Camps & Enrichment Resources in San Diego County

AWARE-Adults with Autism Recreation Experience

Fun, summer day camp for young adults (18+) on the Autism Spectrum allows socialization with peers and community-based activities. Camper or family member must be a current Autism Society of San Diego member.

Camp Able at Coronado

Provides children and adults with mental and physical disabilities the opportunity to experience aquatic activities such as kayaking, sailing and swimming in the ocean.

Camp Beyond the Scars Burn Institute

Traditional summer camp for burn-injured children ages 8–17 with professional support for dealing with their unique physical and emotional challenges. Counselors include off-duty firefighters, medical staff and adult burn survivors.

Camp del Corazon

Three primary programs for children and families living with congenital heart disease: P.A.C.E. (Progressive Adult Congenital Experience) program for ages 18–25, summer camp for ages 7–17, and Happy Heart Festival, an annual educational symposium.

Camp Grizzly

Located in the Sierra Foothills and run by mentors of the NorCal Center, this camp offers Deaf, Hard of Hearing and KODA youth a supportive and diverse environment to study Indigenous American history, and native CA plant and animal life. 

916-349-7500 V/TTY 

916-993-3048 VP 

Camp Harmon

ACA-accredited camp for individuals 8 to 65 with developmental and/or physical disabilities. Run by Easterseals with a 3:1 camper/counselor ratio, on-site health center, 14 heated cabins, arts & crafts center, accessible swimming pool, putting green, athletic field, gardening areas and animal farm.

Camp I CAN

The Autism Society and YMCA offer 1:1 instruction at this camp for children with Autism. Register early—it fills up every year!

Camp Ivey

Summer horse camp dedicated to encouraging interaction of disabled and able-bodied children of all ages. Day camp for ages 7–17 with therapeutic horseback riding and horse grooming program.

Camp Jaycee

Inclusive, ACA-accredited camp for ages 18 mos. to ninth grade features camps for every interest, including traditional, sports, Spanish-immersion, teen, theater and more. Options for satellite locations and virtual camps. Scholarships available.

Camp Let Loose

Week-long summer program for kids with special needs. Paired 1:1 with a teen counselor, campers field trips to local areas of interest in San Diego.

Camp Oty’Okwa Special Care Camp

Residential camp for ages 6–14 diagnosed with Learning Disabilities, ADD/ ADHD, behavior disorders or Autism. Campers interact in typical programs, are integrated into routine camp activities, and participate in groups with campers of similar diagnoses.

Camp Paivika

Overnight camp near Big Bear for ages 5–22 with developmental and physical disabilities, such as Autism, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome and Epilepsy. Includes horseback riding, fine arts, adaptive sports, swimming, cookouts and campfires and nature hikes.

Camp Ramah

Jewish children ages 10–17 with special needs, along with peers and siblings, enjoy specialized, therapeutic programming in a supportive camp environment staffed with behavior and family education specialists. Individual counselors for each family.

Camp Starfish

One-of-a-kind, sleepaway summer camp provides a 1:1 staff-to-camper ratio to enable success, build social skills, teach coping mechanisms, and help children who have difficulty finding success in traditional settings. Campers grouped by age and need.

Camp Stevens

Inclusive, traditional, fun-in-the-outdoors overnight camp for kids ages 8-15. Discuss the needs of your child with ASD, ADD/ADHD, and mild delay with counselors. Focus on interpersonal skills during archery, swimming, crafts, campfires and more.

Camp Summit

ACA-accredited, weekly residential camps for children and adults with disabilities providing recreational, therapeutic and social activities in an authentic camp setting. Campers are grouped by diagnosis/need and are never turned away due to severity of disability or inability to pay.

Camp Tuolumne Trails

Tuolumne Trails (located in the Sierras) is for groups with special medical needs. The camp provides facility, food service, management and general camp activities. Groups bring their own staff of professionals, medical staff and special programs for their campers.

Camp Wamp

Wilderness camping experience located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains for ages 8–18 with physical disabilities. Founded by local climbing legend Stephen Wampler.

CIP (College Internship Program) Summer Program

Two-week college experience for ages 16–19 with ASD, ADHD and other learning differences. College is not just about academics; it’s about fostering connections, learning skills to succeed and having fun.

City of Chula Vista Day Camps

Students with disabilities are encouraged to attend all day camps. Two-week notice is required to complete an assessment and to assign an aide, if needed.

Club Xcite

Provider of camps, afterschool enrichment programs and skill-building programs such as executive functioning and social skills at public and private schools.

Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Family Camp

Provides an opportunity for children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing and their families to come together in a positive environment.

Deaf Leadership Camp

Intensive, educational four-week summer program in Oregon for Deaf/Hard of Hearing high school sophomores and juniors to explore careers and practice advocacy and mentorship. Application deadline is mid-January.

Dragonfly Forest

Summer camp designed for children with Autism, 22Q, Asthma and medical needs, allows them to safely enjoy camp activities such as swimming, fishing, archery, arts and crafts, ropes courses, boating and nature activities.

Easterseals Camp Oakes

Resident camp in the San Bernardino Mountains serves children and adults with disabilities. Activities include crafts, hayrides, talent shows, dances, swimming, canoeing, archery, hiking and a ropes course.

Flying Horse Farms

ACA-accredited, sleepaway camp for ages 7–15 who can only participate in camps that provide medical support due to diagnoses in cardiology, hematology, oncology, rheumatology, gastrointestinal disorders, pulmonary disorders, rare diseases and facial anomalies. Fully staffed with doctors and nurses 24/7 in a state-of-the-art medical building.

iFLY STEM Camps

Offers all-ability, STEM–based day camp that includes classroom instruction, interactive lab and wind tunnel physics demonstration, indoor skydiving flight training, iFLY flight suit and safety gear, and 1:1 flying with a certified flight instructor.

Joni & Friends

Nationwide retreats for families living with disability. Fun, accessible, Christ-centered experience with worship, indoor and outdoor activities and more; build lasting memories and friendships with others who understand. 

Junior Adaptive Sports Camp

Campers ages 4–18 are introduced to adaptive sports such as wheelchair basketball, tennis, lacrosse, archery, water skiing, sailing and more at Crown Point and Miramar College.

KODAWest Camp

Kids of Deaf Adults ages 8–17 enjoy traditional camp experiences at Big Bear Lake and explore their identities as bicultural individuals. Applications are accepted every January.

Little Language Ambassadors

Native-Spanish speaking teachers inspire and educate the next generation through a 100 percent Spanish immersion program, making kids future citizens of the world through inclusive preschool, afterschool elementary and summer camp programs (18 mos-7 years). 

Rancho Family YMCA Camps

Exciting, inclusive camps offered to children of all abilities. Assessment provided for areas of camp support. Financial aid available.

Salvation Army Kroc Center Day Camp

Trained Inclusion Coordinator and Day Camp Manager assess children with special needs (with parent present) three weeks prior to camp to see if reasonable accommodations can be provided to meet their needs and keep them safe.

San Diego Center for Children

Serves children and families struggling with mental, emotional or behavioral health challenges. Offers family and youth assessments, outpatient therapy and psychiatry, Autism services, an intensive outpatient program for ages 13–18, and summer camps.

San Diego Park and Recreation Therapeutic Rec

Inclusive summer and winter day camps offered to children of all abilities. Schedules online.

SOAR Adventure Camps

Trained Inclusion Coordinator and Day Camp Manager assess each child with special needs (with parent present) three weeks prior to camp to determine if reasonable accommodations can be provided to meet their needs and keep them safe.

Summer Session at NewBridge School

Half-day learning program/camp for grades K–8 with language-based learning disabilities, Dyslexia, memory, executive functioning, and processing difficulties. Teaches students to be effective learners in a fun, camp-like setting.

Surfin Fire Surf Camp

Year-round individual and group surf lessons and camps in Oceanside and Encinitas for all ages and most abilities by an Encinitas firefighter with swift water rescue certification and his trained staff. Surfboards and wetsuits provided to campers and private guests.

Talisman Camps

Experiential learning camp for children with ADD, ADHD, LD and Asperger’s that helps children develop physical and social competence in an atmosphere that encourages self-regulation and self-direction.

The Coder School

Inclusive, afterschool coding program for kids 7–18 that develops critical skills of logic, breaking complex problems into manageable chunks, and working with others. Offers Roblox and Minecraft camps, AP computer science support and more.

The Painted Turtle

Summer camp and year-round programs for ages 7–16 with a variety of medical conditions. Full medical staff onsite 24/7. Special foods available for dietary needs.

Therapeutic Approach to Growth

Offers assessment, treatment and support for individuals with ASD and other disabilities. Art therapy, speech/language pathology, occupational therapy, educational supports, behavioral modification, and the Sage Learning Center, a learning environment based on RDI principles. Summer programs available.

2035 Corte Del Nogal #165, Carlsbad, CA 92011

760-448-5837

Upward Bound Camp

Christian-based recreational and educational camp experiences for persons with disabilities, ages 12 and up. Encourages growth outside the individual’s usual routine.

Watersports Camp at the Mission Bay Aquatic Center

Adaptive swim camp sponsored by the Torrey Pines Kiwanis and inclusion supported by KIT (Kids Included Together).

YMCA of San Diego County

Summer day camps, overnight camps, swim lessons and sports leagues for children preschool and up. Children with special needs are always welcome at the Y.