Developmental/Physical Disabilities
Camp Chaverim. Headquarters & Camp Site: Friedberg JCC, 15 Neil Ct., Oceanside, NY 11572. 516-766-4341; 516-766-0513 (fax). www.friedbergjcc.org. dsherwood@friedbergjcc.org. Ages 7 – 12. Serves children who are on the autism spectrum, and/or may need a more intimate summer camp setting to flourish. On-site swimming. Offers crafts, music, outdoor play, sports, water play and much more. Includes kosher lunch and snacks. Extended hours for working parents (based on demand).
Camp Horseability. 238 Round Swamp Rd., Melville, NY 11747. 631-367-1646. www.horseability.org. info@horseability.org. Ages 3 1/2 – young adult. Full days. Fees: Call for fees. On-site swimming. Offers horseback riding, swimming, indoor/outdoor sports, arts and crafts, circus workshops and more. No transportation. Meals only on Friday Family Fun Days. Open house: Call for appointment. Registration: Ongoing. Contact: Katie McGowan.
Camp Kehilla. Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center, 300 Forest Dr., East Hills, NY 11548. 516-484-1545. Camp location: Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds, Wheatley Heights. www.sjjcc.org. sdenison@sjjcc.org. Ages 5 – 16. Full day. Fees: Call for rates. Serving children and teens with social disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorders, autism spectrum disorders including Asperger’s syndrome, learning disabilities, speech and language delays and other special needs. Activities: Expressive therapies, sports, crafts, weekly trips. On-site swimming. Transportation and meals available (additional). Registration: Ongoing. Contact: Sharon Denison.
Camp Loyaltown. 115 E. Bethpage Rd., Plainview, NY 11803. 516-626-1000. Camp is located at Glen Ave., Hunter, NY 12442. 518-263-4242. www.ahrc.org/camp.htm. Ages 4 – 18. Fees: Call for rates. Camp offers ceramics, nature, athletics, drama and more for developmentally disabled children. Transportation and meals available. Note: This is an AHRC Family Support Service Camp. Contact: Paul or Karen Cullen.
Nyu Summer Program For Kids. Suny Maritime College, Throgs Neck. 212-263-0760. 516-358-1811. www.AboutOurKids.org. An eight-week (June 25 – Aug. 20), all day, therapeutic program exclusively for children ages 7 – 11 with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and behavior disorders. Program focuses on building self-esteem and developing attentional, organizational and friendship skills. Clinical psychologists and highly-qualified teachers supervise undergraduate and graduate-level counselors. Enrollment is limited.
Variety Club Camp & Developmental Center. 2950 Potshop Rd., P.O. Box 609, Worcester, PA 19490. 610-584-4366. www.varietyphila.org. angusmurray@varietyphila.org. Ages 5 – 21. Three-week residential program. Fees: Start at $275/week. Specializes in physically and/or developmentally disabled children. Offers swimming, sports, art, golf. Transportation limited ($15 additional). Meals included. Contact: Angus Murray.
Kehilla Vocation Experience. Headquarters and Camp Site: Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center, 300 Forest Dr., East Hills, NY 11548. 516-484-1545. www.sjjcc.org. lwarren@sjjcc.org. Ages 17 – 21. Full day. Fees: Call for rates. Serving teens and young adults with social disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorders, autism spectrum disorders including Asperger’s syndrome, learning disabilities, speech and language delays and other special needs. Activities: Job training, on-job experience, recreational trips, expressive therapies. Registration: Ongoing. Contact: Lisa Warren.
Diabetes
Robert K. Sweeney Summer Fun Days for Children With Diabetes. Suffolk County Farm and Education Center, Yaphank Ave., Yaphank, NY 11980. 631-852-4959. Ages 5 – 10. Co-ed. Fees: $195 for 1 week, from 9 am – 2 pm. This camp offers a wide range of farm education programs, plus programs specifically designed to help children with diabetes better manage their life situation. Held July 16 – July 20 and July 23 – July 27, 2007, two, one-week sessions. Call for additional information. Contact: Pat Hubbard or Linda Seal.
Barton Day Camp Long Island. Headquarters: 30 Ennis Rd., North Oxford, MA 01537. 508-987-2056. Camp location: Roslyn, NY. www.bartoncenter.org. kerry.packard@bartoncenter.org. Ages 6 – 12. Full day. Fees: Starting at $525, plus $25 registration fee. On-site swimming. Arts and crafts, theme days, camp games. Transportation available ($100/week). Lunch and snacks provided. Contact: Kerry Packard.
Epilepsy
Camp Frog. Headquarters: 1323 Forbes Ave., Ste. 102, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. 412-261-5880. www.efwp.org/programs/programs_08.shtml. kfinch@efwp.org. Grades 4 – 12. Overnight program. Fees: Call for rates. Preference will be given to children from Western and Central Pennsylvania.Camp Frog creates a fully integrated setting for children who have epilepsy/seizure disorder. Offers crafts, sing-alongs, canoeing, swimming, riflery, archery and horseback riding. Contact: Kate Wilson.
Mentally Challenged
Camp Hope. Headquarters: Childrens’ Bible Fellowship of NY, Inc. P.O. Box 670, Carmel, NY 10512. Camp site: 250 Nimham Rd., Carmel, NY 10512. 845-225-2005, Ext. 207, 845-225-2087 (fax). www.cbfny.org. E-mail: camp@cbfny.org. Ages 6 & up. Fees: Starting at $575. A residential Christian camp for children with physical disabilities or children with mild-to-moderate mental retardation. On-site swimming. Activities include crafts, games, bible study, music. Transportation available from Queens. Meals provided. Open house: On-site visits welcome. Registration: As of this month. Contact: Gail Cohen.
Camp Loyaltown. Glen Ave., Hunter, NY 12442. 516-293-1111 Ext. 608. Ages 4 and up. Fees: Call for rates. Camp for children (and adults) who are mentally disabled. On-site swimming. Camp activities include music, dance, drama, nature, ceramics, cooking and more. Note: This is an AHRC camp, Nassau County chapter. Contact: Paul or Karen Cullen.
Neurological Disorders
Gersh Academy. 150 Broad Hollow Rd., Suite 120 Melville, N.Y. 11747. 631-385-3342. Grades K – 12. Full day. Locations in Queens, N.Y. and Long Island. Call for fees. An academic-based summer program for students with special needs. Serving high-functioning students with neurobiological disorders as well as students with autism spectrum disorder. All certified special-ed teachers, social worker and psychologist on staff. Contact: Vivian Kaplan.
Oncology
American Cancer Society Camp Adventure. 4 Rocky Point Rd., P.O. Box 549, Shelter Island Heights, NY 11965. 1-800-ACS-2345. www.cancer.org/camp adventure. Ages 6 – 18. Fees: Free. On-site swimming. Offers arts and crafts, sports and nature study. Meals included. Residential camp. One-week program for children with cancer and their siblings, held on the last full week of August. Contact: Elisa.
Physically Challenged Southampton Fresh Air Home. 36 Barkers Island Rd., Southampton, NY 11968. 631-283-1594. www.sfah.org; dbillingham@sfah.org. Ages 7 – 18. Co-ed. Fees: Starting at $900; scholarships available. On-site swimming. Small residential camp with state-of-the-art facilities for physically challenged children and young adults. Sports, swimming, computers, arts and crafts. Transportation and meals included. Call for more information. Contact: David Billingham.
Sunrise Day Camp. Headquarters: Friedberg JCC, 15 Neil Ct., Oceanside, NY 11572. Camp site: Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds, Colonial Springs Rd., Wheatley Heights. 516-766-4341; 516-766-0513 (fax). www.sunrisedaycamp.org. mvernon@friedbergjcc.org. Ages 3 – 16 (for children, on a non-sectarian basis, who are in active or follow-up treatment for cancer & their siblings). Full days. Fees: Free of charge. Open house: Call for appointment. Registration: Ongoing. Contact: Michele Vernon.
Stuttering
Our Time Theatre Company. Headquarters: 307 West 38th St., New York, NY 10018. Camp site: Iroqoius Springs, Rick Hill, NY. www.iroquoissprings.com. 212-414-9696. 212-414-8527 (fax). www.ourtimetheatre.org. Ages: 8 – 18 (for children who stutter and their siblings). Discover the joys of creating and performing original theater and music with unconditional acceptance. Camp dates: Aug. 10 – 17. Fees: Call for fees. Registration: Ongoing. Contact: Taro Alexander.
Visually Impaired
Helen Keller Summer Camp. Headquarters: 1 Helen Keller Way, Hempstead, NY 11550. Camp site: Farmingdale State University of New York. Office: 1 Helen Keller Way, Hempstead, NY 11550. 516-485-1235, Ext. 617. www.helenkeller.org. info@helenkeller.org. Ages 4 – 15. Full day. Fee: Nominal registration fee. Camp is free to participants who are blind or visually impaired. Swimming, crafts, dance, computers, martial arts and trips. Open to children from Nassau and Suffolk. Door-to-door transportation available (free). Registration: Begins Apr. 1. Contact: Bill Dale.
Weight Loss/Nutrition
Camp Kingsmont. 893 West St., Amherst, MA, 01002. 800-854-1377. www.campkingsmont.com. Ages 7 – 18. Co-ed. Fees: Starting at $2,800 for three weeks. On-site swimming. Softball, tennis, basketball, horseback riding, archery, arts and crafts and nutrition. Transportation available from nearby airport; meals provided. Open house and registration in spring.
New Image — Camp Pocono Trails. Headquarters: P.O. Box 417 Norwood, NJ 07648. Camp location: Akiba Rd., Reeders, PA 18352. 800-365-0556. www.newimagecamp.com. Ages 7 – 18. Fees: Starting at $2,450/2 weeks, 2- and 8-week programs available; optional trips extra. On-site swimming. Offers weight loss, nutrition classes, fitness activities, drama, many activities. Meals included. Contact: Tony Sparber.
The Ranch, F.i.t.s. P.O. Box 128, Lake Placid, NY 12945. 800-613-6033. www.childrenscamps.com. theranchlp@hotmail.com. For girls ages 10 – 18. Fees: Starting at $1,200/week. On-site swimming (heated commercial pool). Natural weight-loss program designed for young women. Offers horseback riding, dance, kayacking, track. Transportation available from Westchester. Meals: Nutritional plan with medical supervision. Open house: Call for information. Contact: Maureen.
Camp Shane. 302 Harris Rd., Ferndale, NY 12734. Winter phone 914-271-4141. Ages 7 – 17. Co-ed. and 18 – 25 Young Women. Fees: $3,100/3 weeks; $5,350/6 weeks; $7,150/9 weeks. This is a camp for children, teens and young adults who want to lose weight and get fit. Olympic swimming pool, all sports, aerobics, dance crafts, theater, waterskiing and jet ski, go-karts, paintball, nutrition and cooking classes. Self-esteem “rap” sessions with guidance counselors. Open house: May. Contact: David Ettenberg.