An overnight camp provides the experience of sleeping over as part of camp with activities during the day and in the evening hours. The camp experience may be coed, all boys, all girls or family camps and the length of stay may be anywhere from one week to the entire summer. There are many camps that are geared towards children and youth who have special needs and arrange their program to meet their unique needs.
Camp Kennebec
For campers aged 6 and up, with a range of exceptionalities including Autism, Asperger’s, ASD, ADD, ADHD, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome, learning, social, behavioural difficulties and many others
Kinark Outdoor Center
Autism Quest Program offers residential recreational experiences on weekends and in the summer months for children and youth ages 9-16 years of age with high-functioning autism and Aspergers Syndrome.
Camp Winston
Offers recreational opportunities for kids with complex neurological disorders who need highly specialized support. Located on beautiful Sparrow Lake in the Muskoka Region. Operates four, two-week summer sessions attended by a total of 120 campers aged 6 – 12 years from across Canada.
Camp Kodiak
Offers an integrated, non-competitive program for children & teens with and without ADHD, LD, NLD and high-functioning Aspergers Syndrome. Kodiak campers range in age from 6 – 18.
Pioneer Camp
Offers an integrated special needs program that runs at Adventure Camp, Boys’ Camp, and Girls’ Camp all summer long. “Camp staff recognizes that people with intellectual and physical challenges are just like everyone else—they have the capacity to love, to have fun, to have friends and to know when they are missing out or being treated differently”. A 1:1 staff to camper ratio exists and staff will modify the program in whatever way is necessary to allow for inclusion.
Camp Concord
Offers a residential, overnight summer camp for individuals with communication, intellectual, or behavioural disabilities. They serve both children and adults, starting at age 7 and offer a 2:1, camper to staff ratio
Camp Awakening
Campers and program participants have a wide range of disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, juvenile arthritis, epilepsy, spinal cord injury, acquired brain injury, vision loss and amputation. We serve children and youth between 9-24 years of age.
Easter Seals Ontario
Easter Seals offers children/youth that have a physical disability the opportunity to try new activities, make friends, learn valuable life skills and have fun in a safe, supportive and caring camp environment. Activities are adapted to meet the needs of the campers. Staff-to-camper ratio is 1:2; four nurses per site. Family Camp, LIT program offered.
Holland Bloorview Inpatient Respite Camp
Inpatient respite camp is offered in July and August. It provides clients and families with one week of camp experience, supported by Registered Practical Nurses, Health Care Providers and Therapeutic Recreation staff. The camp is focused on a therapeutic recreational experience while providing the nursing and medical support that the child requires for their activities of daily living. Throughout the week, clients will participate in a number of activities including swimming, arts and crafts, gym sports and time in the playroom.
The above list highlights camp options accessed frequently. For more options and information, including checklists and tips for parents, please visit The Ontario Camp Association website or camps.ca website.