Updated March 2024

Welcome to The Boost’s second-annual Summer Sleepaway spectacular.

The camps listed below are focused on programs for people with a range of developmental disabilities. They offer summer experiences from traditional outdoor activities to teen travel and college readiness programs.

This is not an endorsement of any particular camp. Always ensure it meets the needs of your loved ones and please do your due diligence.

A few things to note:

• I chose camps in or close to New York that got back to me during the fact-checking stage.
• Some camps already have wait-lists, and others are filling up fast.
• Many camps ask for reports (such as IEPs and psychological evaluations).
• Some camps accept Self-Direction so be sure to ask, if applicable.

This list is designed to grow! I’d love to hear about others you know, as well as any positive and/or negative experiences you might have had with any on this list. You can contact me here.

CAMP AKEELA & BEYOND AKEELA

• Address: One Thoreau Way, Thetford Center, VT 05075
• About: Camp Akeela is a “traditional New England camp program” for campers diagnosed with Asperger’s, NLVD or a similar neurodiverse profile. Beyond Akeela helps prepare older campers for life after high school, with an emphasis on social skills, independence and college readiness. Also available: a one-week Family Camp.
• Ages: Camp Akeela: 3^rd-10^h graders; Beyond Akeela: 10^th-12^th graders
• Date and rates
• Financial aid available: Yes
• ACA accredited: Yes

CAMP ANNE

• Run by AHRC New York City
• Address: 228 Four Corners Rd., Ancramdale, N.Y. 12503
• About: “A traditional summer camp experience” for people who require various levels of support and may also have physical and/or medical needs.
• Ages: 5-20 and adults 21+
• Dates and rates: Contact the camp for rates.
• Financial aid: Yes
• ACA accredited: Yes

CAMP DUNNABECK AT KILDONAN

• Address: 473 Skiff Mountain Rd., Kent, Conn. 06757 (at the Marvelwood School)
• About: A camp for children and teens with dyslexia and language-based learning differences. Provides 1-to-1 Orton-Gillingham instruction. (Day camp also offered.)
• Ages: 8-16
• Dates and rates: June 29 – Aug. 10; ask about rates
• Financial aid: Yes
• ACA accredited: ACA “affiliated”

CAMP LEE MAR

• Address: 450 Route 590, Lackawaxen, PA 18435
• About: A special needs summer camp with a full curriculum incorporating an academic and speech program with traditional camp activities. It also offers daily living, physical therapy and occupational therapy programs. Older campers work on transitioning skills and then take part in vocational training and job skills activities.
• Ages: 7-21
• Dates and rates
• Financial aid: yes
• ACA accredited: Yes

CAMP PA-QUA-TUCK

• Moriches Rotary Health Camp, Inc.
• Address: 2 Chet Swezey Rd., Center Moriches, N.Y. 11934
• About: A traditional summer camp with one-week sessions for campers with a wide range of disabilities.
• Ages: 6-21; 21+
• Dates and rates: Contact camp for rates.
• Financial aid: Yes
• ACA accredited: Yes

CAMP PATHFINDER

• Part of Pathfinder Village, a planned community
• Address: 3 Chenango Rd., Edmeston, N.Y., 13335
• About: A small camp for individuals with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities who have a level of physical/emotional health that will allow them to benefit from camp.
• Ages: 18+
• Dates and rates
• Financial aid: Yes
• ACA accredited: No

CAMP RAMAH IN THE BERKSHIRES: BREIRA B’RAMAH & TIKVAH

• The Jewish camp of the Conservative Movement
• Address: Wingdale, N.Y. 12594
• About: Breira B’Ramah is an inclusion program for campers who benefit from additional support due to communication disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Tikvah is a self-contained program for campers who have a range of intellectual disabilities and developmental delays. Ta’am Ramah is a one-week program to give rising third graders a taste of camp. Check out Camp Ramah’s other overnight and day camps, including its camp in the Poconos.
• Ages: Breira B’Ramah: entering grades 3-11; Tikvah: pilot program is boys only, 11-14
• Dates and rates
• Financial aid: Yes
• ACA accredited: Yes

CAMP RAMAPO

• Address: 22 Camp Ramapo Rd., Rhinebeck, N.Y. 12572
• About: Summer Adventure is a camp setting for neurodiverse children and teens needing help building essential conflict-resolution skills. Its Teen Leadership includes a variety of team-building activities and work experience opportunities. NOTE: There’s an Introductory Week for children not yet ready for a full sleepaway camp experience.
• Ages: 6-16
• Dates and rates
• Financial aid: Yes
• ACA accredited: Yes

CAMP REECE

• Address: 1782 S. Johnsburg Rd., Johnsburg, N.Y. 12843
• About: “Fully immersive environment for individuals with disabilities.” Offers differentiated instruction and modified activities. Its sibling institution is The Reece School, a non-profit special education school in New York City.
• Ages: 10-17
• Dates and rates
• Financial aid: Yes
• ACA accredited: The camp says it’s going through the accreditation process Summer 2023.

CAMP SKYWILD

• Address: Camp Reimagined, 160 Big Pond Rd, Huguenot, N.Y., 12746
• About: This camp is designed for autistic children and their siblings. Active in Michigan since 2013, this is its first summer in New York. It offers a traditional experience complete with cabins, campfires, tie-dye, swimming, archery and so much more.
• Ages: 7-17 for those with ASD; 6 – 13 for neurotypical siblings
• Dates and rates
• Financial aid: Scholarships available
• ACA accredited?: No

CAMP WILTON

• Run by New York State OPWDD
• Address: 3 Care Lane, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. 12866
• About: Serving people with developmental disabilities from areas across northeastern New York. Eight separate one-week sessions. One special week of the program is dedicated to people who have Prader Willi Syndrome.
• Age: 18+
• Dates and rates: Total fee is $275
• Financial aid: No
• ACA accredited: No

KAMP KIWANIS

• From the NY District Kiwanis Foundation
• Address: 9020 Kiwanis Rd., Taberg, N.Y. 13471
• About: A traditional summer program with outdoor activities and arts, it’s designed to mainstream children with special needs. Non-competitive, it has an emphasis on group and team building.
• Age: 8-14; teen program for 15-17; high-functioning special needs 18+
• Dates and rates
• Financial aid: Yes
• ACA accredited: Yes

LIONS CAMP BADGER

• Operated by the Empire State Special Needs Experience
• Address: 725 LaRue Rd., Spencer, N.Y.  14883
• About A camp offering a traditional summer program to people with a variety of special needs and abilities. It also welcomes nonverbal campers and encourages the use of communication devices, and one session offers 1:1 support for campers who need maximum support. Day camp also offered.
• Ages: 6-17; 18-28; 28+ of various abilities
• Dates and Rates
• Financial aid: Yes
• ACA accredited: No

THE LODGE 

• Run by AHRC New York City
• Address: 653 Colgate Rd., East Jewett, N.Y. 12424
• About: It calls itself a vacation “alternative” to traditional summer rec programs geared to young adults and adults with mild to moderate intellectual and developmental disabilities. It offers five, 11-day vacations, including one session for teens, and one session for young adults.
• Ages: 13-17; 18+
• Dates and rates: Contact the lodge for rates
• Financial Aid: Medicaid will pay some costs if eligible.
• ACA accredited: Yes

ROCHESTER ROTARY SUNSHINE CAMP

• Note: I have yet to hear back from Sunshine, but thought it was worth including.
• Address: 809 Five Points Rd., Rush, N.Y., 14543
• About: Since 1922, Rochester Rotary Sunshine Camp has provided a summer camp where children with disabilities can have fun without any barriers. It features a climbing wall, splash pad, archery, swimming, arts & crafts, nature trails and more. It also has a Family Sensory Center. Divided into two sessions. Must reside in Monroe County or bordering counties (Orleans, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Wayne). Exceptions will be made based on “Out of County Acceptance Procedure” on the online application
• Ages: Session 1, 7-15; Session 2, 16–21
• Dates and rates: Rate info N/A
• Financial aid: N/A
• ACA accredited: N/A

SUMMIT CAMP & TRAVEL

• Address: 168 Duck Harbor Rd., Honesdale, PA 18431
• About: Offers a structured traditional camp program that includes work on social skills development and executive functioning; Upper Camp for teens also works on vocational and personal development; Teen Travel program for teens struggling with social learning skills and that features both national and international tours.
• Ages: Summer Camp: 8-14; Upper Camp: 15-21; Teen Travel: 15-21
• Dates and rates
• Financial aid: Yes
• ACA accredited: Yes

TRANSITIONS ADIRONDACK EXPRESSIONS ART CAMP

• Address: 2736 State Highway 30, Mayfield, N.Y. 12117
• About: An art camp for people with autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, nonverbal learning disabilities and other learning differences. (Day camp also offered.)
• Ages: 16-27
• Dates and rates
• Financial aid: Yes
• ACA accredited: No

TRANSITIONS SUMMER IMMERSION EXPERIENCES

• Address: 2736 State Highway 30, Mayfield, N.Y. 12117
• About: A college readiness program for students with autism, ADHD and other learning differences. The College and Beyond program offers personalized pre-college programs and helps students determine what their needs are and, through tours and hands-on exploration, exposes them to different types of college programs. Career and Life offers individualized career prep programs for young adults who want to start careers and live on their own. Day programs are also available.
• Ages: College and Beyond: entering grades 9-12 or transferring colleges; Career and life: young adults up to 27
• Dates and rates: Contact the program for rates
• Financial aid: Yes
• ACA accredited: Not applicable

YAI MAINSTREAMING AT CAMP (MAC)

• Run in partnership with Frost Valley YMCA
• Address: 2000 Frost Valley Rd., Claryville, N.Y. 12725
• About: A program serving children and young adults with developmental disabilities in an inclusive “setting striving to expand the reach of summer camp to all people.”
• Ages: 8-18
• Dates and rates
• Financial aid: Yes
• ACA accredited: Yes