NASET Recognized Special Education Summer Camp Programs

The NASET Recognized Special Education Summer Camp Programs list provides families with a comprehensive resource to help identify summer programs where their children can enjoy a wonderful summer filled with new friendships, supportive staff, and a safe and healthy environment to grow. Each camp included on the list was evaluated for its commitment to inclusive programming, trained staff, and developmentally appropriate experiences for campers with a range of abilities and needs.

NASET Best In Class Camps

SOAR Inc | Balsam, North Carolina | Website | marketing@soarnc.org Founded in 1977, created specifically for kids with ADHD, LD, and ASD-1. Low staff-to-participant ratio (1:4), year-round programming. Also operates a boarding school and GAP year program. Serves NC, WY, CA, CO, FL.

Camp Nuhop | Perrysville, Ohio | Website | terri@nuhop.org Founded in 1974, one of the first residential camps in the US for neurodivergent youth. 3:8 staff ratio, year-round programming. Grounded in relationships, near-peer mentorship, and social-emotional development.

Summer@CIP | Lee, Massachusetts | Website | info@cipsummer.com 40+ years of individualized transition programs. Students earn one college credit, create Person-Centered Plans. 1:6 ratio. Students from 49 states and 33+ countries. Locations in MA, FL, IN, CA.

Camp Anne (AHRC NYC) | Ancramdale, New York | Website | Michael.Rose@ahrcnyc.org Part of AHRC NYC, the largest provider of services to neurodivergent individuals in NYS. ACA accredited, licensed by Department of Health. 1:3, 1:2, or 1:1 ratios.

NASET Recommended Summer Camps

Camp Akeela | Thetford Center, Vermont | Website | info@campakeela.com ACA accredited. Directors hold PsyD and M.Ed. 1:2 staff-to-camper ratio. Ages 10-18.

Elks Camp Moore | Haskell, New Jersey | Website | elkscampmoore@gmail.com FREE for families. Fully sponsored by the NJ Elks. ACA accredited. 1:1 staff-to-camper ratio. Wide range of disabilities served.

Camp Encourage | Kansas City, Missouri | Website | info@campencourage.org Year-round programming for youth on the autism spectrum. 1:2 or 2:3 ratio. Overnight camp, family events, and weekend respite. Serves KS, MO, IA, NE, OK, AL.

Speech of Cake Summer Programs | Alexandria, Virginia | Website | alyssa@speechofcakeinc.com Led by certified speech-language pathologists (CCC-SLP). 1:2 ratio. Ages 5-10. Specializes in Structured Literacy instruction.

Camp Echoing Hills | Warsaw, Ohio | Website | jmcnutt@ehvi.org Day and overnight camp plus respite weekends and travel opportunities. 1:2 to 1:5 ratio. Certified Waiver Provider for Ohio. Faith-based community. Ages 5 through adult.

Georgia Lions Camp | Waycross, Georgia | Website | director@glcb.org Nearly 50 years serving children and adults with visual impairments. ACA accredited. 1:4 ratio.

Adventure Day Camp | Bolton, Massachusetts | Website | info@realadventuredaycamp.com 325 acres of scenic woodlands. ACA accredited. 1:8 ratio. Ages 5-15. Wide range of disabilities served.

Camp PARC | Somerset, Pennsylvania | Website | tedr@campparc.org People Always Responding with Compassion. Overnight camp for children and adults with IDD. 2:1 staff ratio. Accepts campers from all states.

NASET Recognized Summer Camps

Alabama

ESG Foundation ‘Special Camps’ | Gallant, Alabama | Website | info@specialcamps.com

Exceptional Foundation Gulf Coast | Daphne, Alabama | Website | daisymay1818@gmail.com Day program for youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

California

Calm Down Kids Camp | Santa Clara, California | Website | camp@calmdownkids.com Half-day camp for ages 6-10 with autism, ADHD, anxiety, or history of bullying. Groups of 5-10 campers, 1:5 ratio, run by therapists. Serves Silicon Valley area.

Growing Social Summer Camps | Watsonville, California | Website | madrigalstephanie020@gmail.com Ages 5 through young adults.

Colorado

Adam’s Camp | Granby, Colorado | Website | jenelle@adamscamp.org Held at YMCA of the Rockies/Snow Mountain Ranch. Therapy and adventure programs for children, youth, and adults with IDD. Currently hiring staff and volunteers.

Colorado Foundation for Conductive Education | Arvada, Colorado | Website | admin@conductiveed.com Multidisciplinary therapy for individuals with motor disorders. Small group environment with 1:1 staffing covering fine/gross motor, mobility, communication, ADLs, and more.

Connecticut

YPI Summer Camp for the Arts | Suffield, Connecticut | Website | jeff@ypicamp.org

Florida

Freedom Sailing Camp of Florida | Safety Harbor, Florida | Website | freedomsailingcamp@gmail.com 14 years working with special needs.

Hope for Miami | Miami, Florida | Website | kamicha@hopeformiami.org

Sunny Shores Sea Camp | Melbourne Beach, Florida | Website | sandyregan1106@gmail.com

Trailways Camps | LaBelle, Florida | Website | jamie@trailwayscamps.org Overnight camp for adults with special needs. Drop-off respite model with experienced professionals and trained volunteers.

Hawaii

Healing Horses, Kaua’i | Kapa’a, Hawaii | Website | hhkauai@gmail.com Located on 15 beautiful Kaua’i acres. Offers riding, carriage driving, and arts & crafts.

Illinois

Tourette Syndrome Camp USA | Ingleside, Illinois | Website | scott63@prodigy.net Also serves children with OCD.

Indiana

Camp Sharing Meadows | La Porte, Indiana | Website | claskowski@sharefoundation.org Christian non-profit overnight camp for adults with disabilities. Week-long summer camps and weekend camps year-round.

CHAMP Camp | Martinsville, Indiana | Website | admin@champcamp.org Serves campers with tracheostomies, ventilators, and other mechanical respiratory support.

Massachusetts

Beyond Akeela | Milton, Massachusetts | Website | kevin@campakeela.com College readiness camp for teens who’ve completed 10th grade through post-grad year. Based at Curry College.

Camp Casco | Sudbury, Massachusetts | Website | hello@campcasco.org Free one-week camp for children impacted by pediatric cancer in New England. Constant medical support, mental health care, and industry-leading safety standards.

Grotonwood | Groton, Massachusetts | Website | sarah@grotonwood.org Christian summer camp serving a wide range of disabilities.

Peter Pan Center Summer Social Skills Program | Boxborough, Massachusetts | Website | dshea.peterpancenter@gmail.com

Michigan

Aim High Summer Camps | Farmington Hills, Michigan | Website | gvandertuig@aimhighschool.com

Camp SkyWild | Pinckney, Michigan | Website | kristin@campskywild.org Overnight camp for autistic kids 7-17 and neurotypical siblings 6-16. Spectrum Program $1,799, Siblings Program $999. Scholarships available. Michigan session July 19-24.

St. Francis Camp on the Lake | Jerome, Michigan | Website | director@saintfranciscamp.org 10 weeks of summer camp serving a wide range of disabilities.

Team GUTS Fun & Fitness Camp | Clawson, Michigan | Website | todd@teamgutsmichigan.com Day camp for children, teens, and adults with special needs. Athletic training, sports skills, obstacle courses, martial arts, dance, nature walks, and nutrition activities.

Missouri

Camp Barnabas | Purdy, Missouri | Website | info@campbarnabas.org Christian camp for individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Every activity adapted for full participation regardless of ability.

Miriam FUNdamentals Summer Camp | St. Louis, Missouri | Website | ryoung@miriamstl.org Specialty camps for grades K-8. Small groups with certified experts using research-based methods. Open to children with or without disabilities.

New Hampshire

Camp Allen NH | Bedford, New Hampshire | Website | campdirector@campallennh.org Registration opens in November for the following summer. Welcomes campers of any age and ability.

Camp Starfish | Rindge, New Hampshire | Website | danielle@campstarfish.org Fosters success of children with emotional, behavioral, and learning challenges. 1:1 and 1:3 ratio overnight summer camps plus school-year respite programs.

New Jersey

Limitless | Parsippany, New Jersey | Website | cfarr@limitlessasd.com DIR program focusing on individual profiles and relationship building.

Mane Stream – Horseback Riding Day Camp | Oldwick, New Jersey | Website | kathy@manestreamnj.org PerformCare & DDD Approved. Day camp for ALL abilities, children 4+ with horses and riding. Typically developing siblings welcome.

New York

Empire State Special Needs Experience / Lions Camp Badger | Spencer, New York | Website | lionscampbadger@htva.net

Kamp Kiwanis | Taberg, New York | Website | kamp@kampkiwanis.org Two weeks for adults with special needs and six weeks for children. Child weeks include up to 20 individuals with special needs mainstreamed into the camp population.

North Carolina

Bravo Nantahala Adventure Camp | Bryson City, North Carolina | Website | jay@blueridgebravo.org Overnight outdoor adventure camp for kids who are blind or have significant visual impairment. Hiking, rafting, climbing, swimming, ziplining. 12 spaces available for 2026.

Camp Blue Skies | Charlotte, North Carolina | Website | contact@campblueskies.org Serves adults with developmental disabilities. 5-day and weekend camps in NC, SC, and GA in spring and fall.

North Dakota

Elks Camp Grassick | Dawson, North Dakota | Website | campgrassick@gmail.com

Oklahoma

Ability Tree Camp | Adair, Oklahoma | Website | karla@abilitytree.org For adults 18+ with disabilities at New Life Ranch Frontier Cove. Will meet with interested families to determine fit.

Oregon

Camp Taloali | Stayton, Oregon | Website | camp@taloali.org Serves Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing campers. Focus on communication, leadership, and social development.

Hand In Hand Farm | Lebanon, Oregon | Website | staff@handinhandfarm.org Week-long day camps for the whole family focused on parenting education and family skills. No fees, donate what you can.

Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp | Rhododendron, Oregon | Website | evie@mhkc.org Inclusive overnight camp for adults with developmental disabilities. On-site nursing and 1-on-1 support through university partnerships.

Pennsylvania

Camp Sequoia | Newtown, Pennsylvania | Website | reema@camp-sequoia.com Overnight summer camp for boys 9-17 and girls 9-16 focused on social skills development for exceptional and bright campers.

S2STEM | Glen Mills, Pennsylvania | Website | info@s2stem.com Group setting in the summer and new 1:1 STEM training for campers with special education needs January – May. Campers can come with a parent or therapist

Texas

Briarwood Plus | Houston, Texas | Website | smitchell@briarwoodschool.org Four-week summer learning program for students with language-based learning differences or those at risk for reading and writing challenges.

iCan Bike Houston Camp | Houston, Texas | Website | smitchell@briarwoodschool.org

Virginia

Brainy Ridge Inc. | St. George, Virginia | Website | admin@brainyridge.com Condition-specific camp experiences for youth with chronic health conditions. Works collaboratively with medical experts, educators, and community partners nationwide.

For nearly two decades, NASET has been the trusted authority in recognizing excellence in special education.

Since 2008, our prestigious Schools of Excellence Award has honored K-12 institutions nationwide that demonstrate exceptional commitment to supporting students with special needs and their families. We’ve evaluated hundreds of applications, reviewed countless programs, and celebrated the schools that create truly inclusive, supportive environments where every child can thrive.

Now, we’re bringing that same expertise to summer programming.

Each February, NASET will provide a comprehensive directory of summer camps and programs specifically designed for children with special needs—applying the same rigorous standards and trusted evaluation process that has made our K-12 awards the gold standard in the field.

Why join our waiting list?

✓ Premium placement opportunities for founding institutions
✓ Direct access to our community of 100K professionals and families actively seeking quality programs
✓ Partnership opportunities with the organization that special education professionals have trusted for over 20 years
✓ NASET Certification consideration for camps meeting our excellence standards

Your program deserves recognition alongside the best in special needs support.

Just as we’ve helped families find exceptional schools for nearly two decades, we’re now creating the definitive resource for parents seeking safe, enriching summer experiences for their children with disabilities. Join the camps and programs setting the standard for inclusive summer programming.