The countdown is on! Summer is just around the corner, and before you know it, you’ll have children declaring, “I’m bored” and “What can we do?” It’s time to register for summer camps!
If you’re the parent of an autistic child, you may think the choices of summer programs are limited. But the good news is that’s not necessarily the case.
With locations throughout the U.S., we’ve looked at the autism-friendly camps in our home states: Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, and North Carolina, to help make your search a little easier.
So, whether it’s your first time looking for camps for your autistic child or you’ve moved to a new area and are unfamiliar with what’s available, Heartlinks can help you find a camp that fits your child’s unique needs.
What to look for in an autism-friendly summer camp
Yes, finding a safe and supportive summer camp for your child on the spectrum can feel overwhelming. That’s why Heartlinks is here to help. Before you begin your search, take a moment to review some of the following tips when searching for an autism-friendly summer camp.
Staff Experience
One of the most critical elements when searching for autism-friendly summer camps is the staff’s training and experience. As a parent with a child on the spectrum, you should look for a camp with staff who have team members specifically trained in working with autistic kids. Whether a certified BCBA or an RBT, they must have proper training. This will help them understand the unique ways they communicate, process sensory information, and respond to social situations.
Camp Structure
The established structure and routine of your child’s summer camp are critical. Most autistic children thrive with predictability, so a camp with clearly defined daily schedules, visual supports, including picture charts, timers, and social stories, and that adheres to a consistent routine can help reduce your child’s anxiety. A low camper-to-staff ratio is equally important, allowing for more one-on-one attention and tailored support.
Communication Support
An autism-friendly camp will be able to support campers who are non-verbal, have limited speech, or experience conditions such as selective mutism, where a child may be verbal in some environments but unable to speak in others due to anxiety. These camps often incorporate alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) tools, including picture boards, speech-generating devices, or sign language, to help campers express themselves. The staff should be comfortable with these communication methods and respectful of how a child might try to communicate with others.
Some summer camps even accommodate or collaborate with speech therapists to integrate communication goals into activities, helping support ongoing speech and language development in a fun, low-pressure setting.
Well-Designed Sensory Environment
Is the special needs summer camp well laid out? Do they offer sensory breaks throughout the day or quiet zones? This is especially important for kids who are easily overstimulated or overwhelmed by noise and crowds. Do they have weighted blankets, noise-cancelling headphones, sensory toys, and flexible activity participation to allow children to practice self-soothing when needed?
Encourage Social Interaction
Indeed, social interaction is often a significant component of the camp experience, and the best autism-friendly summer camps provide gentle encouragement without being too aggressive. Look for programs that support building friendships and allow group and individual activities. This will allow special needs campers to participate at their comfort level and pace.
Some camps may even incorporate social skills therapy or structured social groups into the schedule, helping children learn and practice those all-important interpersonal skills, including turn-taking, reading social cues, or initiating conversation.
Varied Activities
With so many different summer activities for autistic children available now, it’s essential that the summer camp you’re looking at offers a range. From nature walks and vegetable gardening to swimming, and arts and crafts, a well-rounded camp should provide diverse options that cater to different interests and energy levels.
Physical activities, in particular, play a vital role, not just for health and fitness, but also for supporting emotional regulation, motor skills, and sensory integration. Equally important to note is that your child’s prospective camp allows them to opt in or out of activities based on how they feel that day.
Safety and Health Regulations
A camp’s approach to safety and health regulations should never be overlooked. All staff should be trained in first aid and how to respond to tantrums, sensory overload, aggressive behavior, or harmful behavior. Staff should understand the complexities of autistic food aversions and be familiar with the different types of stimming, including finger flicking, spinning, hand flapping, and other repetitive body movements. As a parent, it’s tremendously reassuring to know there are plans in place and that the staff understand how to handle medical and behavioral emergencies.
Parent and Camp Communication
Strong and regular communication with parents and caregivers is essential. If your child’s summer camp regularly supplies updates using photos, briefs, or notes, this can help you stay connected and remain reassured while they’re attending. Ideally, the camp will work closely with families to create individualized support plans that align with your child’s strengths and needs.
Autism-Friendly Summer Camps – Georgia
This camp, founded in 2013, is located on 15 acres in beautiful Cherokee County, Georgia. It offers several types of summer camps for children on the spectrum, ages 5-15, focusing on animal-assisted education and therapeutic outdoor activities.
The camp is located in Fayetteville, Georgia, and was one of the first in the U.S. to be accredited by the National Inclusion Project. It hosts week-long residential stays for neurodivergent and neurotypical children ages 7-17, and provides specialized counselors, inclusion specialists, and behavioral experts.
This week-long overnight summer camp in Rutledge, Georgia, is designed for children and teens with high-functioning autism ages 8-18. Participants must be verbally fluent and able to manage self-care tasks such as bathing and dressing.
Autism Summer Camps – New Jersey
Located in Lebanon, New Jersey, this camp offers two one-week sleepaway sessions for school-aged children with autism and other special needs, ages 6 to 100! Activities during the August sessions include arts, crafts, singing, swimming, canoeing, and much more.
Located near the New Jersey shoreline in Oakhurst and 55 miles from New York City, this camp serves children ages 8-18 with special needs such as autism. Established in 1906, the camp helps children and teens discover new abilities and strengths, fostering independence and self-confidence.
Harbor Heaven Day Camp is located in West Orange, New Jersey, and is a comprehensive summer day camp program for children with special needs, including autism, ages 3-18. It offers seven weeks of summer fun and focuses on supporting campers in social and group skills, language and communication, behavior, and fine and gross motor skills.
Autism-Friendly Camps – Indiana
Operating during the day Monday through Friday throughout the summer, Noble Summer Day Camp maintains a low camper-to-staff ratio of 4:1. It is designed for children with developmental disabilities, including autism, ages 8-18. Their focus is encouraging participation, building self-esteem, and creating friendships.
Located in South Bend, Indiana, this sleepaway camp’s mission is to “inspire self-discovery in individuals with special needs through a safe, traditional camp experience.” Geared for campers ages 7-18 and providing a 1:1 camper-to-staff ratio, all its recreational and living facilities are designed for people of all disabilities, including autism. It offers a range of activities, including arts, crafts, music, swimming, and even a ropes course. The co-ed summer sessions run from mid-June to the first week of August.
Camp Gather/Gather on the Move
Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, Camp Gather is for ages 6-13, and Camp Gather on the Move is designed for ages 14-18. Both camps provide a comprehensive summer program to kids and teens with intellectual, emotional, and physical disabilities, including autism. This day camp offers arts and crafts, pottery, field trips, group music, gym structured play, and life skills. The staff-to-camper ratio is 3:1 for both camps.
Autism Summer Camps – North Carolina
Established in 1980, the Talisman offers progressive adventure camps for children ages 6-22 with autism, ADHD, and other learning differences. Located in Zirconia, North Carolina, this camp provides a wide range of programs involving activities such as hiking, science, slingshots, technical tree climbing, fishing, rock climbing, field games, and canoeing. All camp staff are certified in CPR, first aid, de-escalation, lifeguarding, and receive professional-level autism training.
Located in Black Mountain, North Carolina, Camp Lakey Gap is specifically designed for campers with autism from ages 4 to 18 and up. It accepts anyone on the spectrum and offers a unique program using visually structured programming. The camper-staff ratio is 1:1 and 1:2, and typical camp activities include art, hiking, boating, music, and group games.
Camp Royall, Autism Society of NC
Located in Moncure, North Carolina, Camp Royall offers day camp and sleepaway camp options for people on the autism spectrum, ages 4 to older adults. The camper-to-staff ratio is 1:1 or 1:2, depending on your child’s needs. Activities offered at the camp include dance, ceramics, basketball, horseback riding, hiking, hayrides, soccer, volleyball, and swimming, to name a few.
Heartlinks ABA: Your Guide for Summer Camp Fun!
Finding the right summer camp for your autistic child doesn’t have to be stressful or overwhelming. Thanks to more autism-friendly options than ever before, families in North Carolina, Georgia, New Jersey, and Indiana can discover programs that meet their children’s needs while providing a safe, structured, and enjoyable environment.
From camps with one-on-one staff support to programs that offer sensory-friendly spaces and therapy integration, there’s certainly something out there for every child. The important part is knowing what to look for, and that’s where Heartlinks comes in.
Let us help you navigate the process, connect with the right resources, and allow your child to build friendships, gain confidence, and make unforgettable summer memories. Contact Heartlinks ABA today!