Camps for Children with Special Needs

• Court Ordered Community Service Sites
• Clerical Volunteer Opportunities
• Therapeutic Camps
• Recreational Activities Volunteer Opportunities
• Disability Related Sports
• Developmental Disabilities Social/Recreational Programs

Provides education, advocacy, outreach, and networking for people with bleeding disorders. These services empower individuals with bleeding disorders and their families to lead healthier and more self-sufficient lives.

• Therapeutic Camps
• Smoking/Vaping Cessation
• Automobile Donation Programs
• Court Ordered Community Service Sites
• Health/Disabilities Related Volunteer Opportunities
• Disease/Disability Information

A voluntary health agency that works to combat muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and related muscle-debilitating diseases, and is committed to finding treatments and cures while supporting a comprehensive program of direct patient services and clinical care. Also provides assistive technology, support groups, therapeutic camps and offers volunteer opportunities.

• Voluntary Health Organizations
• Health/Disabilities Related Volunteer Opportunities
• Assistive Technology Expense Assistance
• Therapeutic Camps
• Health/Disability Related Support Groups

Clinical care at Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah Medical Center

• Disability Related Center Based Employment
• Independent Living Skills Instruction
• Therapeutic Camps
• Children's In Home Respite Care
• Supported Employment
• Adult In Home Respite Care
• Adult Day Programs
• Supported Living Services for Adults With Disabilities
• Summer Camps
• Semi-Independent Living Residences for Adults With Disabilities

Cynthia Proctor, CMHC

Approaches Used:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
Family Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

Provides empowering, affordable, customized, inclusive recreation and education programs for people of all abilities, specializing in activities for people with disabilities. Our adventure experiences act as a catalyst towards greater joy, courage, health and community.
Pathfinder Camp for Kids with Physical Disabilities, Extreme Action Camps, Discovery Camps, Overnight Camps, Family Camps

Offering weekly mentoring during the school year and a four-week-long summer camp program to help low-income American Indian students pursue higher education in STEM careers.

Adaptive Recreation programs in group fitness and swim lessons. Adult and youth sports, fitness, aquatics and other services.

Recreation facility for residents of Salt Lake County.

Adaptive recreation programs in fitness, summer camp. Recreation facility for residents of Salt Lake County.

Offers psychosocial support programs for kids being treated for cancer, and similarly-treated disorders, as well as for families. The goal is to create an atmosphere that enhances self-esteem, fosters independence, friendships, and create a feeling of belonging. Camp Hobe offers 3 in-person summer camp programs each June, including a 5-day overnight camp for ages 7-11, a 5-day overnight camp for ages 12-19, and a 2-day program for ages 4-7. Day campers 4-5 years old do not stay overnight, 6-year-olds have a 1 night overnight. Also offers a Virtual Camp program for ages 6-19 years in the summer, as well as several family outings throughout the year.COVID-19 UPDATE: Following all CDC and State guidelines; virtual programs may be offered. Check the website for updated information.

• Residential Camps
• Food Production/Preparation/Delivery Volunteer Opportunities
• Day Camps
• Health/Disabilities Related Volunteer Opportunities

Provides an opportunity for teens to gain confidence and form strong bonds with other amputees while learning either adaptive skiing and snowboarding or whitewater river rafting and camping. No cost to participate. Summer camp is offered annually in Late June or early July. Winter camp is offered annually in February. Registration is due by September 1, to be considered for either camp in the following year.

Regional area served

• Adult Day Programs
• Comprehensive Disability Related Employment Programs
• Supported Living Services for Adults With Disabilities
• Therapeutic Foster Homes
• Adult Out of Home Respite Care
• Children's Out of Home Respite Care
• Therapeutic Camps
• Youth Enrichment Programs
• Behavioral Learning Therapy
• Adult Residential Care Homes

Camps include traditional camp, horse camps, specialty camps, leadership camps, and family camp. These camps offer mountain biking, archery, hiking, arts and crafts, orienteering, horseback riding, and leadership training. All sessions are full for the 2021 season. Please contact website to be added to wait list.COVID-19 UPDATE: Following all CDC and state guidelines.

• Residential Camps

Offers an activities-based summer program designed to help those with high functioning autism. Campers learn social skills directly from their typically developing peer mentors. Program will take place two days a week, on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Autism Adventure Camp replaces previous camp program, Team UNIF Summer Camp.

iSTAR is an intensive community-based participatory research/outreach autism summer program with the long range goal being the development of 3D technology skills in students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for future employment. The program involves students, families, school districts, community partners and businesses. We have documented student outcomes that include:
Personal Competencies
Social Skill Development
Vocational Readiness
The program is innovative with a focus on strength and ability, rather than disability.

Partners with Autism Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine

• Health/Disability Related Support Groups
• Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
• Voluntary Health Organizations
• Therapeutic Camps
• Health Related Advocacy Groups
• Prescription Drugs for Specific Health Conditions
• Disease/Disability Information
• Independent Living Skills Instruction
• Health/Disabilities Related Volunteer Opportunities

Provides a year round camping program for children, youth and adults with diabetes. Camps are fun, educational, safe, and medically supervised.

Offers a peer-support network and a free summer camp for children ages 6 to 18 who have been touched by a parent’s cancer.

• Health/Disability Related Support Groups
• Summer Camps

Offers a variety of camps, including regular camps, specialty camps, and family camps.

Specialty camps include camps for children with congenital or acquired heart disease, spina bifida, tuberous sclerosis and more.

Provides camps for children with Type I diabetes and with or at risk of developing Type II diabetes. Multiple camps offered.

Provides a week-long camp to help children learn more about their asthma and how to better cope with this breathing disorder while still having fun. Superkids camps in South Dakota and Minnesota.

Safeguards the civil rights of deaf and hard of hearing Americans. As a national federation of state associations, individual members, and organizational and corporate affiliates, the advocacy work includes accessibility, education, employment, healthcare, mental health, rehabilitation, technology, telecommunications, and transportation. Website features advocacy information and resources.

NAD Youth Leadership Camp (YLC) is a four-week intensive educational program for high school students. Camp Taloali, Stayton, Oregon.

A voluntary health agency that works to combat muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and related muscle-debilitating diseases. The organization is committed to finding treatments and cures while providing a comprehensive program to empower families with support to help them thrive and stay independent including summer camps for kids, peer support, equipment resources and more. Related volunteer opportunities available.COVID-19 Update: following all CDC and state guidelines.

• Voluntary Health Organizations
• Assistive Technology Expense Assistance
• Health/Disabilities Related Volunteer Opportunities
• Therapeutic Camps
• Health/Disability Related Support Groups

Provides a free medically supervised camp for children with heart disease and their families. 

Services Include:

• Youth Camp Ages 7-12
• Teen Camp Ages 13-17
• Mentor/Leadership Camp Ages 16-21 prior/current teen campers
• Family Camp Children of all ages
• Young Adult Program (Y.A.P.) Ages 18-32
• TimeOut4 Heart Mom’s A weekend camp for mothers of children with heart disease

Provides a medically supervised, residential summer camp for children ages 7-17 who are living with heart disease. Located on Catalina Island, 22 miles off the California coastline. PACE program for ages 18-24 with congenital heart disease.

Provides information about Fabry disease, research and clinical trials information, funding programs, and more. See Recommended Schedule of Assessment at https://www.fabrydisease.org/images/ReferencePDFs/fabry-registry-schedule-of-assessments.pdf. Programs, include:

• Annual conference
• Family camp
• Personal support
• Research and educational information

Five nights of camp at a college campus for an experience that promotes independence, self-esteem, learning, friendship and fun. Each year the Youth Rally host roughly 150 campers from all over the US and beyond. Campers and counselors alike live with an array of conditions affecting their bowel and/or bladder systems. A nursing team assists campers as needed.

Provides traditional camp experiences for children with serious illnesses and their families. Provides week-long camp sessions, several family camps and some special sessions where siblings ages 17 and under are invited to join. See website for up-to-date list of camp sessions.

Empowers children and families living with serious medical conditions through year-round, life-changing experiences, always free of charge. With specialized medical support, we help kids re-imagine the future.
All residential Summer Camp Sessions last one week and run from Monday afternoons through Friday mornings. Please apply for the session that best fits your child. Sample summer camps:
♥ Session 1: Camp Reflection, Dermatologic Conditions In partnership with the American Academy of Dermatology
♥ Session 2: *General Session
♥ Session 3: *General Session
♥ Session 4: Solid Organ Transplant
♥ Session 5: *General Session
♥ Session 6: Craniofacial Community
♥ Session 7: Orthopedic + Neuromuscular Conditions
♥ Session 8: Skeletal Dysplasia
*GENERAL SESSIONS serve campers with life altering medical conditions including but not limited to: cerebral palsy, chronic kidney disease, cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, epilepsy, genetic syndromes, mitochondrial disease, and reconstructive pelvic medicine conditions.
Also teen and family weekend camps.

An official member of SeriousFun Children’s Network.
Camp phone: (425) 440-0850

Provides a free annual camp experience for youth ages 10-17 with limb loss/limb difference.

Kesem is a nationwide community, driven by passionate college student leaders, that supports children through and beyond their parent’s cancer. Offering innovative, fun-­filled programs that foster a lasting community, we aim to ensure that every child impacted by a parent’s cancer is never alone.

Camp locator on website

Provides objective and credible information, advocacy and research for diabetes. Website offers education, legal rights, health insurance, tips for caregivers, etc. Provides camps for children with Type I diabetes and with or at risk of developing Type II diabetes.

Ending neurofibromatosis through research. Patient Engagement program, meaning the inclusion of patient representatives in NF research, and the view that people with NF are not just subjects, but are health care consumers who have a role in managing their care, directing their health outcomes, and accelerating therapies for the entire NF community. A NF Clinic Network by state. Provides a registry for all types of NF (including NF1, NF2, and schwannomatosis).

NF Camp is the annual summer camp of the Children's Tumor Foundation, dedicated to teens and young adults living with neurofibromatosis (NF). For over 20 years we have hosted this week-long experience for teens and young adults ages 12 to 25. NF Camp takes place on the third or fourth week of July (6 nights/6 days) in Salt Lake City, Utah. Application on CTF website.

Provides a camp is for children and teens with Neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow along various types of nerves. Campers come from all over the United States, Canada, and the world. During these weeks, they are able to interact with others who have the same condition, and learn more about themselves and others while enjoying everything that Camp K has to offer.

NF Camp takes place on the third or fourth week of July (6 nights/6 days) at Camp Kostopulos in Utah. Details and application on Children's Tumor Foundation website.
Contact: Julie Pantoliano

Online Resources Include:

• A variety of clinical and patient resources
• Educational events for clinicians
• Find a Pediatric Endocrinologist: Search the Pediatric Endocrine Society membership list.
• Upcoming Camps: Directory of specialty camps for kids, including Diabetes Camps, Turner Syndrome Camps, and Transgender Youth and Teen Camps. Not run or endorsed by the Pediatric Endocrine Society.

Supports people living with epilepsy, families, friends, and caregivers. Many programs, including support groups, are available through local Epilepsy Foundations, which can be located here.  

Services Include:

• Education materials about epilepsy, types of seizures, triggers, diagnosis, treatment, etc.
• National policy and legal advocacy
• Research and funding
• Public awareness
• Training programs
• 24/7 information helpline
• Kids Crew- for kids ages 14 and under
• Summer Camps

Supports people with inherited blood disorders through research, education, and advocacy. Provides chapters throughout the US.

Services Include:

• Information about bleeding disorders, blood types, and blood safety
• Online and in-person educational events and workshops
• Advocacy information
• [Camp Locator] helps families find a camp for a child with a bleeding disorder, siblings, or the family.

Provides services, education, outreach, and advocacy so that children with disabilities are given full access to quality education, support, and resources.

Services Include:

• Early Intervention
• Early Childhood Education
• Make the First Five Count Childhood Development Screening Tool
• Nationwide Directory for Inclusive Child Care Programs
• Camping and Recreation Programs
• Family Support and Resources
• Transportation Assistance and Support
• Employment and Training
• Financial Capability and Homebuying

Young Life is a Christian ministry that reaches out to middle school, high school and college-aged kids in all 50 states.

Some Young Life areas have dedicated programs for students and young adults with disabilities, typically referred to as Young Life Capernaum. Young Life Capernaum gives young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the chance to experience fun and adventure, to develop fulfilling friendships and to challenge their limits while building self-esteem through club, camp and other exciting activities.

[https://www.younglife.org/Locator/Pages/default.aspx Use the online finder] to locate a local Young Life and find out about their programs.

Provides resources, information, and support groups for families and individuals with Urea cycle disorders (UCDs).

UCD Family Camps: Hosts annual camps for families affected by a Urea Cycle Disorder. UCD Family Camps are held in different locations across the US so that all families around the country may have an opportunity to attend. Camps are 100% free of charge to UCD families and siblings (any age). All costs of foods (low-pro), lodging, and shuttling to and from airport to camp site is provided as well.