramapo, located in Rhinebeck, New York, offers summer camps specifically designed for children and teens of all abilities in an inclusive environment. Camp Ramapo says its programming builds teamwork, fosters community and helps campers discover strengths they didn’t know they had.
Camp Ramapo is offering camps this summer from June 27-August 28.
9. Camp Huntington
Camp Huntington, located in High Falls, New York, is a residential program for children and young adults with special needs. Camp Huntington says its camps are designed to maximize a child’s potential by locating and developing strengths and hidden abilities. Campers will learn social and life skills while participating in fun activities.
Camp Huntington is offering three sessions of camp this summer running June 20-August 21.
10. Deaf and ASL Camp
Deaf and ASL Camp, located in Knoxville, Maryland, is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization that provides communication-rich camps for deaf and hard of hearing children as well as children learning American Sign Language.
Deaf and ASL Camp will take place this summer July 25-30.
