Preparing for Summer Camp
Written by Sue Baker
Autism Services Consultant for Iowa
Finding an appropriate summer camp for your child with autism, PDD, or Asperger’s Disorder can be a difficult task. Planning ahead is important, but also knowing who provides what kind of experience, some assurance of specialization for individual needs, and assistance required in an integrated setting is certainly on your mind. The following list of summer camping experiences for children and adults with special needs that specifically included children with autism spectrum disorders in their literature.
Please call the program and ask about their emphasis, accreditation (American Camping Association), discuss reasonable accommodations, certified camp director, training and experience of the counselors, etc. If you would prefer, contact the regional Child Health Specialty Clinic near you for a camp packet that has descriptions about many of these camp services. There may be camps for learning disabled and mental disabilities that are also appropriate but have not been included on this list. Send your new camp listing in Iowa to the author and we will add it to the list!
| Abe Lincoln Camp
Blue Grass, IA 319-381-3053 For children 7-18 years with hearing impairments, disabilities, mental retardation, and autism who can be mainstreamed. |
Camp Capable-day camp
Living History Farms Urbandale, IA 515-278-5286 |
| Albrecht Acres
Sherrill, IA 319-552-1771 For children 2-18 years who have physical or mental disabilities, autism. |
Summer Daycamp
The Homestead Runnells, IA 515-967-4369 Serves children with autism 6-10 and 11-18. |
| Camp Courageous
Monticello, IA 319-465-5916 For children 3-21 years with physical, mental, learning disabilities, hearing, visually impaired, autism and ADHD disorders. |
Foster-YMCA
Spirit Lake, IA 1-800-456-9622 Serves children 5-18 years of age who have learning disabilities, mental disabilities, behavior problems who can be mainstreamed and function in a group of 10. |
| Camp Sunnyside
Easter Seal Society of Iowa Des Moines, IA 515-289-1933 Ages 5-39 years with physical, mental disabilities, spina bifida, seizures, and autism. |
Camp Wyoming
Wyoming, IA 319-488-3893 Ages 10 to adult with mental handicaps and has accepted some with autism |
| Wesley Woods
United Methodist Exceptional Persons Indianola, IA 515-961-4523 ages 18 and older with mental and physical disabilities and autism. |