Summer Camps and Programs

Summer Camp can provide children with an opportunity to build independence, new friendships, and pursue interests while providing families with much needed respite.  However, finding a program that fits their child’s need can be a challenge for foster and adoptive families parenting children with emotional or developmental disabilities.  To assist you in your search, we’ve collected some NYS summer camp and program resources for children with special needs and disabilities.  While some programs charge significant fees, most are able to provide financial assistance with tuition and camp fees upon application. See “other resources” at the bottom for additional resources and advice on summer time activities.

 

Region 1 – Buffalo

  • Cradle Beach Camp, Angola, NY – Residential camping programs for children ages 8-16 with disabilities and children from low-income families.
  • Genesee Valley Rotary Camp, Pike, NY  - Overnight camping experience for children with disabilities (ages 8-21).

 

Region 2 – Rochester

  • Camp Haccamo (Handicapped Children’s Camp for Monroe County) , Rush NY –  Residential overnight camp for individuals with disabilities 7-28 years of age.
  • Camp Onseyawa, Ovid NY – Provides a camping experience for 8-16 year old children with disabilities from a 4 county area
  • Wellness G.I.F.TS. , Bath NY – Family Camping Retreats families who have individuals with developmental disabilities, ages zero to 18 years.
  • Camp STAR, Coopers Plains, NY -  Residential camp for children residing within the school districts of sponsoring Rotary Clubs, age 7-13 with disabilities.
  • Sunshine Camp, Rush NY, – Rotary Sunshine Camp serves children with physical and emotional disabilities between the ages of 7 and 21 from Monroe and surrounding counties. 2011 applications are closed.  See website for other Sunshine campus programs.

 

Region 3 – Syracuse

  • Dodge Pond Rotary Camp, Oswegatchie, NY -  Co-ed residential programs for children with intellectual or other developmental disabilities sponsored by Jefferson and St Lawrence Rotary clubs.

 

Region 4 – Albany

  • Camp Mujigae, Albany NY – Korean Culture Camp run by adoptive parents and Korean adoptees
  • Camp To Belong at Camp Chingachook, Lake George, NY- Residential camping experience hosted by Parents Child & Family Center reuniting brothers and sisters placed in separate foster homes and other out of home care settings.
  • Clover Patch Camp, Glenville, NY – Summer Camp and respite program for children and adults with developmental disabilities .
  • Camp Spectacular, Glenville, NY – Day camp program at Clover Patch for children with autism spectrum disorders.  Ages 9-16

 

Region 5 – Spring Valley Area

  • Camp Huntington, Ulster NY – Co-ed, residential program for children and young adults with special learning and developmental needs.
  • Camp Loyaltown – Summer residential, respite camp sponsored by AHRC, Nassau County serving children who have developmental and other disabilities. Located in Greene, NY
  • Camp Paquatuck, Moriches, NY – Co-ed residential camp for physically & developmental challenged children in Nassau and Suffolk counties ages 6-21.
  • Southampton  Fresh Air Home, Southampton, NY – residential camp for physically challenged youth ages 8 to 18.

 

Region 6 – New York City Area

 

Below is a very small sample of summer programs in the NYC area.  See the Resources for Children with Special Needs (RCSN) 2011-2012 Directory of Camps and Summer Programs for a comprehensive listing of camps serving NYC children with special needs.  NYC families are encouraged to contact RCSN, 212-677-4650, for assistance in locating appropriate programs and services.  Additionally, many NYC foster care agencies operate/support summer camps and programs for families served by their agency.  We suggest you contact your agency to inquire about summer programs they offer.

 

  • 92Y Camp Programs, NYC – Variety of day camps and teen travel camps, short-term sleepaway camps, specialty camps and camps for children with developmental disabilities.
  • ACTION (Adolescents Coming Together in our Neighborhood),  Brooklyn NY – Day Camp for Brooklyn residents with developmental disabilities ages 13-21.
  • AHRC NYC Camping – Two summer camps, Harriman Lodge and Camp Anne offer vacation opportunities to adults and children with developmental disabilities.
  • Big Apple Day Program, Manhattan -  4 week summer day camp for children ages 6-13 with mild-to-moderate social-emotional difficulties.
  • Children’s Aid Society Summer Camps – During the summer months, The Children’s Aid Society offers an extensive selection of educational, recreational and cultural programs across 17 locations in Manhattan, the Bronx, Westchester and Staten Island.
  • Foster Pride – NYC non-profit providing free art, video, photography, music and computer classes as well as scholarships and mentoring to children in the foster care system.
  • PAL Summer Day Camp and Play Streets Programs – Police Athletic League summer programs for New York City youth with outdoor, adult-supervised recreational, educational and developmental activities in their communities during the summer months.
  • NYC summer programs and internships for teens from BHSEC Opportunity Portal

 

Other Resources:

Last modified: September 19, 2011