Summer Camps for Autistic Children
Now that it is summertime, we want to help autistic people and their families find some opportunities for fun! Below, we list out summer camps for autistic people and/or people with disabilities in Georgia.
Please use the “Contact Us” button in the upper right corner of the screen to let us know if we’ve missed any!
Greater Georgia (not Atlanta Metro)
Camp Big Heart
Who is it for: Children and young adults with mild to moderate support needs
Day camp or overnight camp? Overnight camp and day camp
Cost: $600/week
What will campers do: Out-doorsy camp things, learn daily living tasks, and make friends
Hosted by: Civitans Club of Georgia
Location: Camp John Hope (Macon County)
Notes:
Read more about it: http://campbigheart.org/about/
Waves Summer Day Camps
Who is it for: Autistic children and young adults
Day camp or overnight camp? Day camp
Cost: $250
What will campers do: Art, learn culinary skills, woodworking, gardening, and more
Hosted by: Waves Autism Center
Location: Various locations in Houston County
Notes: Offers several workshops and day programs for autistic people throughout the year
Read more about it: https://www.wavesautismcenter.com/online-summer-camp
Camp Arrow
Who is it for: Special needs children
Day camp or overnight camp? Overnight camp
Cost: $350
What will kids do: Swimming, arts and crafts, music, games, dancing, trips to restaurants, bowling, fishing, canoeing, and horseback riding
Hosted by: Camp Arrow
Location: Camp Tygart (Berrien County)
Notes:
Read more about it: http://camparrow.org/
Special Kicks Summer Camp
Who is it for: Kids 6 years of age and older with special needs
Day camp or overnight camp? Day camp
Cost: $50
What will kids do: Games, self-defense, pet therapy, arts and crafts, movie day, trolley ride
Hosted by: Special Kicks
Location: Special Kicks, Pooler GA
Notes:
Read more about it: https://www.specialkicks.com/product/2024-special-kicks-summer-camp/
Camp Joy
Who is it for: Kids ages 5 to 17 years old with disabilities
Day camp or overnight camp? Day camp
Cost:
What will kids do: Horseback riding, swimming, bowling, arts and crafts, and fishing
Hosted by: Memorial Hospital and Manor
Location: Decatur county
Notes: For more information, call: (229) 243-8124
Read more about it: https://www.mh-m.org/services/physical-rehabilitation/camp-joy/
Camp I Am Special
Who is it for: Kids with disabilities
Day camp or overnight camp?
Cost:
What will kids do: Hayrides, crafts, adaptive sports, yoga, and more
Hosted by: Catholic Charities
Location: Fruit Cove, FL (A little south of Jacksonville)
Notes: Campers will be paired 1:1 with volunteers
Read more about it: https://www.ccbjax.org/camp-i-am-special
Special Touch Ministry Summer Get Away
Who is it for: People with disabilities, ages 10 years old through adult
Day camp or overnight camp? Overnight camp
Cost: $550 if no caregiver needed, $700 with caregiver
What will kids do: Swimming, fishing, crafts, boat rides, sports, games, hayrides, bonfires, petting zoos, and more
Hosted by: Special Touch Ministries
Location: Timer Lake Retreat Center, Forsyth GA
Notes: If the camper needs help with toileting, showering, dressing, eating, etc…, they will need a caregiver to come along
Read more about it: https://www.specialtouch.org/getaways
Love and Care ECC Summer Camp
Who is it for: Kids with special needs
Day camp or overnight camp? Day camp
Cost: $300 per week or $350 (per week) for campers who are not toilet trained or medically complex
What will kids do: Music, life skills, social skills, arts and crafts , sensory rooms, outdoor playground
Hosted by: Love and Care ECC
Location: Evans GA
Notes: Financial assistance available
Read more about it: https://www.loveandcareecc.com/summercamp2024
Camp Dream
Who is it for: Children and adults with moderate to large support needs
Day camp or overnight camp? Overnight camp
Cost: $800 for 4-day experience
What will campers do: Dance, bowling, movies, fishing, boating, swimming, water slides, train rides, and more
Hosted by: Camp Dream
Location: Calvin Center in Hampton GA
Notes: Pride themselves on never turning a camper away because of support needs or financial situation. 1:1 camper counselor ratio.
Read more about it: https://www.campdreamga.org/what-we-do
Lollipop Learning Center
Who is it for: Infants through school aged children.
Day camp or overnight camp? Day care center that accepts kids with developmental disabilities
Cost: $150 per week
What will kids do: Outdoor activities, arts and crafts
Hosted by: Lollipop Learning Center
Location: Tifton GA
Notes:
Read more about it: https://families.decal.ga.gov/ChildCare/detail/54272
Hooray (ESP Summer Camp)
Who is it for: Kids and teens with disabilities including autism
Day camp or overnight camp? Day camp and overnight camp
Cost:
What will kids do: A little unclear. Email: hello@espyouandme.org
Hosted by: ESP
Location: Jackson County, GA
Notes: Program designed by UGA and Georgia Tech
Read more about it: https://espyouandme.org/programs/hooray/
Camp Hawkins
Who is it for: Children ages 8 to 21 years old with special needs
Day camp or overnight camp? Overnight camp
Cost:
What will kids do: Swimming, arts and crafts, Bible studies, games
Hosted by: Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries
Location: Mt. Airy GA and Baxley GA
Notes:
Read more about it: https://www.georgiachildren.org/camp-hawkins
Matthew’s Time
Who is it for: Children and young adults ages 2-25 who have disabilities
Day camp or overnight camp? Weekend camp from Fridays through Sundays
Cost:
What will kids do: Arts and crafts, gym time, swimming, field trips
Hosted by: Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries
Location: Baxley GA, Mt. Airy GA, and Palmetto GA
Notes:
Read more about it: https://www.georgiachildren.org/matthews-time
Talisman Summer Camp
Who is it for: Autistic kids and young adults between 6 and 22 years old
Day camp or overnight camp? Overnight camp
Cost: Varies
What will campers do: Nature walks, swimming, kayaking, and more. Also offers camps for developing transitional skills and concentration skills.
Hosted by: Talisman Summer Camps
Location: Asheville, NC and Greenville, SC
Notes: Camp offers multiple sessions and types of camp throughout the summer. Please see their website for more details
Read more about it: https://talismancamps.com/
Camp ASCCA
Who is it for: Camp opportunities for both children and adults with physical and/or intellectual disabilities
Day camp or overnight camp? Overnight camp
Cost: Varies
What will campers do: Out-doorsy camp stuff
Hosted by: Alabama’s Special Camp for Children and Adults (ASCCA)
Location: Jacksons’ Gap, AL (about 1 hour from Columbus, GA)
Notes: Camp offers multiple sessions throughout the summer. Please see their website for more details
Read more about it: https://www.campascca.org/
Atlanta Metro
Camp Best Friends
Who is it for: Autistic kids between 6-18 years old with low support needs
Day camp or overnight camp? Day camp
Cost: $35 for residents per week; $110 for non-residents per week
What will kids do: Outdoor activities, Swimming, Art, Music, Horseback riding, and more.
Hosted by: The city of Atlanta
Location: Coan Park, Atlanta GA
Notes: Hardship assistance available
Read more about it: https://www.atlantaga.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation/office-of-recreation/therapeutics-special-needs
Camp Happy Hearts
Who is it for: Autistic kids aged 6-12 years old with the social skills necessary to appropriately engage with other kids.
Day camp or overnight camp? Day camp
Cost:
What will kids do: Swimming, arts and crafts, games, sports, field trips, and more!
Hosted by: The city of Alpharetta
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Notes: Campers need to be interviewed before participating, call 678-297-6115 to arrange an interview.
Read more about it: https://www.alpharetta.ga.us/government/departments/recreation-parks/activities/summer-camps
iCan Bike
Who is it for: People with disabilities, aged 8 years or older
Day camp or overnight camp? Day camp
Cost: $200
What will kids do: Learn to ride a bike
Hosted by: The city of Alpharetta
Location: Union Hill Park, Alpharetta GA
Notes: Parents/caregivers will need to attend an orientation. Campers will need to be able to perform some fundamental physical skills, please see website for details. Campers will need to bring a bike.
Read more about it: https://www.alpharetta.ga.us/government/departments/recreation-parks/activities/summer-camps/ican-bike
High Camp Meadows
Who is it for: Kindergarten through 9th grade
Day camp or overnight camp? Day camp
Cost: $1,485 (3-week camp)
What will kids do: Play, get dirty, and make friends
Hosted by: High Meadows Camp
Location: Roswell, GA
Notes: Places kids by chronological age rather than intellectual age. Parents/caregivers encouraged to contact the camp prior to registering to discuss their child’s needs. Carpools available.
Read more about it: https://highmeadowscamp.org/about-us/inclusion/
Summer Technology Camp
Who is it for: Kids between 4 and 11 years old
Day camp or overnight camp? Day camp
Cost: $125
What will kids do: Work with a variety of computing devices, do group activities, and make friends
Hosted by: Lekotek of Georgia
Location: Tucker, GA
Notes: Registering additional children is only $25 per child.
Read more about it: https://www.lekotekga.org/camp.html
Camp Phoenix
Who is it for: Kids aged 6 to 18 years old with physical disabilities
Day camp or overnight camp? Overnight camp
Cost: $400
What will kids do: Do adaptive sports and recreational activities
Hosted by: Blaze Sports
Location: Camp Twin Lakes Will-A-Way, Winder, GA
Notes:
Read more about it: https://blazesports.org/youth/camp-phoenix/
Camp Sparrowwood
Who is it for: Children, young adults, and adults with disabilities
Day camp or overnight camp? Day and overnight camps
Cost: Varies
What will campers do: Out-doorsy camp stuff
Hosted by: Glisson Camp and Retreat Center
Location: Dahlonega, GA
Notes:
Read more about it: https://glisson.org/sparrowwood/
Aerie Experiences
Who is it for: Kids and young adults with mild to moderate support needs
Day camp or overnight camp? Day and overnight camps
Cost: Starting at $2650
What will kids do: Rafting, horse-back riding, and more
Hosted by: Aerie Experiences
Location: Johns Creek, GA and Atlanta, GA
Notes: Also offers spring camps
Read more about it: https://aerieexperiences.com/
Camp Hollywood
Who is it for: People 5-29 years old with developmental disabilities
Day camp or overnight camp?
Cost: $195 (discounted rate for additional campers)
What will campers do: Art, music, science, cooking and recreations
Hosted by: FOCUS
Location: Atlanta Metro
Notes: Scholarships available
Read more about it: https://focus-ga.org/program/summer-day-camps/
Spectrum Day Camp
Who is it for: Autistic kids
Day camp or overnight camp? Day camp
Cost: $400
What will kids do: Varies by session. Please see website for details.
Hosted by: SPECTRUM
Location: Duluth GA or Snellville GA
Notes:
Read more about it: https://atl-spectrum.com/support-programs/spectrum-camps-clubs/summer-day-camp/
Spectrum Family Camp
Who is it for: Families with autistic family members
Day camp or overnight camp? Overnight
Cost: $500 per family
What will campers do: Pool time, archery, canoeing and paddle boats, arts and crafts, biking, hiking, climbing wall, and nightly family entertainment
Hosted by: SPECTRUM
Location: Camp Twin Lakes, Winder GA
Notes: This camp is for the whole family!
Read more about it: https://atl-spectrum.com/support-programs/family-camp/
Way2Play TOGETHER Summer Camp
Who is it for: School aged autistic kids
Day camp or overnight camp? Day camp
Cost: $329 per week
What will kids do: Outdoor play, arts and crafts, technology, board games, and music and movement
Hosted by: Way2Play TOGETHER
Location: Teasley Elementary School, Atlanta GA
Notes: Children do not have to be toilet trained
Read more about it: https://www.way2playtogether.com/registration
Article by: The Autism ToolKit
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