Although children on the autism spectrum may have challenges that prevent them from attending a traditional summer camp, these children do not have to miss out on the summer camp experience. There are summer camps across the country that specialize in offering a fulfilling experience for children on the autism spectrum as well as children with a variety of developmental disabilities. As summer nears, camps are finalizing their 2010 autism summer camp schedules.
Camp Huntington – New York
Located in the Catskill Mountain region of New York, Camp Huntington offers several different summer camp options to campers on the autism spectrum. The full six-week season runs from June 20 – July 31, 2010 and has a tuition fee of $10,850. There are also two three-week sessions scheduled: June 20 - July 10, 2010 and July 11 – July 31, 2010. Tuition for the half season session is $5950.
Camp Huntington also offers shorter sessions for campers that may not be ready to spend so much time away from home. A two-week camp session begins on August 1, 2010 and runs through August 14, 2010. Tuition for the two-week session is $3950. A one-week session is also offered from August 15 – August 21, 2010 for a $1995 fee.
Campers can participate in a ropes course, swimming and music lessons, outdoor nature hikes, filmmaking, and many other planned activities. The camp also features a sensory room, a computer room, and an academic program that will work with a school’s extended school year (ESY) program to help a child meet the goals set forth in an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
More information about Camp Huntington’s 2010 summer camp can be obtained by calling (866) 514-5281.
Camp Lee Mar – Pennsylvania
Families looking for a more intensive summer camp experience for a child on the autism spectrum may be interested in Camp Lee Mar in Pennsylvania. The 2010 summer camp starts on June 25, 2010 and runs through August 12, 2010.
Camp Lee Mar is in the Poconos Mountains and is about a two-hour drive from both New York City and Philadelphia. The Camp was founded in 1953 and provides a traditional summer camp setting for individuals with a variety of special needs, including those on the autism spectrum.
The camp maintains a 3:1 camper-to-staffer ratio and offers an academic program, speech and language therapy, a vocational training program, swim lessons, healthy meals and snacks, and other traditional summer camp activities.
The registration fee for Camp Lee Mar’s 2010 season is $9,000. More information about the camp can be obtained by calling (215) 658-1708 or (570) 685-7188.
Camp AweSum – Wisconsin
Located at Moon Beach Camp in Wisconsin, Camp AweSum will open its doors from June 27 through July 2, 2010. Children on the autism spectrum must be between the ages of nine and 15 years old as of June 1, 2010 to attend the camp. This overnight camp features one camp counselor for every four attendees, a 24-hour registered nurse on site, and occupational therapy.
A registration fee of $50 is required to attend and the camp tuition fee is $775. The registration deadline for Camp AweSum’s 2010 summer camp is January 31, 2010. Send an email to CampAwesum@yahoo.com to request a camper application.
Summer camps tailored towards individuals on the autism spectrum allow these children to participate in one of the summer rites-of-passage, attending a traditional summer camp.
Melissa Hincha-Ownby - Melissa is a life-long writer. She started her freelance writing career in the 8th grade when the editor of her small town’s ...
