Searching for the Right Summer Camp!

Greetings from Camp Lee Mar

Located in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, Camp Lee Mar is a coed overnight camp for children and teenagers (ages 7-21) with mild to moderate developmental challenges.

Ms. Lee Morrone’s and Ari Segal’s combination of wisdom, experience, and innovations, have made Lee Mar a very unique program, with campers attending from all over the USA and overseas. Campers learn new skills, make friends, and build self-esteem, all while having fun! Ari and Lee also bring their personal experiences being parents of children with special needs themselves. Ari also directs The Guided Tour, Inc., a supervised vacation program for adults (17 & up) with developmental challenges. Both programs can be visited at www.leemar.com and www.guidedtour.com.

Quest’s Camp Thunderbird: Summer Camp for Children of All Abilities!

Located just north of Orlando, Florida, Quest’s Camp Thunderbird has been dedicated to providing a real summer camp experience for children and adults with special needs since 1969. Because of the physical and behavioral challenges associated with Down syndrome, autism, Cerebral Palsy and other developmental disabilities, these individuals aren’t typically eligible to attend traditional camps. With a variety of exciting activities, experienced staff and endless fun, Camp Thunderbird is their chance to learn new skills and focus on the remarkable things they can do, while making new friends and unforgettable memories.

Our youth camp sessions specifically focus on inclusion – where children of ALL abilities are able to play, learn and grow together. For children with disabilities, the feeling of acceptance from attending camp alongside able-bodied peers is invaluable. For children without disabilities, our program creates the chance for them at a young age to recognize others as individuals, not by their disabilities – helping to create a more empathetic and understanding community in the future.

Quest’s Camp Thunderbird’s six and 12-day overnight sessions also give parents and guardians a much-needed break from the demands of 24-hour caregiving. For many families, this respite is their first chance to relax, spend time with friends, or even take a vacation knowing that their child is receiving quality care and attention.

The Quest Team, through quality and innovation, builds communities where people with disabilities achieve their goals.

Quest’s Camp Thunderbird invites you to explore their camp by visiting www.questinc.org

New York Institute of Technology (NYIT): Introduction to Independence (I to I) Program

The Introduction to Independence (I to I) Program is a seven week summer bridge program for students ages 16 years old and up, that is designed to help them transition from high school to post-secondary education and independent living. Students in the I to I program have neurologically based learning disabilities or are higher functioning on the autism spectrum.

Students live in a NYIT residence hall on the Central Islip campus in suburban Long Island, NY. They eat in the NYIT cafeteria and take classes on the CI campus. The goal of the program is to habituate the student to living independently in a college like setting.

During the day students will work in an internship 3 hours a day – 4 days a week for which they are paid a small stipend. Course instructors use that stipend money to teach the students critical independent living skills like budgeting, banking, and checking. Fridays in the program are dedicated to travel training, an important independent living and vocational skill. Students take the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) into Manhattan where they learn to use NYC subways, buses, trains and ferries all while visiting popular tourist attractions.

The NYIT Introduction to Independence (Ito I) Program accepts funding from local school districts for those students who have extended year services.

To maximize the potential of individuals with learning differences by: Teaching skills and strategies, and providing the support necessary for successful and independent lives.
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Visit www.nyit.edu to make your reservation today!

National Ability Center Summer Camp: Discover the Possibilities

In the mountains of Park City, Utah, The National Ability Center offers camps packed with fun, adventure, and activities that challenge individuals to discover new abilities, expand social connections and make lasting friendships.

An easy 45-minute drive from Salt Lake International Airport, the National Ability Center is set on a beautiful 26 acre ranch where campers have the opportunity to try indoor climbing, therapeutic horseback riding, challenge course, canoeing, paddle boarding, cycling, archery, swimming and more.

The caring, well-trained and enthusiastic staff help campers explore their abilities through structured recreational activities. Campers develop recreational skills in a safe and encouraging environment designed to foster growth, encourage independence, and build friendships.

Working with all populations and ages, the National Ability Center provides camps for a wide range of abilities; from children as young as 6 on the autism spectrum, to teens with diabetes and young adults with physical disabilities. The National Ability Center also encourages families to recreate together by offering camps specifically for siblings with and without disabilities to enjoy the same activities. Summer camps have a variety of day camp options for youth ages 6 through 18 as well as overnight camp options for teenagers and young adults.

The National Ability Center empowers individuals of all abilities by building self-esteem, confidence and lifetime skills through sport, recreation and educational programs.

For more information, camp dates or to register, visit www.discovernac.org

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This post originally appeared on our March/April 2013 & March/April 2014 Magazine

Searching for the Right Summer Camp!

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