Camps & Activities

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Online Camp Directories

Family Retreats

  • BreakAway 2015
    Camp by Lift Disability Network

    • When: July 7-11, 2015
    • Phone: 407-228-8343
    • Website: http://liftdisability.net/breakaway
    • Lift Disability Network is committed to parting the clouds that obscure the potential of the disability family through a new initiative, Breakaway. This family experience is designed to provide the disability family an experience in recreation, relaxation and spiritual renewal.
    • Cost: Contact Lift Disability. Cost includes motel style accommodations, food, and all activities. A limited number of partial scholarships are offered depending upon available funds. Lift encourages families to reach out to at least two additional funding sources.
  • Joni & Friends
    Family Retreats

    • Phone: 818-707-5664
    • Website: http://joniandfriends.org
    • Offers a variety of programs including family retreats for families with disabilities and training and curriculum guides to equip churches including their Special Needs Smart Pages curriculum for ministering to kids with special needs and Camp ‘Lean on the Lord’ a disability awareness program and missions curriculum for kids.
  • Special Touch Summer Get Aways
    • Location: Lake Aurora Christian Came in Lake Wales, FL
    • Phone:Office: 321-723-2188; Cell: 321-480-9806
    • Email: trementozzi@specialtouch.org
    • Website: http://www.specialtouch.org
    • Contact: Rev. Joe and Ann Trementozzi
    • For this year’s getaway dates, http://www.specialtouch.org/getaways
    • This getaway is designed to minister physically, emotionally, and spiritually to people with disabilities. Guests range in age from children to adults both with developmental and physical disabilities. Each day’s schedule is appropriate for each group and is designed with one thing in mind; to allow those attending to experience the best week of the year, to make new friends, to leave with a renewed self-esteem and most of all a new and deeper relationship with the Lord.More information can be obtained at the website (http://www.specialtouch.org/a-day-at-the-beach.html)or by contacting Joe or Ann with any questions. Applications can be downloaded from the website. For those who have a financial need, scholarship money is available on a first come basis. A video of last year’s Florida Get Away can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ztt7SLi7j40

Camps for Children with All Kinds of Special Needs

  • Camp Barnabas Purdy, MO
    Life-changing opportunities to people with special needs in a Christian camp setting

    • Location: Rt 2, Box 131, Purdy, MO 65734
    • Phone: 417-476-2565
    • Website: http://www.campbarnabas.org
    • Camp Barnabas exists to offer childhood experiences to kids who have been robbed of them by disease or disability. Each summer, Camp Barnabas provides encouragement for literally hundreds of campers, empowering them to live more fully through faith. This spiritual gift of encouragement, the hallmark of Barnabas, one of the least known of Christ’s latter disciples, helps campers face and challenge their disability or illness with courage.
  • Camp Challenge
    Swimming, nature, singing and crafts… there is nothing we cannot accomplish together!

    • Website: http://fl.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=FLDR_campchallenge
    • Fully accredited by the American Camping Association (ACA), Easter Seals Camp Challenge in Sorrento, near Orlando, offers camping programs for children and adults with disabilities. Camp Challenge satisfies the need in each of us for outdoor recreation, socializing with friends, and relaxing on a summer vacation.
    • During the months of June and July, more than 250 adults and children with disabilities visit Camp Challenge to experience a traditional summer camp. The remainder of the year, campers enjoy respite weekend camps. This program provides a brief get-away for campers, while giving caretakers a test from constant care-giving.
    • At Easter Seals Camp Challenge, campers participate in arts & crafts, nature activities, a universal high and low ropes course, music & dancing, outside entertainers, farm animals, and other camp activities.
  • Camp Thunderbird Apopka, FL
    A real summer camp experience for people with special needs- Make new friends and unforgettable memories!

    • Location: Apopka, Florida
    • Phone: 407-889-4530
    • Email: webadmin@questinc.org
    • Website: http://www.questinc.org/camp.htm
    • At Camp Thunderbird, developmentally disabled individuals from age 8 to 80 enjoy a number of exciting activities. More importantly, they make new friends and learn skills that can help them gain more independence.
  • Cristo Vive International
    Summer Camps for Kids with Special Needs

    • Website: http://www.cristovive.net/camps/
    • Provide children and youth with disabilities and their families with an opportunity to experience the love of God and faith in Christ through a fun and engaging camp adventure.
  • Easter Seals Respite Camp Sorrento, FL
    Camp Challenge

    • Location: 31600 Camp Challenge Road, Sorrento, FL 32776
    • Phone: 352-383-4711
    • Email: camp@fl.easterseals.com
    • Website: http://www.fl.easterseals.com
    • Easter Seals Camp Challenge respite camp is held monthly and provides a selection of your favorite activities for persons with disabilities ages 6 and up. Camp provides a chance for individuals to socialize with friends, participate in adaptive recreational activities, and foster new independence. Programs and activities are adaptive and age appropriate. The cost is $225 for each weekend, and $450 for each week long program. Price includes lodging, meals, and any activity or program supplies. To be enrolled, campers must meet established respite criteria:
      – Be able to effectively communicate their needs, verbally or non-verbally
      – Interact appropriately with other campers and staff
      – Function in a 1:3 staff to camper ratio
      – During our Respite Camp we provide a sampling of both traditional camp activities and a variety of new programs and outside entertainment. Campers may participate in: swimming, arts and crafts, nature, animal farm, sports and games, or our universal challenge course. During our week long programs we offer travel activities to local areas.
  • Foundation for Dreams Bradenton, FL
    Fun, educational, and recreational experiences at Dream Oaks Camp

    • Location: 2620 Manatee Avenue West, Suite D Bradenton, FL 34205
    • Phone: 941-748-8809
    • Email: info@foundationfordreams.org
    • Website: http://www.foundationfordreams.org/
    • The Mission of the Foundation for Dreams, Inc. and Dream Oaks Camp is to provide fun, educational, and recreational experiences in an outdoor camp environment to enhance the lives of children ages 7-17 with physical and developmental disabilities and serious illnesses.
  • National Center on Physical Activity & Disability
    Summer Camps Fact Sheet

  • SCAMPAR Florida
    • Location: Pasco County, FL
    • Phone: 727-243-6203 or 727-953-5591
  • OCA A Special Place for Special Needs Orlando, FL
  • The Scuba Gym
    Provide scuba therapy classes as well as Spring Break and Summer Camps.

    • Phone: 407-920-3262
    • Email: dive@the scubagym.com
    • Website: www.scubagym.com
    • We are a full service NAUI Pro-Platinum SCUBA Operation and we specialize in Families, Children, and People who have Disabilities and Special Needs. We have Certification Classes Year Round, our Special Needs Camps in Spring and Summer, Kids’ Certification Camps in the Summer, and Dive Trips non-stop.
  • UCP of Central Florida
    Support, education and therapy for Children with special needs

    • Location: 7 Locations throughout Central Florida (East Orlando, Lake Mary, Kissimmee, Winter Garden, Pine Hills, Downtown Orlando
    • Phone: 407-852-3333
    • Email: referrals@ucpcfl.org
    • Website: http://www.ucpcdc.org/
    • UCP provides support (counseling/support groups), education (inclusive charter schools, before/after care and summer programs) and therapy (physical, speech, and occupational therapy) programs for children with all types of developmental disabilities and delays birth to age 21. At its inclusive Charter schools- students with and without disabilities learn together using art and technology integration.

Camps for Burn Survivors

  • Children’s Burn Camps of Florida
    A summer camp for kids who are burn survivors

    • Location: P.O. Box 161593, Altamonte Springs, FL 32716-1593
    • Phone: 407-461-2228
    • Email: healingtheburns@gmail.com
    • Website: http://www.campamigo.com/
    • Who: Any child burn survivor aged 6 to 18, living in North or Central Florida
    • What: A Summer camp for kids that are burn survivors
    • Where: Billy Jo Rish State Mark
    • Why: Giving our Campers the opportunity to bond with their peers.

Camps for Children with Chronic Illnesses

  • Camp Boggy Creek Eustis, FL
    A year round camp for children with chronic illnesses

    • Location: 30500 Brantley Branch Rd, Eustis, FL 32736-9596
    • Phone: 352-483-4200
    • Email: info@campboggycreek.org
    • Website: http://www.fwww.boggycreek.org/
    • Camp Boggy Creek is a year round camp that is non-profit and services children ages 7-16 with serious or chronic illnesses. The camp is free to the child and their families. Funded is obtained through fund raisers, donations, grants and health partners.

Camps for Children with Diabetes

Camps for Children with Physical Disabilities

Camps for Children Who Are Mentally Challenged

  • The Special Gathering: Camps Cocoa, FL
    • Location: PO Box 685, Cocoa, FL 32623
    • Contact Name: Richard Stimson
    • Phone: 321-632-0130
    • Email: rstimson@specialgatherings.com
    • Website: http://www.nbbd.com/npr/specialgathering/
    • Holds religious services for the mentally challenged community in conjunction with local Church. Provides advocacy, fellowship, ministry teams, training, education, and publications. Also offers summer camps for children with special needs.

Activities for the Special Needs Community

  • Access Life
    Expos, Fishing With Friends and Crafting

    • Website: www.access-life.org
    • We develop and execute programs and events for people living with disabilities that share the love and gospel of Jesus Christ as well as connect them to Christ honoring churches, organization, resources and people within their community.
  • Boy Scouts of America
    Just have Fun!

    • Website: http://www.scouting.org/
    • The Boy Scouts of America provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.
  • Central Florida Bambino Babe Ruth Baseball
    Children w/disabilities can now play baseball!

    • Location: 846 Baybreeze Lane, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
    • Phone: 321-841-8849
    • Fax: 321-843-6817
    • Email: sarah.reece@orlandohealth.com
    • Contacts: Sara Reece @ 404-463-2504 or Sharon Sheridan @ 407-970-2865
    • Website: http://cfbuddyball.baberuthonline.com
    • Youth baseball/softball clubs from throughout Central Florida have joined together to create the Central Florida Bambino Buddy Ball League for physically and/or mentally challenged children. What makes this program unique is that each player has a ‘buddy’ to help them hit, throw & move around the bases. A very special field will be built to make the field easy for participants and ‘Buddies’ to move freely. The park will be located in Eastmonte Park in Altamonte Springs, FL.
  • Freedom Ride
    Therapeutic Horseback Riding

    • Location: 1905 Lee Road, Orlando, FL 32809
    • Phone: (407) 293-0411
    • Email: info@freedomride.com
    • Website: http://www.freedomride.com/
    • Freedom Ride, Inc. is a non-profit 501c3 volunteer based organization built on the conviction that we are not bound by our physical limitations. With a team of loyal horses, NARHA Certified Instructors, Therapist and Trained Volunteers, Freedom Ride provides therapeutic horseback riding to children and adults with many types of disabilities: cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, autism, mental retardation, attention deficit disorder, deafness, blindness and many emotional and learning disabilities. Centrally located in the heart of Orlando, Freedom Ride reaches out to the more than 54,000 residents with disabilities in Central Florida and makes a dramatic impact on their lives and their families. Freedom Ride is Horsepower for the Spirit.
  • Girl Scouts of Citrus Council
    A safe all-girl environment where girls make friends, have fun, and develop to their full potential through girl-led programming

  • Healing the Children
    Florida

  • Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development
    The Little Linksters ‘mobile’ program which is ran by the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development, has been in play at various daycare centers, schools, golf courses and municipalities throughout Central Florida since July of 2008.

  • Make a Difference Fishing Tournament
    Helping special needs children experience the simple joy and camaraderie of fishing

    • Website: http://www.makeadifferencefishing.org/
    • The Make A Difference Fishing Tournament for Special Kids was developed in 1996 by a group of Clearwater businessmen and friends. After contacting the City of Clearwater with plans to provide a day of fishing for handicapped children, the City generously opened Pier 60 for the ‘kickoff’ fishing turnament. With donations of money, time, equipment, and food, Make A Difference hosted its first group of 58 ‘special anglers.’ Since that initial tournament, Make A Difference Fishing Tournament for Special Kids has grown to accommodate approximately 500 handicapped and special needs participants annually.
  • Orange County Athletics
    Sports/Recreational programs, Special Olympics training, Therapies, and other services for the Special Needs Community.

    • Location: 300 Main Street, Windermere, FL 34786
    • Contact: Silvia A. Haas, Director of Operations
    • Phone: 407-808-7837
    • Email: shaas@gooca.org
    • Website: http://www.gooca.org
    • Orange County Athletics (OCA) is a non-profit organization that works with children and young adults who have Autism and other related disabilities. OCA offers age appropriate activities for the Special Needs population. They offer Saturday activities, events, summer camp, and Special Olympics training.
  • Oviedo-Winter Springs Optimist Club
    Activities for the Special Needs Community

    • Location: P.O. Box 621892, Oviedo, FL 32762-1892
    • Phone: 407-484-3521
    • Fax: 407-365-1838
    • Email: oviedooptimist@aol.com
    • Website: http://oviedooptimist.com
    • We provide special population activities such as monthly dances and a bowling league in the Oviedo-Winter Springs area.
  • Putting the Pieces Together P.T.P.T
    An informal group for parents of children with special needs

    • Contact: Donique at 407-491-6524, donique.ptpt@yahoo.com or Jenorise at 407-733-4944,jenorise.ptpt@yahoo.com
    • Our Mission: PTPT is a group of parents with children who have Special Needs. We believe that we are our children’s best advocate, teacher, and decision maker. Our goal is to raise awareness, make informed decisions and advocate on their behalf while raising them to be loving, independent, and as productive as they can be in our society. Armed with love, resources, and support from one another are ‘Putting the Pieces Together.’
  • Special Friends Club
    Fun Activities for Children with disabilities

    • Location: 717 N Palm Ave., Kissimmee, FL 34741
    • Phone: 407-343-1554
    • Email: 24klifecoach@cfl.rr.com
    • Special Friends Club will: Give us a place to meet our friends, Let us play board games, Play in a game room, Watch movies, Relax with our friends, Meet new friends, Take planned trips, And come up with other suggestions on things we would like to do with our friends.
  • Special Olympics Florida
    Training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports

    • Location: 1105 Citrus Tower Blvd., Clermont, FL 34711
    • Phone: 352-243-9536
    • Website: www.specialolympicsflorida.org
    • Special Olympics Florida (SOFL) provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities who wish to participate, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. The ultimate objective of Special Olympics Florida is to help people with intellectual disabilities participate as productive and respected members of society at large, by offering them a fair opportunity to develop and demonstrate their skills and talents through sports training and competition, and by increasing the public’s awareness of their capabilities and needs.
  • Specials Olympics International
    An international program for training and athletic competition

    • Location: 1133 19th Street NW, Suite 770, Washington, DC 20036
    • Phone: 202-628-3630
    • Website: http://www.specialolympics.org
    • An international program of year-round sports training and athletic competition for more than one million children and adults with mental retardation.

Family Activities

  • Buddy Cruise Inc.
    Educational Workshops, Events and Cruises for Families of individuals with Down syndrome

    • Location: PO Box 162, Lithia, FL 33547
    • Phone: 1-877-239-2789
    • Email: joinus@buddycruise.com
    • Website: http://buddycruise.org
    • Buddy Cruise Inc. is a not-for-profit organization serving families and friends of individuals with Down syndrome on a national level. It is our purpose to provide education and promote public awareness of Down syndrome by arranging and conducting special events, namely cruises. These events will be a forum for prominent educational speakers addressing a wide range of Down syndrome and disability related topics. We encourage self-advocate sessions. Buddy Cruise, ideally, will set sail each October, National Down syndrome awareness month, to honor those who are touched by Down syndrome.
  • Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Northern Florida
    Make a Wish!

    • Location: 1053 N Orlando Ave, Suite 1, Maitland, FL 32751
    • Phone: 407-622-4673
    • Website: http://www.WishCentral.org
    • Toll Free Phone (in Florida only): 888-874-9474
    • The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy.
  • Starlight Children’s Foundation
    Entertainment, education and family activities

    • Phone: CA: 310-479-1212, FL: 407-222-5026
    • Email: Nat’l: info@starlight.org, FL: beccy.hosoda@starlight.org
    • Website: http://www.starlight.org
    • Orlando, FL Contact: Beccy Hosoda, Great Escapes Coordinator at P.O. Box 690507, Orlando, FL 32869-0507
    • Starlight Children’s Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for seriously ill children and their families. Working with more than 1000 hospitals, the Foundation provides an impressive menu of both in-hospital and outpatient programs and services. A leader in delivering distractive entertainment, Starlight’s programs benefit over 100,000 children each month. Starlight helps seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities.