Summer Camp Options for Special Needs Children
Theatre Under the Stars: The River Performing and Visual Arts Center
713-520-1220
For more information see:
Cost: $150 per weekly session per child
Theatre Under The Stars’ River Performing and Visual Arts Center provides accessible, affordable, fine arts education for individuals who have disabilities, chronic illnesses, or are economically disadvantaged and their siblings.
Summer Camp Details:
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:30am - 2:30pm
Limit: 15 per age group (per camp)
Classes are held at 1475 West Gray
End of Camp Performance is held each Friday at 12:30pm. Family and friends are encouraged to attend and applaud at the participants' hour-long performance.
Aquatic Adventure
June 16 - 20
Explore the maritime world of magic and mermaids through music.
Page To The Stage
June 23 - 27
Help the pages of literature come alive on stage through song and dance.
What's In A Name?
July 7 - 11
Shakespeare famously asked this question; take it on summer camp style!
Cultural Carnival
July 14 - 18
Travel the globe to discover new rhythms and grooves across cultures.
Classic Children's Cinema
July 21 - 25
The music of these timeless children's films will have performers and audiences alike dancing in toe-tapping delight.
Music & The Motor City
July 28 - August 1
Celebrate the automobile and the music that made Mowtown.
The Arc of Greater Houston
713-957-1600
For more information see:
The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetime.
Various Days camps
Ages 4-14 years old
Theme-based, age appropriate activities in one-week sessions for individuals
Please see for more information.
Saturday Fun Day
Ages 4-25 years old
An out of home, recreational day respite program for families of individuals who have a
diagnosis of an intellectual disability, Autism, or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
Please see for more information.
Easter Seals Disability Service
713-838-9050
For more information see:
Easter Seals Greater Houston's mission is to provide exceptional services to ensure all people with disabilities or special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities
Camp Buckaroo
2014 Camp Buckaroo Dates and Locations
Date / LocationJune 9-13 / Shepherd of the Heart Pearland
12005 County Road 59, Pearland, TX 77584
June 16-20 / The Woodlands United Methodist Church
2200 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77381
July 14-18 / Sugar Creek Baptist Church
13333 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77478
July 21-25 / St. John the Divine
2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, TX 77019
A week-long day camp for children with disabilities and their siblings to attend together. Volunteers work one on one with a camper and act as their buddy all week at camp developing a strong bond. Each day has a different theme like "a day at the beach" or "under the big top" and all sports, music, crafts, and group games are geared towards the theme for the day. Easter Seals offer several sessions of Camp Buckaroo so volunteers and campers can pick a week and location that fits their schedule.
Age for campers: 6-14 years old
Hours: 9:30am-3:00pm
Application deadline is usually April 1.
Cost: $150/camper
Nature Explorers Camp
2014 Nature Explorers Camp Date and Location
Date / LocationJune 23-27 / Houston Nature Sanctuary
440 Wilchester Blvd., Houston, TX 77079
Easter Seals of Greater Houston is proud to be partnering with the Houston Audubon to offer an inclusive summer camp! Easter Seals will provide 1:1 volunteers, 3 full time staff members, and a nurse to be present while campers attend Nature Explorers Camp right alongside their peers! If they are a nature/animal lover this is the camp for them as they will get to uncover the world of wildlife here in our own Bayou City. Hike the trails each day as we investigate our forest’s habitats. Make nature crafts to take home. Catch tadpoles and fish in the ponds and get up close with fascinating native animals.
Age for campers: 5-10 years old
Hours: 9:00am-12:00pm
Camp Smiles
Date / LocationJuly 5-11 (for volunteers)
July 6-11 (for campers) / Camp for All
6301 Rehburg Road, Burton, TX 77835
A week-long overnight camp for children with cerebral palsy. Volunteers work one on one with a camper and act as their buddy and personal care giver for the week. Each day campers participate in typical outdoor camp activities like rock climbing, fishing, paint ball, karaoke, swimming and many more that have all been adapted to fit the needs of each camper. There are 10 cabins full of campers at Camp For All, an adapted camp facility in Burton, TX. Camp Smiles is a week-long overnight camp and is only offered for one session.
Age for campers: 6-14 years old
Cost: Minimum $250 donation
Camp C.A.M.P. (Children’s Association for Maximum Potential)
210-671-5411
For more info see:
Cost: Sliding fee scale (
Summer camp is a series of six-day, five-night sessions for children and adults, ages 5-50 years old, with a variety of special needs and their siblings. They are held at Camp CAMP in Center Point, Texas made up of 55 acres. Camp activities include canoeing on the Guadalupe River, horseback riding, activities in an Aquatic Center, music, sports & recreation, arts & crafts, and outdoor cooking. CAMP modifies traditional summer camp activities to include everyone, regardless of the severity of the CAMPer's physical or developmental needs. This private nonprofit agency funded by United Way of Bexar County, Texas is accredited by the American Camp Association. Each of the 9 Summer Camp sessions have varied age requirements and diagnosis guidelines; additional information is available on the 2014 Summer Camp Schedule found at Sessions are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The Summer Camp application becomes available in February.
2014 Scholarship TierIncome Amount / Camper / Sibling Camper W/O Disability
200k and up / $1,500 / $1,125
150k to 199,999k / $1,375 / $1,000
90k to 149,999k / $1,225 / $ 875
70k to 89,999k / $1,000 / $ 750
50k to 69,999k / $ 875 / $ 625
40k to 49,999k / $ 750 / $ 500
30k to 39,999k / $ 600 / $ 350
Below 30k / $ 300 / $ 250
Camp Aranzazu
(361) 727-0800
For more info see:
Camp Aranzazu is a therapeutic recreational camp located in Rockport, Texas for children and adults with special needs. They provide activities for groups that serve children with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Campers balance academic skill building with camping activities to regain confidence, relax, and have fun. General camping experiences teach campers with disabilities how they fit into society and how they can focus on what they can do, instead of what they cannot do.Camp Aranzazu serves 42 Texas counties that include the Houston area, extending west to San Antonio and south to the southernmost tip of the state. For many, the school year takes a heavy toll on self-esteem. It can be important to balance academic skill-building with camping activities that help children regain confidence, relax and have fun, or explore exciting new pursuits.
Some of our partner groups include:
Camp Brainstorm -epilepsy (Epilepsy Foundation Central & South Texas)
Camp Lean on Me -loss of a loved one (Driscoll Children’s Hospital Bereavement Dept)
Camp Aspire -children on the autism spectrum (Aspire Academy, Inc.)
Halter Inc – Katy Texas
281-508-6501 or 281-861-9138
For more info see:
Cost: $250 for the week (all money must be paid in full by May 1, 2014)
HALTER's mission is to use animals, especially miniature horses, to provide support and enhance the lives of others. This non-profit corporation was founded in August 2001 to train miniature horses as Pet Therapy animals for use by special needs children. HALTER actively participates in programs designed to meet the needs of all children to help them live fuller, happier lives.
Dress code: long pants, tucked in shirts, close-toed shoes with heels
Each child must bring a lunch and a drink.
Dates:
June 16-20, 2014July 14-18
June 23-27, 2014July 21-25
Hours 9am-4pm
Soaring Kidz
832-798-2090
For more info see:
Soaring Kidz is a non-profit organization that serves children and teens with varying abilities. Different sessions are offered throughout the year.
2014 Soccer Season April 27 to June 8, 2014 at Bear Creek Park (Field #1)
5-6 pm (ages 4-9 years old)
6-7 pm (ages 10+)
Cost: $40
SwimmingGymnasticsT-BallFlag Football
Coming Summer 2014Coming Summer 2014Coming Fall 2014TBA
Online Resources
Campforall.org
713-686-5666
For more information or to find a specific camp see:
A unique, barrier-free camp working in partnership with other non-profits to enrich the lives of children and adults with challenging illnesses or special needs and their families throughout the year.
CampResource.com
Online listing of camps throughout North America serving children with different challenges. Options include sorting by state, type of camp and type of disability.
For more info see:
Campparents.org
Online camp resource for parents and families, sponsored by the American Camp Association (ACA). Camp-related resources and an extensive database of over 2400 ACA accredited camps. Options include searching by various criteria including special needs, affiliation, cultural focus, age, location, etc.
For more info see:
MySummerCamps.com
Online listing of summer day and residential camps throughout North America with links to individual camp websites. Large section for special needs camps.
For more info see:
Texas Department of State Health Services
Online listing of camps for special needs children.
Accessible Camping National Park Service
202-208-4747
Pasadena Parks and Recreation
281-487-1755
The Verne Cox Multipurpose Recreation Center is a facility specifically dedicated to recreational activities, programs, and events for youth and adults with disabilities. Programs include: wheelchair sports, Special Olympics, after-school programs, support groups, fitness, aquatics and summer day programs.
For more info see: