Summer Camps
Summer camps are a great time for children to spend time with other kids with special needs, participate in modified active outdoor activities, and gain social skills and independence. Camps designed for children with special needs have staff trained to suport their needs and activities geared to meet their needs.
Summer Camps
Follow the links below for additional information on the various camps geared specifically for kids, adolescents, teens and adults with various disabilities. Very Special Camps maintains a list of camps for children with disabilities in PA.
Most of these summer camps can be attended as Extended School Year (ESY). Contact the camp directly to work with them to determine ESY eligibility, if a waiver can be filed, and any financial aid or scholarships that can be applied to offset costs. These camps want what is best for the individuals they serve so before you refrain from applying because of the tuition, contact them to see all financial options available.
ACEing Autism aims to be the preeminent leader on how tennis and sport develops children with autism spectrum disorder and helping them become aware of ACEing Autism, while impacting an increasing percentage of those reached with ACEing’s unique programming. (Pittsburgh, Drexel Hill, and Radnor, PA). Students are paired 1:1 with a volunteer. The summer session may be 8-10 weeks at Shadyside Academy, Saturday mornings with time of session dependent on age of the child. You can try out tennis at one of their sessions. Program is for children 4 years to 21 years of age. Siblings are also welcome. Scholarships are available. Aces for Autism Free Registration
Three different summer day-camp programs are offered to individuals with special needs, ages 8 and up. The Trailblazers program is offered to campers ages 8-17 years of age. The Expedition program is for ages 18- 25. The Alumni program is for ages 26 and up. They are proud to be able to say that no camper will ever "age out" of Bournelyf. All programs are geared toward individuals classified in the mild to moderate range of the intellectual and developmental disabilities. (West Chester, PA)
Since 1968, Camp AIM has provided nearly 4,000 children and young adults who have physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and communication challenges with opportunities to Achieve, support to become Independent, and encouragement to become Motivated (AIM). This unique five-week summer day camp program combines life skills, social and recreational activities with aquatics, STEM, physical education, home economics, music, and art. Ratio of students to counselor averages 3:1 (Carnegie, PA). They are a certified ESY provider. This camp is affiliated with the YMCA. You may also check out their Facebook page.
The Camp Apple Program at Community Care Connections has provided a safe and supportive space for children with and without disabilities to continue their journey in developing life skills and social competencies. Your child will have the chance to practice a variety of interpersonal skills, including learning to get along with others, making friends, responding appropriately in social settings, advocating for themselves, and practicing good hygiene.
Camp Frog is a specially designed overnight summer camp experience for children and teens with epilepsy. This year, all camp activities will take place during June 16-22, 2024 at Camp Fitch in North Springfield, PA (near Erie). Campers ages 8-18 are encouraged to register.
For more information or to pre-register, please contact: Brooke at bmohr@eawcp.org for more information.
Camp GROWS (Gaining Real Opportunities for Work Skills) has partnered with the Sewickley Creek Greenhouse to provide students with opportunities to pratice real life job tasks. The camp is designed for students ages 16-21. If interested, please contact Leslie Corey ldacorey@outlook.com for additional information.
YMCA Camp Kon-O-Kwee provides an unforgettable camp experience to children, families, and members of the community for more than 90 years. The camp programs engage families, encourage adults, and inspire kids to learn, grow, and thrive. (Fombell,PA).
Camp Laugh-A-Lot is an integrated day camp that specializes in serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They provide a 3:1 ratio of counselor to student. The camp experience includes seven weeks of summer day camp (M-F) and a brief camp between Christmas and New Years. Sessions are only $50/camper and they work with school districts to provide ESY services (Washington and Wildwood, PA). There are many outings planned. They provide lunch and snacks every day. Registration begins April 17th. 2023 Flyer
Camp Lee Mar is a private, 6 1/2-week residential special needs summer camp for campers ages 7-21. They offer unique summer programs for kids with special needs with a full curriculum incorporating a strong Academic and Speech program with traditional camp activities. They follow the child's IEP, a play and learn atmosphere. Kids from all over the US attend. They are ESY approved. Looks like students attend all 7 weeks (beginning June 24th). (outside Scranton, PA) Check out their YouTube Channel.
The camps promise to engage, entertain and educate. For campers ages 8-21 with disabilities, Camp Lily offers inclusive activities that build skills, promote friendships and increase independence. (Allentown, PA)
PALS mission is to create inclusive camp experiences for people with and without Down syndrome. Their volunteer-led programs change attitudes, transform lives, and inspire a world of belonging. Recruitment flyer
Camp PARC provides a residential summer camp program and year-round recreational and social activities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their neurotypical peers. These opportunities encourage fun, social interaction, and friendship among its participants, all while creating valuable respite for parents and caregivers. (Laurel Hill State Park, Somerset, PA). There are 3 sessions (adult mini camp for those 18 and older; youth mini campers 6-17; adult full week ages 18 and older). Registration fee and costs are supplemented by fundraising etc. 2023 Brochure
Camp Pennwood is a one-of-a-kind program whose goals and objectives include:
provide age-appropriate programs for children and teens, emphasizing personal, socialization, and recreational skills that can be carried over into daily lives; provide maximum physical and mental stimulation during the summer months, thereby minimizing regression in skills; provide family members with a valuable respite service, as well as a developmental experience for individuals with disabilities; provide campers with disabilities contact with non-disabled volunteer peers, as well as providing staff and volunteers with in-service training, and; to offer a variety of camp components each session, including indoor and outdoor recreation, self-care instruction, arts and crafts, and music. (York, PA). There are 2 camps one for adults, ages 18 and up (Camp Pennwood, 5 days, which has lots of day trips); one for kids ages 6 to 18 from 9-3 M-F. Campers can come for 1 week or for all 5 weeks and everything in between. Lunch and snacks are provided. All of the staff are CPR certified. They have a sensory room and accessible playground. Funds may be available through MHID. Camper Application
This camp wants its campers to be able to engage with same-age peers and develop their social thinking skills in order to learn how to make and retain friends and become social successful. (Allentown, PA)
Camp Speers YMCA is an overnight camp with a safe, child-centered community. It helps campers discover who they are and what they can become. As campers swim, climb, play sports, be creative, learn social skills, and just have fun they develop confidence and independence. There are also programs available for siblings. They have a 1:3 counselor to camper ratio and camps are broken down by age groups. There are two 1 week session camps. Financial assistance may be available. 2023 Open Houses
The Dragonfly Forest specialty camp is a traditional overnight program for kids with Autism, 22Q, Asthma, Sickle Cell Disease, and Hemophilia. It aims to make camp a reality for as many families as possible. By partnering with parents and experts in the medical field, they can provide accommodations for our campers that allow them to be successful at camp. Dragonfly Forest aims to provide a culture of inclusion while fostering confidence and independence in each of our campers. (Dingman's Ferry in Delaware Township, PA) 2023 Flyer
Envision Blind Sports provides sport and physical activity opportunities for individuals who are blind or visually impaired to promote lifelong wellness.
Annual two-week summer arts camp hosts neurodiverse and neurotypical learners ages 12 and up for a series of classes including writing, visual arts, animation, music, and more. In addition to classes led by teaching artists, Future Camp wraps with a celebration called “Future Fest” which features local arts programming vendors, college resource booths, and more. Winchester Thurston School (Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh) For neurodivergent and neurotypical learners alike - ages 12 and up.
Fern Hollow Nature Center inspires people of all ages to appreciate the environment through educational programs and opportunities to discover the natural resources of the Sewickley Valley parks.
Glade Run Lutheran Services offers camps during the summer which are waiver funded and may be ESY eligible. The samp is geared for students with disabilities, age 8-18 years. There are fun activities in their greenhouse, horse barn, and woodland areas.
Hilltop Horizons strives to improve lives through the integration of equine assisted services.
Longhorn Summer Camp is designed for 12 to 17 year olds with neurodiverse needs, creating a safe place to learn, explore, and grow at your own pace.
FireFly Summer Camps
The summer developmental camping program provides a traditional camp experience for individuals with spina bifida and related disabilities. The program combines traditional camp fun with skill development in a barrier-free atmosphere regardless of disability. For many, it is an opportunity to be with friends and experience activities never thought possible.
A primary focus of the program is to work on teaching health care, life management, pre-vocational, and interpersonal skills. These skills are taught indirectly through goal-oriented activities such as cooking, art, sports, nature, archery, swimming, and discussion groups. Each summer program has a specific theme with targeted goals and objectives. The individual does not need to be independent in self-care routines to participate. Groups are determined based on age and interests.
FireFly Weekend Retreats
Weekend Retreats are an extension of the FireFly Summer Camp Program. Weekend Retreats enable participants to get together with friends throughout the year. The emphasis of the program is on developing and maintaining friendships. Groups are based on age.
Summit Camp is an American Camp Association accredited residential camp that has been serving children and teens with learning and social challenges and their families since 1968. Summit is a premiere program that meets the unique social and emotional needs of young people who have difficulty with sustaining friendships. They offer 9 week camp or 1 week mini-camp for children 8 to young adults 25 years of age. They have a teen tour program as well. First session starts June 21st. They have both sports and theatre programs and lots of social learning programs. (Honesdale, PA)
The Woodlands specializes in working with students with chronic illnesses and physical disabilities. They offer day and weekend camps near Pittsburgh for children age 6 years to adults age 72. There are 11 weeks of summer camp are sleep over camps except the Woodlands Jr Day Camps. They offer a Notes from the Heart Camp which focuses on music and theatre. There is a Bloom program that runs throughout the year - this is a transitional program every other Saturday.