Although March has just begun, the end of the academic school year is quickly approaching! For many families this time of year symbolizes the start of summer planning, including choosing a summer camp. Selecting a summer camp is a daunting task for all parents, but can be especially daunting for the parents of children with disabilities. You may wonder if the camp is accessible, if the activities will be enjoyable, or if your child will be around similar peers. In order to make the process a little easier, the New England Consortium on Deafblindness has created a list of summer camps for children with disabilities. Read below to learn more!
ABC (Association of Blind Citizens) Camp Pride
Location: New Durham, New Hampshire
Serves: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont
ABC Camp Pride provides a camping experience for individuals aged 14-21 who are still in high school and are blind or visually impaired. The camp prepares participants for a world of work by exposing them to a variety of prevocational and vocational activities.
Location: Warren County, New York
Serves: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont
Double H Ranch is a free camp for children aged 6-16 with disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Mitochondrial Disease, Immune Disorders, Neuromuscular Disorders, and more. Camp programs are also available to siblings and family members. Double H Ranch camping sessions last 6 days and have a camper to staff ratio of 2:1. Double H Ranch also has a week in June called Camp Inspiration for children (5-21) who are BIPAP or ventilator dependent.
Location: Multiple locations
Serves: Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire
Easter Seals is the largest provider of recreation and camping services for individuals with disabilities in the United States. Easter Seals provides attendees with opportunities to participate in water sports, archery, arts and crafts, and campfires. For more information and for locations, click the link above.
Location: Ashford, Connecticut
Serves: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire
Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is a free summer camp for children aged 7-15 who have chronic illness and/or disability. Hole in the Wall serves children who have medical complications and disabilities. Hole in the Wall Gang Camp also has family weekends that occur throughout the year.
Location: Amston, Connecticut; Waterford, Connecticut
Oak Hill Summer Camp is a camp program designed for youth and adults with developmental, physical, and sensory disabilities, including visual impairments. It offers activities such as hiking, swimming, and boating!
Location: Auburn, Maine; Bath, Maine; Scarborough, Maine; Rome, Maine
Pine Tree Camp is a summer camp for children and adults with physical disabilities. They offer activities such as swimming, hiking, camping, kayaking, and fishing! Pine Tree Camp offers options for overnight stays as well as an option for overnight and day camps.
Carroll Kids/Carroll Teens Summer Camp
Location: Newton, Massachusetts
The Carroll Center for the Blind offers a variety of different camping programs for children and teens with blindness or visual impairments. These programs include transition programs, real world and work experience programs, and computer courses.
Camp Inter-Actions
Location: Kingston, New Hampshire
Camp Inter-Actions is a non-profit organization that provides summer programs for children aged 8-15 who are blind and visually impaired. There are one, two, and three week camp programs that are available.
Location: Multiple locations throughout New England
The Purple Camp is a camp for children living with Epilepsy and their families. There are multiple types of camp including horseback riding camp, sleepaway camp, and sailing camp.
Location: Brewster, MA
Dream Day on Cape Cod is a camp for children up to age 18 with severe disabilities and illnesses, including Cerebral Palsy. Dream Day on Cape Cod also offers a family day camp!
For Maine Families
The Percival P. Baxter foundation provides families residing in Maine with the chance to apply for grant money that can help pay for summer camp opportunities. The name of the camp and cost will be required to apply.
Please note: The New England Consortium on Deafblindness is not affiliated with the listed camps and does not endorse them.