Special-Needs Camps & Fairs Massachusetts

Bedford, NH. An overnight and day summer camp for children and adults with developmental and/or physical disabilities to enjoy camp in an outdoor environment.

Natick, MA. Camp Arrowhead offers a six-week day camp and one-week residential camp that serves children and adults with disabilities. A special needs summer camp program matching each camper with a 1:1 peer volunteer
* Arrowhead provides social and physical recreation for individuals with a variety of disabilities who are five years and older.
* Camp Arrowhead is sponsored by the Natick Recreation and Parks Department with the Parents Association of the Handicapped, Inc.

Fairhaven, MA. A day camp exclusively for school age children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. who do not exhibit dangerous or disruptive behaviors. Children must be able to communicate their wants and needs and be ready to build on their conversational skills and participate in small group activities.

Attleboro, MA, Norton, MA. YMCA Integrated Camp Program for ages 4-15 with different abilities. Outdoor activities, Arts and Crafts, music, structured programs, predictable routines, social interactions, accommodations & supports for inclusion.

East Brookfield, MA. Inclusive program for youth ages 7 – 16. Learn how to be more independent and how to contribute to a group. Through physical, social and educational activities, campers may gain self-reliance with the fun of camp fires, bugle calls, canoeing, soccer matches, archery and talent shows.
* Camp Office is located in Newton, MA.

Hanover, MA. For children ages 4 – 15. A traditional camp environment that is welcoming to all campers. Campers with developmental or other challenges will be provided with the opportunity for a successful camp experience.
* They offer inclusion training for all camp staff under the direction of the SSYMCA’s inclusion leadership staff.

Boston, MA. Boston Centers for Youth and Families’ (BCYF) Camp Joy is for Boston residents with disabilities, ages 3 – 15, and their siblings, ages 3 – 7. Camp Joy provides an inclusive and supportive environment. It includes structured, daily opportunities for participants to make new friends, have fun, learn, and grow during the summer months. 

Starksboro, VT. Retreat-style camp for families experiencing the autism spectrum. Learn more about autism, participate in hiking, arts & crafts, swimming, campfires, friendships. 

Bridgeton, ME. A non-profit 501(c)3 summer bereavement camp open to children ages 8-17 who are survivors of a loved one’s suicide.
* Held in a traditional camp setting, the camp provides all of the quintessential experiences of any rural summer camp.
* In addition, the camp provides clinical professionals who lead small peer support sessions and offer 24/7 trauma support. 

Watertown, MA. With the Watertown Rec Department, serving Watertown, Waltham and Belmont. Inclusion program incorporates special-needs youth, 6 – 12, in with the standard summer program. Finanical Aid Available. Arts, games, etc.

Quincy, MA. The South Shore YMCA’ Camp Quirk is a traditional camp environment that is welcoming to all campers. Campers with developmental or other challenges will be provided with the opportunity for a successful camp experience.
* They we are able to offer inclusion training for all camp staff under the direction of the YMCA’s inclusion leadership staff.
|* Campers are fully integrated into this traditional day camp experience and should be able to participate independently in standard staff ratios.  

Cambridge, MA. Camp Rainbow is an annual summer camp serving young people with disabilities, ages 6-22. Campers will experience outdoor activities, swimming, field trips, arts & crafts, and cooking and more.

Amherst, MA. Camp Shriver at the University of Massachusetts Boston is a free inclusive summer sports camp for youth with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, ages 8-12, who are from low-income families in the Boston area. Children with and without disabilities build social skills and positive social relationships by learning and playing together.

North Reading, MA. A specialized summer day program for children and adolescents ages 6 – 16. Some of the Camp Triumph campers have not had a positive camping experience in a regular day camp, but do not require a camp for children with severe psychological, behavioral, mental, or physical difficulties.
* Campers are very diverse, some of them have diagnoses such as ADHD, Executive Functioning Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Non-Verbal Learning Disability, Social Pragmatic Communication Disorder, and Anxiety Disorder.
* The group sizes for camp are up to 11-12 children per group with 3 counselors.
* The ratio in the groups is a 3:1 ratio with a licensed psychologist to supervise staff. 

Newton, MA. Blind or visually impaired youth programs for students ages 8–25. Opportunities to grow socially, academically, and personally in a supportive and inclusive environment. 
* Learn technology, building travel skills, preparing for college, or exploring a first job
* Guided by experienced blind and sighted professionals.
• Carroll Kids (Grades 4-8)
• Carroll Teens (Grades 6-9)
• Youth In Transition (Ages 15-20)
• Computing for College – Advanced computer instruction for high school juniors and seniors preparing for college, as well as current college students who want to strengthen their technology skills and build greater independence in higher education.
• Real World of Work Experience (Ages 16+)
• Learn More About Real World of Work Experience Summer Internships (Ages 19 to 25)

Boston, MA, Northampton, MA. Clarke’s Summer Camp is an opportunity for children who are deaf or hard of hearing to learn, explore and bond. 
* Clarke’s Summer Camp activities are designed to foster confidence and self-expression.
* Activities are led by experienced teachers of the deaf and young adults with hearing loss, and encourage leadership and independence, while enhancing listening, communication and social skills.

Needham, MA .For ages 3 – 14 with behavioral, developmental, and social needs. Diagnoses may include PDD-NOS/autism, speech and language delays, ADHD, cognitive delays, and related challenges.

Orange, MA, Equestrian and Educational Farm Programs. Their goal is to foster personal and physical enrichment, growth and self-discovery in individuals regardless of age, physical or emotional limitations, or the ability to pay, through experiences with farm animals, especially horses.
* Additionally, the program is committed to creating and maintaining an environment where children and adults of all abilities may benefit from successful partnerships with animals.  

Concord, MA. Daybreak Day Camp provides camp experiences to youngsters from under-resourced circumstances who demonstrate social, emotional, and behavioral challenges related to trauma or special needs.
* Campers’ diagnoses may include ADHD, PTSD, mood disorders, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety, and other learning issues.
* With a 2:1 camper to staff ratio and an environment designed to be trauma-sensitive and responsive to camper needs, Daybreak Day Camp allows children who need a smaller program and extra support to fully experience the benefits of a summer day camp experience.
*  Counselors are trained to understand the impact of camper challenges, to teach play skills and problem solving, and to provide therapeutic support as needed. 

Brewster, MA. Dedicated to bringing respite into the lives of children with serious and/or life-threatening illnesses and their families. This program families connect with others who understand and accept what they have been going through at its Camp Nan-Ke-Rafe, a 31-acre facility located adjacent to Nickerson State Park.
* Each summer each summer they operate eight sessions of family camp – bringing families together for a week of fun, family, and respite.  

Duxbury, MA. This is an outreach program that offers sailing programs for adult and youth students with cognitive and/or physical challenges. It does not offer a daily or weekly camp experience. 

Lexington, MA, Norwood, MA. For autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, ADHD, language delays, sensory disintegration, preschool to entering fourth grade.
* F.U.S.E. incorporates many different clinically effective and evidence based treatment modalities to support the WHOLE child. DIR/Floortime, Social Thinking – We Thinkers, Zones of Regulation, Yoga, Mindfulness, Sensory Integration, Handwriting without Tears, to name a few.

Groton, MA. A one and two-week camping sessions for adults with mild to moderate cognitive and developmental disabilities.
* Each weekly session is designed to meet the specific needs of campers through appropriate staff to camper ratios, adaptive activities, built in transition times and the option for off-campus trips.

Lexington, MA. A unique, inclusive opportunity to be a Leader in Training for grades 9 – 12. Participants in the program will have the opportunity to gain leadership skills, life skills and interpersonal skills while being a part of a summer day camp.
* The morning portion of the day will be classroom based focusing on leadership development and will transition into camp for the afternoon where LIT’s will work with counselors, campers and experience all that camp has to offer.
Applicants of all abilities are encouraged to apply.
Registration closes June 13th.