Summer 2023 Camp Guide

Alliance Pediatrics

Club Alliance Summer Program

Location: TBD, Gaithersburg or Rockville

Contact: Melody Britton; Club@alliancepediatrics.com; 240-252-4105; Interest form: https://forms.gle/iMYBkLBBL2EdyHnC8

Website: https://alliancepediatrics.com/summer-program/ 

Empowering kids to face fears, manage emotions, and become social rock stars! This is a summer camp that helps children accept difficult emotions while learning ways to feel calm and become socially confident. We offer an emotional component that includes regulation strategies, identifying and handling unhelpful thoughts, and more. Our social component includes conversation skills, dealing with teasing, social problem solving, and more. Supplemental lessons teach campers about the different factors that impact our social emotional health, like nutrition, sleep, and daily gratitude.

Our #1 goal is for kids to enjoy themselves (while learning life skills). Children learn best when they are engaged! Once we know our enrolled participants, we like to incorporate their interests into the social enrichment and emotion regulation curriculum. 

ArtStream

Location: 15800 Crabbs Branch Way, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20855

Contact: 301-565-4567, info@art-stream.org

Website: https://www.art-stream.org/

Ages: 18 and up

Dates: Programming for 2023 has not been finalized. 

The Auburn School

Camp Aristotle at the Silver Spring Campus offers both half-day and full-day options. Our summer program is designed with engaging and exciting activities, projects, and visitors relating to our 2023 camp theme: Animal Conservation. Our model integrates social thinking and learning support throughout the day so campers can build friendships, explore, and most importantly, have fun!

Basic Concepts

Basic Concepts Therapeutic Camp

Location: St. Elizabeth's School; 917 Montrose Road  Rockville, MD 20852

Contact:  Katy Whidden, M.A. CCC- SLP, 240-447-8013, katywhidden@gmail.com

Website:  https://basicconcepts.org/classes

Ages:  Preschool (age 3)–Grade 5 

Dates: Session 1: Monday, June 26–Friday, July 7; Session 2: Monday, July 10–Friday, July 28

Basic Concepts offers a variety of classes for children, preschool through middle school. We utilize numerous therapeutic interventions (sensory, play, music, social, and behavioral) throughout all of our daily activities for maximum achievement. Our summer programs are intended for children who have mild to moderate deficits in speech, language, play, sensory, and socialization. Children participate in both small and whole group activities to ensure that their individual goals are met. Speech-language pathologists and special educators provide services in all our classrooms. All college counselors are intensively trained and have extensive background in working with children with special needs.

Bender JCC of Greater Washington

Lessans Camp JCC

Location:  6125 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852

Contact:  campjcc@benderjccgw.org, 301-348-3883

Website:  https://www.benderjccgw.org/camp-jcc/

Ages:  4–21

Dates:  June 20–August 25

We open our doors to everyone, including people of all backgrounds, religions, abilities, and sexual orientations. Inclusion is belonging. Built on ruach (spirit) and kehilla (community), Camp JCC builds strong Jewish identities, fosters lasting friendships, and creates memories that last a lifetime! Youth and teens with special needs are embraced in a warm, caring, and supportive environment at the Bender JCC through inclusive, innovative programming that enlightens, educates, and boosts self-esteem.

Note: The Inclusion Program for campers who need extra support is full for 2023. For future summers, please note that enrollment starts in November for returning campers and in December for new campers.

Brendan Sailing

Summer Sailing Programs

Location: Annapolis, MD​, and St. Mary's City, MD

Contact: (443) 995-6375; info@brendansailing.org

Website: https://www.brendansailing.org/

Ages: 11–18 (Day Camp), 14–18 (Overnight Camp)

Dates: Annapolis Day Camp:  June 19–June 30 and July 3–14, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM; St. Mary's Overnight Camp: July 16–22 and July 23–29

Since 2005, Brendan Sailing has been helping children with learning differences to realize success. Our programs are led by U.S. Sailing certified instructors who work with individual students to discover their individual learning styles. The Brendan Sailing Curriculum covers an introduction to the sport of sailing including the parts of the boat, maneuvers, navigation, and the Rules of the Road that follows the National On-Water Standards. Our instructors use a hands-on approach to teach sailing and seamanship, with emphasis on building self-confidence and social skills, while developing basic sailing skills. 

Overnight session campers will have the opportunity to stay on-site in St. Mary's College student housing, take meals in the dining hall, and build confidence through the independence they experience while staying on campus. No sailing or boating experience is necessary for either the day or overnight sessions. Scholarships available.

BSC Buddy Camp

Free Soccer Camp for Children with Physical and Developmental Disabilities

Location: Thomas S. Wootton High School, 2100 Wootton Pkwy., Rockville, MD 20850

Contact: Hale Lieberman; halelieberman@gmail.com

Website: BSCBuddyCamp.org

Ages: 8–18 

Dates: Tues., June 20 – Fri., June 23, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

At BSC Buddy Camp, children of all skill levels take advantage of expert coaching and guidance to advance their soccer abilities. With travel soccer players from Bethesda Soccer Club as their "buddies," our campers navigate drills and games designed to provide exposure to the sport of soccer while simultaneously encouraging teamwork and social connection. Our stress-free environment emphasizes a strong 1:1 staff-to-camper ratio and permits us to accommodate children of all ability levels. BSC Buddy Camp is run by volunteers and is free to those attending! Campers must have a parent present for the entire session. This is not a drop-off/pick-up program.

CREATE Arts Center

CAMP CREATE!

Location: 914 Silver Spring Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Contact: (301) 588-2787; lisa@createartscenter.org

Website: https://createartscenter.org/programs/camp-create/

Ages: 8–12

Dates:  July 10–14 and July 17–21, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Campers are strongly encouraged to attend both weeks.

CAMP CREATE! is an onsite summer camp designed for youth with minor to moderate behavioral, emotional, and functioning differences who will benefit from extra attention and support. Campers who have anxiety, learning delays, minor behavioral concerns or social and emotional difficulties are welcome.

CAMP CREATE! is designed to teach campers everyday life skills, such as mindfulness techniques, flexible thinking habits, healthy expression of emotions, improved social interactions, and positive self-image through artistic expression. We strive to create a camp environment where your child is understood and properly supported by our art therapists and teaching artists. 

Diener School

Diener Summer Camp: Owl Program and Owlett Program

Location: 11701 Danville Drive, North Bethesda, MD 20852 

Contact:  camp@thedienerschool.org; (301) 299-4602

Website:  https://thedienerschool.org/summer-camp/

Ages: Owlett Program for Elementary School (entering grades K-5); Owl Program for Middle School (entering grades 5-8)

Dates:  5 weeks: June 26–July 28, 2022; M–Th 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, F 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM 

Both elementary and middle school age groups have thematic weeks with multisensory activities and field trips; speech therapy and occupational therapy are integrated into the program along with academic skills review, musical, and visual art activities for the Owls and gross motor activities for the Owletts. Programming is provided by Diener School staff, with the aim of fostering a greater sense of independence and self-esteem. 

Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center

Summer of Service

Location: Edlavitch DCJCC, 1529 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036

Contact:  Maura Schmidt; mschmidt@edcjcc.org; 202-777-3267

Website: DC JCC Registration

Ages: 7th graders–age 21
Dates:  Middle School Week (entering 7th–9th grade): June 26–June 30; High School Weeks (entering grades 10–age 21):  July 3–July 7 and July 10–14

Spend your summer making the world a better place with our inclusive Summer of Service Camps. Teens of all abilities work directly with community non-profits, learning and reflecting on social responsibility. This summer, middle and high school teens will spend their week earning Student Service Learning (SSL) hours through activities like packaging kits for the Ronald McDonald house, assisting volunteers at A Wider Circle, and much more. We will follow a hybrid approach: some activities will be done on campus, and others will take place at various sites. Combine that with all the fun of a typical camp day and you have a recipe for a rewarding summer.

Fitness for Health and the Center for Communication and Learning

B–Social Therapeutic Summer Program
Location: 11140 Rockville Pike, Suite 303, Rockville, MD 20852
Contact: (301) 231-7138; amanda@fitnessforhealth.org
Website: http://fitnessforhealth.org/summer-programs/
Ages: TBD
Dates: TBD

Fitness for Health and the Center for Communication and Learning are offering a summer therapeutic program for students with ADHD, Social Communication Disorder, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. The B-Social Therapeutic Summer Program integrates social cognitive thinking with motor activities and introduces social concepts in a fun and motivating way to encourage participants to explore and improve both their Social Thinking® skills and motor development. A 4:1 Student to Professional Staff (speech-language pathologist and fitness specialists) ratio makes the B-Social program especially beneficial for students with social challenges. Our specially trained staff guide children with social communication challenges to develop connections and assist them in navigating their social world. 

Great and Small

Location: 17320 Moore Road, Boyds, MD 20841

Contact: Lisa Gatons at LGatons@greatandsmallride.org; (301) 349-0075

Website:  https://www.greatandsmallride.org/programs 

Kids Inclusive Camp

Ages: 5–10

Dates: TBD

Kids Inclusive Camp offers a safe environment great for participants to learn how to ride and care for their equine partners. Participants will spend their mornings engaged in daily riding lessons with our therapeutic riding instructors, and daily unmounted equine learning lessons where they may learn how to groom their horse, how to care for their horse and much more! Afternoons will be spent on the ground with arts and crafts time, social skills activities, and games. This inclusive camp is designed for participants of all abilities. Friends and siblings are welcome.

Military Kids Camp

Ages: 4th–7th grade

Dates:  TBD

This camp is targeted towards children who come from a military family. The focus is on beginning riding skills, both on the ground and in the saddle. Military Kids Camp will give participants the opportunity to connect with their team (volunteers and horse) and peers alike. This will be an inclusive camp open to participants of all abilities as well as siblings.

Youth Horsemanship Camp

Ages: 5th–12th grade

Dates:  TBD

Youth Horsemanship Camp is designed to foster self-confidence, communication, and social skills for students with learning differences. This fun camp incorporates therapeutic riding lessons, unmounted equine assisted learning, and peer interaction alongside qualified Great and Small staff and volunteers.

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Learning Essentials

Brain Camp

Location: Online

Contact:  Info@LearningEssentialsEDU.com; 240-249-8492

Website: https://learningessentialsedu.com/brain-camp/

Ages: 7th–12th grade
Dates:  Schedule Brain Camp during a time that works for you.

Is your child ready to level up with study skills? This innovative, experiential program is proven to help students achieve their full learning potential through a series of 10 one-hour appointments. Brain Camp is offered online only. By the end of Brain Camp your student will gain: an easy-to-implement system for studying, a step-by-step approach to better academic achievement, proven strategies to organize time and assignments, the know-how to study and prepare for tests and other assignments, and newfound confidence! Everyone on the team at Learning Essentials holds either a master's or doctorate in special education and is state-certified as a special educator; some additionally have certification as reading specialists and one as an educational therapist. 

Montgomery College

Summer Youth Programs: Workforce Development and Continuing Education (WDCE) 
Location: Montgomery College locations in Rockville, Germantown, and Takoma Park/Silver Spring
Contact: For questions about Disability Support Services, contact Natalie Martinez, 240-567-4118, Natalie.martinez@montgomerycollege.edu 

Website: http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/youth

Ages: Grades 1–12

Montgomery College Youth Programs offers a wide variety of programs in everything from art to technology to writing. Some offerings are approved for Student Service Learning (SSL) hours.  Montgomery College Youth Programs is committed to providing accessible education and a supportive learning environment for all students. The college offers support through the WDCE Disability Support Services Office. See the Summer 2023 guide for a full listing of offerings. 

Montgomery Parks

Program Access
Location: Varies depending on particular Montgomery Parks Camp your child attends
Contact: 301-495-2581; ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org
Website: https://montgomeryparks.org/about/parks/accessibility/program-access/

Montgomery Parks offers a variety of summer camps, which are listed in their 2023 Summer Camp Guide. These include SENSE-sational Summers at Meadowside (ages 6–8; June 26–June 30), a program intentionally designed for campers with different abilities. During the week, campers will go on hikes, learn about ecosystems and habitats, meet the nature center animals, explore Rock Creek, and make crafts.

Program Access within the Montgomery County Department of Parks welcomes individuals with all abilities to participate in recreational programs and activities of their choice. Reasonable modifications are provided, as needed. Some minimum eligibility requirements (age, level of participation) must be met in order to participate. Don’t forget to request support when registering your child for each program. 

Montgomery County Department of Recreation

Therapeutic Recreation Camps and General Recreation Camps
Location: Varies depending on particular Montgomery County Recreation Camp your child attends
Contact: For questions about supporting a camper with a disability: 240-777-6870 or rec.inclusion@montgomerycountymd.gov
Website: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec/activitiesandprograms/camps/

The Montgomery County Department of Recreation offers a variety of summer camps for a wide range of interests and ages. All camps offer an inclusion model for students with a disability; families can request support for inclusion. The recreation department also offers Therapeutic Recreation (TR) Camps, which are designed specifically for individuals with disabilities and focus on campers' unique abilities. Instructors are trained to facilitate structured activities. These camps generally have a 1:4 staff to camper ratio. TR programs are offered at Earle B. Wood Middle School, Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center, and Upper County Community Recreation Center. Check out the Montgomery County Camps Summer 2023 guide. 

Reach Every Voice

Summer Institute
Location: 800 S. Frederick Ave., Suite 210, Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Contact: info@reacheveryvoice.org
Website: https://www.reacheveryvoice.org/institute
Ages: Middle School–Young Adult
Dates: Session 1: June 20–July 7 (no session July 4); Session 2: July 10–July 28; Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM; Extended Institute: July 31–August 10, Monday–Thursday,  9:00 AM – 12:00 noon

Summer Institute is a student-driven learning experience for students who spell and type to communicate. The three-hour session is broken into three 45-minute chunks with 15-minute breaks in between: a group game, a lesson (themes chosen by students), and structured social hour.

Rooted: Nature Occupational Therapy for Kids in DC

Nature Occupational Therapy Summer Camp
Location: Rock Creek Park, Picnic Area#10, Washington, DC 20015 (near Shepherd Park and Chevy Chase)

Contact:  mya@rootedindc.com; 202-930-3965
Website: www.rootedindc.com
Ages: 5–12
Dates: Nature Ninjas (Ages 5–7): July 5–7, July 10–14; Nature Superheroes (Ages 8–10): July 17-21; Nature Creators (Ages 9–12): July 24–28; 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

We help kids with neurodivergence and social challenges build connections, coordination, and confidence. Some kids thrive in smaller settings with the right balance of structure and free play with the expertise of pediatric occupational therapists to facilitate positive socialization.