Summer Camps for Kids with Special Needs
Arthritis Foundation Kids Camp
Dates: Multiple Options
Locations: Various Locations
From arthritis.org: “Arthritis Foundation camps are FUN, safe and secure for children and teens with juvenile arthritis and childhood rheumatic diseases. Campers make lifelong friends, gain a greater understanding of their own juvenile arthritis, increase independence and self-confidence, and discover new skills and interests. Our JA camps are medically supervised by health care professionals on site to tend to your child’s needs.”
Camp Barnabas
Dates: 2023 Details TBD
Location: 901 Teas Trail, Purdy, MO
417.708.5298
www.campbarnabas.org
A Christian summer camp dedicated to providing summer camp experiences to people with special needs, physical or intellectual challenges, and their siblings from throughout the United States. Each camp is about 6 days, and there are different options available.
Camp Bridges
Dates:
Ages 10-14
- Sports Heroes / June 12-15
- Superheroes / June 26-29
- Community Heroes / July 17-20
Ages 15+
- Sports Heroes / June 19-22
- Superheroes / June 10-14
- Community Heroes / July 24-27
Location: The Bridges Foundation, South Campus, 1813 N. Ash St., Jenks
918.299.2656
bridgestulsa.org
A day camp for children and young adults ages 10-high school graduation with moderate to mild developmental disabilities. Participants must be able to feed and dress themselves, follow personal hygiene and participate in group activities. They must be able to follow simple instructions and stay with a group.
Camp Get Centered
Dates: June 5-August 4
Where: The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges, 815 S. Utica Ave.
Ages: 6-17
Camp Get Centered is a full-day day camp for children and adolescents with physical challenges. Camp activities include recreational activities, adaptive sports and cooperative games while building a social network with peers and meeting their individual needs and goals.
Campers must have a primary diagnosis of a physical disability and have independent skills of daily living, including feeding and toileting, or have a caregiver to provide this assistance.
Scholarships are available.
Camp Loughridge Autism Inclusion Program
Dates: Various Options
Location: 4900 W. 71st St., Tulsa, OK
918.446.4194
www.camploughridge.org
“In 2010, the Autism Inclusion Program began at Camp Loughridge. The mission of this program is to open up the camping experience to a group of children who were traditionally left out of summer camp programs due to the need for additional understanding of the disorder as well as the need for specially trained summer camp counselors.” Learn more here.
Camp Cavett
Dates: August 2-6, 2023
Applications Open January 2, 2023
Location: New Life Ranch Frontier Cove, Adair, OK
info@cavettkids.org
www.cavettkids.org
While Cavett Kids offers camps all over the U.S., their biggest camp is Camp Cavett, located at New Life Ranch Frontier Cove in Adair, OK. Camp Cavett is for any child ages 10-18+ who has been diagnosed with a life-threatening or chronic illness. Learn more here.
Camp ClapHans–J.D. McCarty Center
Dates: Various sessions available. See registration form here.
Location: 2002 E. Robinson St., Norman, OK
Camp Claphans is a residential summer camp for kids with disabilities ages 8 to 20 and is an outreach program of the McCarty Center.
Six camp sessions are offered each summer. The camp is located on the center’s campus and features two cabins and an activities building that are located next to an 11-acre lake.
Activities for campers include archery, arts and crafts, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding, talent shows and swimming.
Each camper is assigned to a counselor with the camper/counselor ratio of 1:1.
Camp Erin Tulsa–The Tristesse Grief Center
Dates: June 2-4, 2023
Location: Tulsa, OK
Camp Erin Tulsa is a free, overnight bereavement camp for youth who are grieving the death of a significant person in their lives. Children and teens ages 6 to 17 attend a weekend camp experience that combines grief education and emotional support with fun, traditional camp activities. Led by bereavement professionals and caring volunteers, campers are provided a safe environment to explore their grief, learn essential coping skills, and make friends with peers who are also grieving. Keep reading at thegriefcenter.org/services/camp-erin/
Hope’s Crossing
Dates: July 3-7, 2023
Hope’s Crossing Camp is a FREE one-week day camp in Tulsa for kids with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, heart disease, cancer, and spina bifida. Each camper is matched one-to-one with a volunteer counselor. Activities include swimming, fishing, canoeing, archery, basketball, soccer, arts and crafts and a Zip Line! Counselors receive up to 50 volunteer hours. APPLY NOW at www.hopescrossingcamp.org. JOIN US!
Connections
Dates: June 27-30, 2023
Registration Opens January 2, 2022
Location: Central Oklahoma Camp and Conference Center in Guthrie
Our Connections camp is designed for teens ages 13-18 who have been diagnosed with any chronic or life-threatening illness. This camp offers a variety of traditional summer camp activities and focuses on connecting campers with other teens who have a similar illness.
Make Promises Happen (MPH)
Dates: Various Options
Location: #1 Twin Cedar Ln., Guthrie, OK
www.centralokcamp.org
405.282.2811
A program of Central Christian Camp & Conference Center dedicated to providing outdoor recreational opportunities for individuals with special needs. Serves youth and adults ages 6 and older with any physical or intellectual disability. Camps are offered throughout the year.
Oklahoma Firefighters Burn Camp
Dates: 2023 Dates TBD
Location: Camp Egan, Tahlequah
918.857.6351
www.okffburncamp.com
Offers children ages 6-16 who have suffered major burns or disfiguring injuries a place of unconditional love and acceptance. OKFFCB is a five-day summer camp help in August each year and is free of charge.
Youth Camp–The Amputee Coalition
Dates: August 2-5, 2023
Registration:
Location: Orlando, FL
Learn more at amputee-coalition.org/events-programs/youth-camp/
Total Source for Hearing-loss and Access (TSHA) Summer Kids Camp
Dates: 2023 Dates TBD
Location: TSHA, 8740 E. 11th St. A, Tulsa
918.832.8742
dhiggins@tsha.cc
www.tsha.cc
Summer Day Camp for deaf, hard-of-hearing children, siblings and children of deaf adults. Children ages 7-13 may attend. A deaf education instructor leads camps, with volunteers assisting. Sign language and voice communications are used. Volunteers welcome.
If you know of other similar camps to add, please email tara.rittler@gmail.com.
