Special Needs Camps In and Around New Jersey

Great, Inclusive Summer Experiences for All!

Everyone enjoys summer camps! The laughs, the games, the independence, and the friendships create happy memories that last a lifetime. If your child has special needs, there are wonderful camps ready to help them create these special memories with their differences in mind.

CAMP KIPANGA

held at Ramapo College Campus, Mahwah, NJ
www.c ampkipanga .com
A six week summer day camp, Camp Kipanga is a summer camp for children and teens who want to improve their social skills and interpersonal connections, regardless of diagnosis or background. Whether facing social skills deficits, ADHD, ASD, or simply not yet successful in other summer programs, campers will find activities to choose from that are open-ended, non-competitive, and full of variety. Summer camp counselors and vendors are experienced and trained in working with diverse and exceptional learners, and they will provide a safe and supportive environment for campers ages 5 to 18.

CAMP LEE MAR

held at Ramapo College Campus, Mahwah, NJ
www.leemar .com
A Camp Lee Mar is a 6 1/2 week, private, residential summer program for campers ages 7-21 offering a unique learning experience that combines traditional camp activities with strong academics, activities for daily living and speech and social skills development. Located in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.

EQUINE TRANQUILITY WELLNESS CENTER

134 Airport Rd, Andover, NJ 07442
www.equinetranquility .org
Specializing in therapeutic riding by certified instructors. All programs are inclusive. Come experience trail riding, new friendships and learn all about horse care. Open year round with an indoor arena.

GOOD TALKING PEOPLE

Teaneck and Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
www.goodtalkingpeople.com

GTP offers sessions for all age groups and several new, dynamic and exciting programs. Social Express will take our early social learners on a fun filled journey to the Social Thinking® Station for early social learners grades Pre-k4-1; Social Team Builders is a dynamic program designed for children in elementary school. This cutting-edge program will address the complex issues of social cognition, executive function and self-regulation for social learners grades 2-4; Social Learning Film Festival offers participants to explore social thinking concepts through the magic of movies and videos for film critics grades 5-8; Summer LEAP Program is a comprehensive 2 week speech-language intervention program to facilitate speech-language-communication skills; Social Planners is a dynamic program designed for socially curious High School student. This cutting edge program will address the complex issues related to social cognition, executive function and self-regulation; Social Prep is a beginner’s program designed to introduce the concepts of social thinking created by work of renowned expert Michelle Garcia Winners. For all ages! EF Boot Camp is an intense program designed to address Executive Function skills. Executive Function is a term used to describe difficulties associated with goal setting, carrying out organized steps and modifying a plan to complete a task successfully. For all ages! Summer Sessions Available; and Art Connect.

HARBOR HAVEN

1418 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ 07052
www.harborhaven.com
Harbor Haven's core areas include swimming instruction, athletics, creative arts, music, and nature/science. In addition, we promote many skills through karate, yoga, bicycle riding instruction, photography, cooking instruction, and the performing arts such as drama and dance.
These program areas are run by adult specialists with knowledge and certifications in their content area as well as experience in working with children with special needs. They are teachers or other professionals, such as mental health workers, therapists and more.

IN-ROAD TO OPPORTUNITIES

301 Cox St, Roselle, NJ 07203
www.inroadto.org
Offers transitional programs including Summer Transition for ages 16-21, School-to-Work Transition for ages 16-21 and Transition Plus for ages 21-25. Their summer transition program is a six week program for students just beginning their employment readiness journey.

JDK SOCIAL STATION - SOCIAL SKILLS CAMP

780 Post Place, Secaucus, NJ 07094
www.jdksocialstation.com
Specialized in multi-sensory teaching that enhances learning, social and living skills for all with special needs, this camp creates individualized programs based on each student’s personal challenges for all to reach their maximum potential. “Emphasis is placed on programming provided by certified teachers in Applied Behavior Analysis to develop self-confidence, play skills, social skills and problem solving techniques.” Their social skills camp is for ages 3 - 15, part and full time with weekly themes that all foster social skills. Camp includes art therapy, yoga therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, social skills groups, sensory taekwondo, cooking classes, woodworking, physical fitness and water activities.

MODERNE ACADEMIE OF FINE ARTS ADAPTIVE LEARNING PROGRAM

1820 East 2nd St, Scotch Plains, NJ
www.moderneacademie.com
These new adaptive learning classes are offered on Saturdays and led by an expert with a Masters in Special Needs. Learn in a dance setting with hands-on equipment for development, gross motor skill activities in small class setting. Private classes are available too.

PONY POWER THERAPIES

1170 Ramapo Valley, Mahwah, NJ
www.ponypowernj.org
Pony Power programming is open to those who need more support or different programming options than traditional equestrian centers offer. There is no need for proof of a medical diagnosis, a doctor’s prescription or an individualized education program (IEP). Programs include Therapeutic horseback riding, Horse care and horse handling, Garden-based learning, and Outdoor exploration for babies. Ask about their summer sessions.

SEATON HACKNEY THERAPEUTIC RIDING CAMP

440 South Street, Morristown
www.seatonhackney.com
We work with riders of all abilities and have all types of horses to accommodate our riders’ needs. Our program offers individuals of all abilities to participate in mounted and unmounted therapeutic lessons. Our team of instructors and volunteers can’t wait to meet you! If you would like more information about our therapeutic program or have any questions, please feel free to contact Michelle directly. Her email address is: MichelleMSHS@gmail.com or she can be reached by phone at: 856-979-9849. Please feel free to call (973-644-3355) or email (seatonh@verizon.net) our office for more information about our brand new program!

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

1 Eunice Kennedy Shriver Way, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
www.sonj.org
Young Athletes is a unique sports play program for children ages 2 through 7 with and without intellectual disabilities. This program teaches skills like balance, jumping, and kicking. Your child will have the ability to learn social skills like taking turns and playing with a teammate, build self-confidence, play as a family and meet new friends. Young Athletes focuses on foundational skills, walking & running, balance & jumping, trapping & catching, throwing, striking and kicking.

SUMMIT AREA YMCA ADAPTIVE FUN FOR ALL

Berkeley Heights and Summit, NJ
www.theSAY.org/special
Gym, dance, swim, special events, sports, yoga. Offers free programs + financial assistance available for all fee-based offerings. For ages 7 - 21 years.

UNION COUNTY OFFICE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES & SPECIAL NEEDS

Union County, NJ
www.ucnj.org /opdsn-reg
Offers several programs including Yoga, Karate, Cooking, Ceramics, Arts & Crafts, Volleyball, Golf, Zumba, and Tennis. Social events include: Night Out with the NJ Devils, Night Out with the NY Red Bulls, Lace Up Your Skates, Fishing Derby, Egg Hunts, Summer Carnival, Hayride, Barn Dance and Summer Camp. They offer a sensory friendly summer camp where your child spends a week investigating the natural world using senses of sight, sound, touch and smell.

WINSTON PREPARATORY SCHOOL SUMMER PROGRAM

Whippany, NJ - online
www.winstonprep.edu
Offers a summer program that provides students with learning differences a unique, individualized learning environment to enhance their academic skills and foster independence. Monday - Friday from 8:30am to 12:45pm.