Autism Spectrum and Other Neurobiological Disorders

Gersh Academy at West Hills Day Camp. 150 Broad Hollow Rd., Suite 120, Melville, NY 11747. 631-385-3342. www.gershacademy.org. skleven@gershacademy.org. Ages 5 – 16. Full day. Fees: call for rates. Serving children and young adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and other related neurobiological disorders. Social skills, swimming and instruction (7 pools), sports, rock climbing, mini golf, fishing, boating, arts and crafts, music, drama, computers, and much more. 1:3 staff-to-child ratio. Certified special education teachers as group leaders. Transportation and snacks included, lunch is additional. Registration: Ongoing. Contact: Sheryl Kleven.

Developmental/Physical Disabilities
Camp Chaverim. Headquarters: and Camp Site Friedberg JCC, 15 Neil Ct., Oceanside, NY 11572. 516-766-4341.516-766-0513 (fax). www.friedbergjcc.org. dsherwood@friedbergjcc.org. Ages 6 – 12. Fees: Call for fees. Serves children who are on the autism spectrum, and/or may need a more intimate summer camp setting to flourish. On-site swimming. Offers crafts, music, outdoor play, sports, water play and much more. Includes kosher lunch and snacks. Extended hours for working parents (based on demand). Call for more information.

Camp Hope. Headquarters: Childrens’ Bible Fellowship of NY, Inc. P.O. Box 670, Carmel, NY 10512. Camp site: 250 Nimham Rd., Carmel, NY 10512. 845-225-2005, Ext. 207, 845-225-2087 (fax). www.cbfny.org. E-mail: camp@cbfny.org. Ages 6 & up. Fees: Starting at $550 for one week. A residential Christian camp for children with physical disabilities or children with mild-to-moderate mental retardation. On-site swimming. Activities include crafts, games, bible study, music. Transportation available from Grand Central Station, Manhattan. Meals provided. Open house: On-site visits welcome. Registration: Ongoing. Contact: Gail Cohen.

Camp Horseability. 238 Round Swamp Rd., Melville, NY 11747. 631-367-1646. www.horseability.org. info@horseability.org. Ages 3 1/2 – young adult. Full days. Fees: Call for fees. On-site swimming. Offers horseback riding, swimming, indoor/outdoor sports, arts and crafts, circus workshops and more. No transportation. Meals only on Friday Family Fun Days. Open house: Call for appointment. Registration: Ongoing. Contact: Katie McGowan.

Camp Loyaltown. Headquarters: 115 E. Bethpage Rd., Plainview, NY 11803. 516-626-1000. Camp site: Camp Loyaltown, AHRC, Glen Ave., Hunter, NY 12442. 518-263-4242. 518-263-3861 (fax). www.ahrc.org/camployaltown0.0.html. camp@ahrc.org. Ages 4 & up. Fees: Call for fees. Camp offers ceramics, nature, athletics, drama and more for developmentally disabled children. Transportation and meals available. Note: This is an AHRC Family Support Service Camp. Contact: Paul Cullen.

CAmp Pa-qua-tuck. Chet Swezey Rd., Center Moriches, NY 11934. 631-878-1070. 631-878-2596 (fax). camppaquatuck@optonline.net. Ages 6 – 21. Full days, Weekends from Sept. through June. Fees: Starting at $685.Call for fees. On-site swimming. Adaptive sports and games, baking ,arts and crafts, swimming, boating. No transportation. Meals provided. Open house: Apr. 24. Registration: Began Jan. 19. Contact: Jean Gilrane

Mid-Island Y Jewish Community Center Aspire Program. 45 Manetto Hill Rd., Plainview, NY11803. www.miyjcc.org. 516-822-3535.  Ages 3–5, half-day program, Mon. – Fri. 12:15 – 3:45 pm, full session only, 6/30 – 8/19. Full-day program Mon. – Fri. 10 am –3 pm, full session only, 6/30–8/19. Ages 6–12, full-day program, Mon. – Fri. 9 am– 4 pm, full session only, 6/30–8/19. The Aspire Program is for children with developmental disabilities including, but not limited to, Autism Spectrum disorders, Asperger’s, ADHD, learning disabilities and language delays. The goal is to create a fun, nurturing and supportive environment by including children with disabilities in all day camp activities when possible.  Campers are guided by specialized counselors who receive intensive training and supervision by certified special education teachers, speech language pathologists and behavior specialists.  The Aspire Program is part of The K.I.S.S. Center (Kids In Special Services) which provides a comprehensive range of programs for toddlers through adulthood, allowing each person to be happy and reach their fullest potential. Contact: Joanna Diamond, K.I.S.S. Center Director at 516-822-3535, Ext. 332.

MY SHINE PROGRAM. Sweet Hills Riding Center. West Hills Park, Sweet Hollow Rd., Melville, NY 11747. 516-551-1491. info@myshineprogram.com. www.myshineprogram.com Ages 3 and up. Fee: $190/6 weeks. Therapeutic equestrian program, half-hour group lessons, riding, grooming, tacking, games on horseback. Open house: Mar. 3, 4 to 6 pm, Mar. 6, 3 to 6 pm. Registration: Ongoing. Contact: Barbara Kruger.

NYU Summer Program for Kids. SUNY Maritime College, Throgs Neck. 516-358-1811, 516 358 1820 (fax). donofd01@nyumc.org. A 7-week (June 28 – Aug. 13), all day, therapeutic program exclusively for children ages 7 – 11 with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and behavior disorders. Program focuses on building self-esteem and developing attentional, organizational and friendship skills. Clinical psychologists and highly-qualified teachers supervise undergraduate and graduate-level counselors. Enrollment is limited. Some transportation provided. No meals provided. Contact: Donna D’Onofrio-Watts.

Variety Club Camp & Developmental Center. 2950 Potshop Rd., P.O. Box 609, Worcester, PA 19490. 610-584-4366. www.varietyphila.org. angusmurray@varietyphila.org. Ages 5 – 21. Three-week residential program. Fees: Call for fees. Specializes in physically and/or developmentally disabled children. Offers swimming, sports, art, golf. Transportation limited (additional). Meals included. Contact: Angus Murray.

Kehilla Vocation Experience. Headquarters: Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center, 300 Forest Dr., East Hills, NY 11548. Campsite: Henry Kaufman Campgrounds, 75 Colonial Springs Rd. Wheatley Heights, NY 11798. 516-484-1545. www.sjjcc.org. lwarren@sjjcc.org. Ages 17 – 21. Full day. Fees: Call for rates. Serving teens and young adults with social disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorders, autism spectrum disorders including Asperger’s syndrome, learning disabilities, speech and language delays and other special needs. Activities: Job training, on-job experience, recreational trips, expressive therapies. Registration: Ongoing. Contact: Lisa Warren.

PowerPals Physical Fitness Camp. 4 Cedar Swamp Road, Glen Cove, NY 11542. cspez@optonline.net  Ages 6 – 10. An afternoon recreational program for typically developing and special needs children with unique talents and abilities. Daily curriculum includes kickball, soccer, T-Ball, bike riding lessons and water slide/slip and slide. Activities will be held both outside and inside in our air-conditioned, self-contained gymnasium. Teacher-to-student ratio depends upon individual needs of the student. Contact: Chris Speziali (516-359-7734) or Melanie Donus (516-316-3730).

Diabetes
Robert K. Sweeney Summer Fun Days for Children With Diabetes. Suffolk County Farm and Education Center, Yaphank Ave., Yaphank, NY 11980. 631-852-4959. Ages 5 – 10. Co-ed. Fees: $195 for 1 week, from 9 am – 2 pm. This camp offers a wide range of farm education programs, plus programs specifically designed to help children with diabetes better manage their life situation. Call for additional information. Contact: Pat Hubbard or Linda Seal.

Barton Day Camp Long Island. Headquarters: 30 Ennis Rd., North Oxford, MA 01537. 508-987-2056. Camp location: Roslyn, NY. www.bartoncenter.org. kerry.packard@bartoncenter.org. Ages 6 – 12. Full day. Fees: Call for fees. On-site swimming. Arts and crafts, theme days, camp games. Transportation additional. Lunch and snacks provided. Contact: Kerry Packard.

Epilepsy
Camp Frog. Headquarters: 1501 Reedsdale St., Pittsburgh, PA 15233. Camp location: 12600 Ables Road, North Springfield, PA 16430. 412-322-5880. www.efwp.org/programs/programs_08.shtml. jhinds@efwp.org. Ages 8 – 17. Overnight program. Fees: Call for fees. Camp Frog creates a fully integrated setting for children who have epilepsy/seizure disorder. Offers horseback riding, rock climbing, archery, canoeing and more. On-site swimming. Transportation available. Meals provided. Registration: Call for information. Contact: Jordan Hinds.

Mentally Challenged
Camp Loyaltown. Glen Ave., Hunter, NY 12442. 516-293-1111 Ext. 608. Ages 4 and up. Fees: Call for rates. Camp for children (and adults) who are mentally disabled. On-site swimming. Camp activities include music, dance, drama, nature, ceramics, cooking and more. Note: This is an AHRC camp, Nassau County chapter. Contact: Paul or Karen Cullen.

Oncology
American Cancer Society Camp Adventure. 4 Rocky Point Rd., P.O. Box 549, Shelter Island Heights, NY 11965. 1-800-ACS-2345. www.cancer.org/camp adventure. Ages 6 – 18. Fees: Free. On-site swimming. Offers arts and crafts, sports and nature study. Meals included. Residential camp. One-week program for children with cancer and their siblings, held on the last full week of August. Contact: Elisa.

Camp Kesem. P.O. Box 1113, Lafayette, CA 94549.  925-550-5698. www.campkesem.org. info@campkesem.org.  Ages 6 – 13. Fees: Free. Meals included. Residential camp.  One-week program for children who have or have had a parent with cancer. Run by college students. Located in over 20 places around the country. Contact: Liz Gray.

Physically Challenged
Southampton Fresh Air Home. 36 Barkers Island Rd., Southampton, NY 11968. 631-283-1594. www.sfah.org; dbillingham@sfah.org. Ages 7 – 18. Co-ed. Fees: Call for fees; scholarships available. On-site swimming. Small residential camp with state-of-the-art facilities for physically challenged children and young adults. Sports, swimming, computers, arts and crafts. Transportation and meals included. Call for more information. Contact: David Billingham.

Sunrise Day Camp. Headquarters:Friedberg JCC, 15 Neil Ct., Oceanside, NY 11572. Campsite: Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds, Colonial Springs Rd., Wheatley Heights. 516-766-4341; 516-766-0513 (fax). www.sunrisedaycamp.org. mvernon@friedbergjcc.org. Ages 3 – 16 (for children, on a non-sectarian basis, who are in active or follow-up treatment for cancer & their siblings). Full days. Fees: Free of charge. Open House: Call for appointment. Registration: Ongoing. Contact: Michele Vernon.

Stuttering
Our Time Theatre Company. Headquarters: 307 West 38th St., New York, NY 10018. Camp site: Iroquois Springs, Rick Hill, NY. www.iroquoissprings.com. 212-414-9696. 212-414-8527 (fax). www.ourtimetheatre.org. Ages: 8 – 18 (for children who stutter and their siblings). Discover the joys of creating and performing original theater and music with unconditional acceptance. Camp dates: Aug. 10 – 17. Fees: Call for fees. Registration: Ongoing. Contact: Taro Alexander.

Visually Impaired
Helen Keller Summer Camp.  Headquarters: 1 Helen Keller Way, Hempstead, NY 11550. Camp site: Farmingdale State University of New York. Office: 1 Helen Keller Way, Hempstead, NY 11550. 516-485-1235, Ext. 617. www.helenkeller.org. info@helenkeller.org. Ages 4 – 15. Full day. Fee: Nominal registration fee. Camp is free to participants who are blind or visually impaired. Swimming, crafts, dance, computers, martial arts and trips. Open to children from Nassau and Suffolk. Door-to-door transportation available (free). Registration: Begins Apr. 1. Contact: Bill Dale.

Weight Loss/Nutrition
Camp Kingsmont. 893 West St., Amherst, MA, 01002. 877-FITCAMP. www.campkingsmont.com. Ages 8 – 17. Co-ed. Fees: Call for information. On-site swimming. Horseback riding, drama, rec center and pool, sports, nutrition classes, paintball, talent shows, concerts, dances, go-karting, exercise, outdoor fun. Transportation available from nearby airport; meals provided. Call for dates of Open House and Registration. Contact: Danny Heisler.

New Image — Camp Pocono Trails. Headquarters: P.O. Box 417 Norwood, NJ 07648. Camp location: Akiba Rd., Reeders, PA 18352. 800-365-0556. www.newimagecamp.com. Ages 7 – 18. Fees: Call for fees. On-site swimming. Offers weight loss, nutrition classes, fitness activities, drama, many activities. Meals included. Contact: Tony Sparber.

The Ranch. F.I.T.S. P.O. Box 128, Lake Placid, NY 12945. 800-613-6033. www.childrenscamps.com. theranchlp@hotmail.com. For girls ages 10 – 18. Fees: Call for fees. On-site swimming (heated commercial pool). Natural weight-loss program designed for young women. Offers horseback riding, dance, kayacking, track. Transportation available from Westchester. Meals: Nutritional plan with medical supervision. Open House: Call for information. Contact: Maureen.

Camp Shane. 302 Harris Rd., Ferndale, NY 12734. Winter phone 914-271-4141. Ages 7 – 17. Co-ed. and 18 – 25 Young Women. Fees: Call for fees. This is a camp for children, teens and young adults who want to lose weight and get fit. Olympic swimming pool, all sports, aerobics, dance crafts, theater, waterskiing and jet ski, go-karts, paintball, nutrition and cooking classes. Self-esteem “rap” sessions with guidance counselors. Open House: May. Contact: David Ettenberg.