Camps for Children with Special Needs

Camp Adventure are summer adaptive camps for children 6 to 19-years-old living with permanent disabilities. During camp, campers enjoy sports, art, music, and games. Campers make connections with their peers and form lasting memories. Camp is staffed by qualified instructors and volunteers who provide instruction, encouragement, and support.

Locations Include the following. Dates for 2023 will be posted in spring of 2023. 

• Albuquerque
• Gallup 
• Roswell 
• Las Cruces 
• Farmington 

Cross of Hope is a young and vibrant ministry on Albuquerque’s west side that aims to sharing Christ with all individuals. They are part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). Services include worship, fellowship, and ministry opportunities. Cross of Hope offers Summer Vacation Bible School Programs including one-week with ministry partners Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp for grades preschool-5, and one week for children with special needs (all ages).

Offers a variety of camps, including regular camps, specialty camps, and family camps.

Specialty camps include camps for children with congenital or acquired heart disease, spina bifida, tuberous sclerosis and more.

Provides camps for children with Type I diabetes and with or at risk of developing Type II diabetes. Multiple camps offered.

Provides a week-long camp to help children learn more about their asthma and how to better cope with this breathing disorder while still having fun. Superkids camps in South Dakota and Minnesota.

Safeguards the civil rights of deaf and hard of hearing Americans. As a national federation of state associations, individual members, and organizational and corporate affiliates, the advocacy work includes accessibility, education, employment, healthcare, mental health, rehabilitation, technology, telecommunications, and transportation. Website features advocacy information and resources.

NAD Youth Leadership Camp (YLC) is a four-week intensive educational program for high school students. Camp Taloali, Stayton, Oregon.

A voluntary health agency that works to combat muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and related muscle-debilitating diseases. The organization is committed to finding treatments and cures while providing a comprehensive program to empower families with support to help them thrive and stay independent including summer camps for kids, peer support, equipment resources and more. Related volunteer opportunities available.COVID-19 Update: following all CDC and state guidelines.

• Voluntary Health Organizations
• Assistive Technology Expense Assistance
• Health/Disabilities Related Volunteer Opportunities
• Therapeutic Camps
• Health/Disability Related Support Groups

Provides a free medically supervised camp for children with heart disease and their families. 

Services Include:

• Youth Camp Ages 7-12
• Teen Camp Ages 13-17
• Mentor/Leadership Camp Ages 16-21 prior/current teen campers
• Family Camp Children of all ages
• Young Adult Program (Y.A.P.) Ages 18-32
• TimeOut4 Heart Mom’s A weekend camp for mothers of children with heart disease

Provides a medically supervised, residential summer camp for children ages 7-17 who are living with heart disease. Located on Catalina Island, 22 miles off the California coastline. PACE program for ages 18-24 with congenital heart disease.

Provides information about Fabry disease, research and clinical trials information, funding programs, and more. See Recommended Schedule of Assessment at https://www.fabrydisease.org/images/ReferencePDFs/fabry-registry-schedule-of-assessments.pdf. Programs, include:

• Annual conference
• Family camp
• Personal support
• Research and educational information

Five nights of camp at a college campus for an experience that promotes independence, self-esteem, learning, friendship and fun. Each year the Youth Rally host roughly 150 campers from all over the US and beyond. Campers and counselors alike live with an array of conditions affecting their bowel and/or bladder systems. A nursing team assists campers as needed.

Provides traditional camp experiences for children with serious illnesses and their families. Provides week-long camp sessions, several family camps and some special sessions where siblings ages 17 and under are invited to join. See website for up-to-date list of camp sessions.

Empowers children and families living with serious medical conditions through year-round, life-changing experiences, always free of charge. With specialized medical support, we help kids re-imagine the future.
All residential Summer Camp Sessions last one week and run from Monday afternoons through Friday mornings. Please apply for the session that best fits your child. Sample summer camps:
♥ Session 1: Camp Reflection, Dermatologic Conditions In partnership with the American Academy of Dermatology
♥ Session 2: *General Session
♥ Session 3: *General Session
♥ Session 4: Solid Organ Transplant
♥ Session 5: *General Session
♥ Session 6: Craniofacial Community
♥ Session 7: Orthopedic + Neuromuscular Conditions
♥ Session 8: Skeletal Dysplasia
*GENERAL SESSIONS serve campers with life altering medical conditions including but not limited to: cerebral palsy, chronic kidney disease, cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, epilepsy, genetic syndromes, mitochondrial disease, and reconstructive pelvic medicine conditions.
Also teen and family weekend camps.

An official member of SeriousFun Children’s Network.
Camp phone: (425) 440-0850

Provides a free annual camp experience for youth ages 10-17 with limb loss/limb difference.

Kesem is a nationwide community, driven by passionate college student leaders, that supports children through and beyond their parent’s cancer. Offering innovative, fun-­filled programs that foster a lasting community, we aim to ensure that every child impacted by a parent’s cancer is never alone.

Camp locator on website

Provides objective and credible information, advocacy and research for diabetes. Website offers education, legal rights, health insurance, tips for caregivers, etc. Provides camps for children with Type I diabetes and with or at risk of developing Type II diabetes.

Ending neurofibromatosis through research. Patient Engagement program, meaning the inclusion of patient representatives in NF research, and the view that people with NF are not just subjects, but are health care consumers who have a role in managing their care, directing their health outcomes, and accelerating therapies for the entire NF community. A NF Clinic Network by state. Provides a registry for all types of NF (including NF1, NF2, and schwannomatosis).

NF Camp is the annual summer camp of the Children's Tumor Foundation, dedicated to teens and young adults living with neurofibromatosis (NF). For over 20 years we have hosted this week-long experience for teens and young adults ages 12 to 25. NF Camp takes place on the third or fourth week of July (6 nights/6 days) in Salt Lake City, Utah. Application on CTF website.

Provides a camp is for children and teens with Neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow along various types of nerves. Campers come from all over the United States, Canada, and the world. During these weeks, they are able to interact with others who have the same condition, and learn more about themselves and others while enjoying everything that Camp K has to offer.

NF Camp takes place on the third or fourth week of July (6 nights/6 days) at Camp Kostopulos in Utah. Details and application on Children's Tumor Foundation website.
Contact: Julie Pantoliano

Online Resources Include:

• A variety of clinical and patient resources
• Educational events for clinicians
• Find a Pediatric Endocrinologist: Search the Pediatric Endocrine Society membership list.
• Upcoming Camps: Directory of specialty camps for kids, including Diabetes Camps, Turner Syndrome Camps, and Transgender Youth and Teen Camps. Not run or endorsed by the Pediatric Endocrine Society.

Supports people living with epilepsy, families, friends, and caregivers. Many programs, including support groups, are available through local Epilepsy Foundations, which can be located here.  

Services Include:

• Education materials about epilepsy, types of seizures, triggers, diagnosis, treatment, etc.
• National policy and legal advocacy
• Research and funding
• Public awareness
• Training programs
• 24/7 information helpline
• Kids Crew- for kids ages 14 and under
• Summer Camps

Supports people with inherited blood disorders through research, education, and advocacy. Provides chapters throughout the US.

Services Include:

• Information about bleeding disorders, blood types, and blood safety
• Online and in-person educational events and workshops
• Advocacy information
• [Camp Locator] helps families find a camp for a child with a bleeding disorder, siblings, or the family.

Provides services, education, outreach, and advocacy so that children with disabilities are given full access to quality education, support, and resources.

Services Include:

• Early Intervention
• Early Childhood Education
• Make the First Five Count Childhood Development Screening Tool
• Nationwide Directory for Inclusive Child Care Programs
• Camping and Recreation Programs
• Family Support and Resources
• Transportation Assistance and Support
• Employment and Training
• Financial Capability and Homebuying

Young Life is a Christian ministry that reaches out to middle school, high school and college-aged kids in all 50 states.

Some Young Life areas have dedicated programs for students and young adults with disabilities, typically referred to as Young Life Capernaum. Young Life Capernaum gives young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the chance to experience fun and adventure, to develop fulfilling friendships and to challenge their limits while building self-esteem through club, camp and other exciting activities.

[https://www.younglife.org/Locator/Pages/default.aspx Use the online finder] to locate a local Young Life and find out about their programs.

Provides resources, information, and support groups for families and individuals with Urea cycle disorders (UCDs).

UCD Family Camps: Hosts annual camps for families affected by a Urea Cycle Disorder. UCD Family Camps are held in different locations across the US so that all families around the country may have an opportunity to attend. Camps are 100% free of charge to UCD families and siblings (any age). All costs of foods (low-pro), lodging, and shuttling to and from airport to camp site is provided as well.