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Camps & Activities

Online Camp Directories

Website providing links for Special Needs programs
Website: http://www.grownupcamps.com

Website providing links for Special Needs camps
Website: http://www.kidscamps.com

Search engine for Special Needs Summer Camps
Website: http://www.camppage.com

Camps & Programs for People with Special Needs
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.VerySpecialCamps.com

Family Retreats

Camp by Lift Disability Network

When: July 7-11, 2015
Phone: 407-228-8343
Website: http://liftdisability.net/breakaway

Lift Disability Network is committed to parting the clouds that obscure the potential of the disability family through a new initiative, Breakaway. This family experience is designed to provide the disability family an experience in recreation, relaxation and spiritual renewal.

Cost: Contact Lift Disability. Cost includes motel style accommodations, food, and all activities. A limited number of partial scholarships are offered depending upon available funds. Lift encourages families to reach out to at least two additional funding sources.

Family Retreats

Phone:818-707-5664
Website: http://joniandfriends.org

Offers a variety of programs including family retreats for families with disabilities and training and curriculum guides to equip churches including their Special Needs Smart Pages curriculum for ministering to kids with special needs and Camp “Lean on the Lord,” a disability awareness program and missions curriculum for kids.

Location: Lake Aurora Christian Came in Lake Wales, FL
Phone:Office: 321-723-2188; Cell: 321-480-9806
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.specialtouch.org
Contact: Rev. Joe and Ann Trementozzi

For this year’s getaway dates, http://www.specialtouch.org/getaways

This getaway is designed to minister physically, emotionally, and spiritually to people with disabilities. Guests range in age from children to adults both with developmental and physical disabilities. Each day’s schedule is appropriate for each group and is designed with one thing in mind; to allow those attending to experience the best week of the year, to make new friends, to leave with a renewed self-esteem and most of all a new and deeper relationship with the Lord.More information can be obtained at the website (http://www.specialtouch.org/a-day-at-the-beach.html)or by contacting Joe or Ann with any questions. Applications can be downloaded from the website. For those who have a financial need, scholarship money is available on a first come basis. A video of last year’s Florida Get Away can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ztt7SLi7j40

Camps for Children with All Kinds of Special Needs

Life-changing opportunities to people with special needs in a Christian camp setting

Location: Rt 2, Box 131, Purdy, MO 65734
Phone: 417-476-2565
Website: http://www.campbarnabas.org

Camp Barnabas exists to offer childhood experiences to kids who have been robbed of them by disease or disability. Each summer, Camp Barnabas provides encouragement for literally hundreds of campers, empowering them to live more fully through faith. This spiritual gift of encouragement, the hallmark of Barnabas, one of the least known of Christ’s latter disciples, helps campers face and challenge their disability or illness with courage.

Swimming, nature, singing and crafts… there is nothing we cannot accomplish together!

Website: http://fl.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=FLDR_campchallenge
Fully accredited by the American Camping Association (ACA), Easter Seals Camp Challenge in Sorrento, near Orlando, offers camping programs for children and adults with disabilities. Camp Challenge satisfies the need in each of us for outdoor recreation, socializing with friends, and relaxing on a summer vacation.

During the months of June and July, more than 250 adults and children with disabilities visit Camp Challenge to experience a traditional summer camp. The remainder of the year, campers enjoy respite weekend camps. This program provides a brief get-away for campers, while giving caretakers a test from constant care-giving.

At Easter Seals Camp Challenge, campers participate in arts & crafts, nature activities, a universal high and low ropes course, music & dancing, outside entertainers, farm animals, and other camp activities.

A real summer camp experience for people with special needs- Make new friends and unforgettable memories!

Location: Apopka, Florida
Phone: 407-889-8088
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.questinc.org/camp.html

At Camp Thunderbird, developmentally disabled individuals from age 8 to 80 enjoy a number of exciting activities. More importantly, they make new friends and learn skills that can help them gain more independence.

Summer Camps for Kids with Special Needs

Website: http://www.cristovive.net/camps/
Provide children and youth with disabilities and their families with an opportunity to experience the love of God and faith in Christ through a fun and engaging camp adventure.

Camp Challenge

Location: 31600 Camp Challenge Road, Sorrento, FL 32776
Phone: 352-383-4711
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.fl.easterseals.com

Easter Seals Camp Challenge respite camp is held monthly and provides a selection of your favorite activities for persons with disabilities ages 6 and up. Camp provides a chance for individuals to socialize with friends, participate in adaptive recreational activities, and foster new independence. Programs and activities are adaptive and age appropriate. The cost is $225 for each weekend, and $450 for each week long program. Price includes lodging, meals, and any activity or program supplies. To be enrolled, campers must meet established respite criteria:

  • Be able to effectively communicate their needs, verbally or non-verbally
  • Interact appropriately with other campers and staff
  • Function in a 1:3 staff to camper ratio
  • During our Respite Camp we provide a sampling of both traditional camp activities and a variety of new programs and outside entertainment. Campers may participate in: swimming, arts and crafts, nature, animal farm, sports and games, or our universal challenge course. During our week long programs we offer travel activities to local areas.

Fun, educational, and recreational experiences at Dream Oaks Camp

Location: 2620 Manatee Avenue West, Suite D Bradenton, FL 34205
Phone: 941-748-8809
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.foundationfordreams.org/

The Mission of the Foundation for Dreams, Inc. and Dream Oaks Camp is to provide fun, educational, and recreational experiences in an outdoor camp environment to enhance the lives of children ages 7-17 with physical and developmental disabilities and serious illnesses.

Summer Camps Fact Sheet

Website: http://www.ncpad.org/fun/fact_sheet.php?sheet=88

Location: Pasco County, FL
Phone: 727-243-6203 or 727-953-5591

2 Summer Camp Locations: East Orlando (Maitland) & West Orlando (Windermere)
Phone: 407-808-7837
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.GoOCA.org

OCA offers 9 weeks of recreational summer day camp for children ages 4-21. Camp is run by qualified trained staff of teachers, teacher assistants, volunteers and therapist who have extensive knowledge of working with children with autism and other disabilities. What makes OCA Camp so unique is that typical peers (CIT’s) provide age appropriate modeling in social skills training, language development and gross and fine motor movements.

Provide scuba therapy classes as well as Spring Break and Summer Camps.

Phone: 407-920-3262
Email:dive@the scubagym.com
Website:www.scubagym.com

We are a full service NAUI Pro-Platinum SCUBA Operation and we specialize in Families, Children, and People who have Disabilities and Special Needs.We have Certification Classes Year Round, our Special Needs Camps in Spring and Summer, Kids’ Certification Camps in the Summer, and Dive Trips non-stop.

Support, education and therapy for Children with special needs

Location: 7 Locations throughout Central Florida (East Orlando, Lake Mary, Kissimmee, Winter Garden, Pine Hills, Downtown Orlando
Phone: 407-852-3333
Email:[email protected]
Website: http://www.ucpcdc.org/

UCP provides support (counseling/support groups), education (inclusive charter schools, before/after care and summer programs) and therapy (physical, speech, and occupational therapy) programs for children with all types of developmental disabilities and delays – birth to age 21. At its inclusive Charter schools- students with and without disabilities learn together using art and technology integration.

Camps for Burn Survivors

A summer camp for kids who are burn survivors

Location: P.O. Box 161593, Altamonte Springs, FL 32716-1593
Phone: 407-461-2228
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.campamigo.com/
Who: Any child burn survivor aged 6 to 18, living in North or Central Florida
What: A Summer camp for kids that are burn survivors
Where: Billy Jo Rish State Mark
Why: Giving our Campers the opportunity to bond with their peers.

Camps for Children with Chronic Illnesses

A year round camp for children with chronic illnesses

Location: 30500 Brantley Branch Rd, Eustis, FL 32736-9596
Phone: 352-483-4200
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.fwww.boggycreek.org/

Camp Boggy Creek is a year round camp that is non-profit and services children ages 7-16 with serious or chronic illnesses. The camp is free to the child and their families. Funded is obtained through fund raisers, donations, grants and health partners.

Camps for Children with Diabetes

Camps all over the United States, Canada, and Latin America

Website: http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/camps

Diabetes Camp Directory – U.S. Camps

Website: https://www.diabetescamps.org/camp-finder

Camps for Children with Physical Disabilities

For Amputees and Children with Limb Differences

Website: http://www.amputee-coalition.org/fact_sheets/Kidscamps.html

Camps for Children Who Are Mentally Challenged

Location: PO Box 685, Cocoa, FL 32623
Contact Name: Richard Stimson
Phone: 321-632-0130
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.nbbd.com/npr/specialgathering/

Holds religious services for the mentally challenged community in conjunction with local Church. Provides advocacy, fellowship, ministry teams, training, education, and publications. Also offers summer camps for children with special needs.

Activities for the Special Needs Community

Expos, Fishing With Friends and Crafting

Website: www.access-life.org
We develop and execute programs and events for people living with disabilities that share the love and gospel of Jesus Christ as well as connect them to Christ honoring churches, organization, resources and people within their community.

Just have Fun!

Website: http://www.scouting.org/
The Boy Scouts of America provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.

Children w/disabilities can now play baseball!

Location: 846 Baybreeze Lane, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
Phone: 321-841-8849
Fax: 321-843-6817
Email: [email protected]
Contacts: Sara Reece @ 404-463-2504 or Sharon Sheridan @ 407-970-2865
Website: http://cfbuddyball.baberuthonline.com

Youth baseball/softball clubs from throughout Central Florida have joined together to create the Central Florida Bambino Buddy Ball League for physically and/or mentally challenged children. What makes this program unique is that each player has a “buddy” to help them hit, throw & move around the bases. A very special field will be built to make the field easy for participants and “Buddies” to move freely. The park will be located in Eastmonte Park in Altamonte Springs, FL.

Therapeutic Horseback Riding

Location: 1905 Lee Road, Orlando, FL 32809
Phone: (407) 293-0411
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.freedomride.com/

Freedom Ride, Inc. is a non-profit 501c3 volunteer based organization built on the conviction that we are not bound by our physical limitations. With a team of loyal horses, NARHA Certified Instructors, Therapist and Trained Volunteers, Freedom Ride provides therapeutic horseback riding to children and adults with many types of disabilities: cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, autism, mental retardation, attention deficit disorder, deafness, blindness and many emotional and learning disabilities. Centrally located in the heart of Orlando, Freedom Ride reaches out to the more than 54,000 residents with disabilities in Central Florida and makes a dramatic impact on their lives and their families. Freedom Ride is Horsepower for the Spirit.

A safe all-girl environment where girls make friends, have fun, and develop to their full potential through girl-led programming

Location: 341 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, FL 32803
Phone: 407-896-4475
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.citrus-gs.org

Various Girl Scout programs, membership, summer resident and day camps, trips, and more.

Florida

Location: 25156 Celestial St., Christmas, FL 32709
Phone: 407-592-9885
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.youcanheal.org

The Little Linksters “mobile” program which is ran by the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development, has been in play at various daycare centers, schools, golf courses and municipalities throughout Central Florida since July of 2008.

Office:321-278-1612
Email:[email protected]
Website: http://www.littlelinksters.com

Helping special needs children experience the simple joy and camaraderie of fishing

Website: http://www.makeadifferencefishing.org/

The Make A Difference Fishing Tournament for Special Kids was developed in 1996 by a group of Clearwater businessmen and friends. After contacting the City of Clearwater with plans to provide a day of fishing for handicapped children, the City generously opened Pier 60 for the “kickoff” fishing turnament. With donations of money, time, equipment, and food, Make A Difference hosted its first group of 58 “special anglers.” Since that initial tournament, Make A Difference Fishing Tournament for Special Kids has grown to accommodate approximately 500 handicapped and special needs participants annually.

Sports/Recreational programs, Special Olympics training, Therapies, and other services for the Special Needs Community.

Location: 300 Main Street, Windermere, FL 34786
Contact: Silvia A. Haas, Director of Operations
Phone: 407-808-7837
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.gooca.org

Orange County Athletics (OCA) is a non-profit organization that works with children and young adults who have Autism and other related disabilities. OCA offers age appropriate activities for the Special Needs population. They offer Saturday activities, events, summer camp, and Special Olympics training.

Activities for the Special Needs Community

Location: P.O. Box 621892, Oviedo, FL 32762-1892
Phone: 407-484-3521
Fax: 407-365-1838
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://oviedooptimist.com

We provide special population activities such as monthly dances and a bowling league in the Oviedo-Winter Springs area.

An informal group for parents of children with special needs

Contact: Donique at 407-491-6524, [email protected] or Jenorise at 407-733-4944,[email protected]
Website: http://www.ptpt-orlando.net/

Our Mission: PTPT is a group of parents with children who have Special Needs. We believe that we are our children’s best advocate, teacher, and decision maker. Our goal is to raise awareness, make informed decisions and advocate on their behalf while raising them to be loving, independent, and as productive as they can be in our society. Armed with love, resources, and support from one another are “Putting the Pieces Together.”

Fun Activities for Children with disabilities

Location: 717 N Palm Ave., Kissimmee, FL 34741
Phone: 407-343-1554
Email: [email protected]
Website: “http://www.specialfriendsclub.org.uk/

Special Friends Club will: Give us a place to meet our friends, Let us play board games, Play in a game room, Watch movies, Relax with our friends, Meet new friends, Take planned trips, And come up with other suggestions on things we would like to do with our friends.

Training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports

Location: 1105 Citrus Tower Blvd., Clermont, FL 34711
Phone: 352-243-9536
Website: www.specialolympicsflorida.org

Special Olympics Florida (SOFL) provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities who wish to participate, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. The ultimate objective of Special Olympics Florida is to help people with intellectual disabilities participate as productive and respected members of society at large, by offering them a fair opportunity to develop and demonstrate their skills and talents through sports training and competition, and by increasing the public’s awareness of their capabilities and needs.

An international program for training and athletic competition

Location: 1133 19th Street NW, Suite 770, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-628-3630
Website: http://www.specialolympics.org

An international program of year-round sports training and athletic competition for more than one million children and adults with mental retardation.

Family Activities

Educational Workshops, Events and Cruises for Families of individuals with Down syndrome

Location: PO Box 162, Lithia, FL 33547
Phone: 1-877-239-2789
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://buddycruise.org

Buddy Cruise Inc. is a not-for-profit organization serving families and friends of individuals with Down syndrome on a national level. It is our purpose to provide education and promote public awareness of Down syndrome by arranging and conducting special events, namely cruises. These events will be a forum for prominent educational speakers addressing a wide range of Down syndrome and disability related topics. We encourage self-advocate sessions. Buddy Cruise, ideally, will set sail each October, National Down syndrome awareness month, to honor those who are touched by Down syndrome.

Make a Wish!

Location: 1053 N Orlando Ave, Suite 1, Maitland, FL 32751
Phone: 407-622-4673
Website: http://www.WishCentral.org
Toll Free Phone (in Florida only): 888-874-9474

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy.

Entertainment, education and family activities

Phone: CA: 310-479-1212, FL: 407-222-5026
Email: Nat’l: [email protected], FL: [email protected]
Website: http://www.starlight.org
Orlando, FL Contact: Beccy Hosoda, Great Escapes Coordinator at P.O. Box 690507, Orlando, FL 32869-0507

Starlight Children’s Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for seriously ill children and their families. Working with more than 1000 hospitals, the Foundation provides an impressive menu of both in-hospital and outpatient programs and services. A leader in delivering distractive entertainment, Starlight’s programs benefit over 100,000 children each month. Starlight helps seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities.

Our programs are FREE to VIP kids and their families BECAUSE OF the generosity of people like YOU.

© 2024 Nathaniel's Hope | 5210 S. Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32809 | Phone: 407 857-8224

Nathaniel's Hope Inc. is an audited 501 (c)(3) non- profit organization.
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