What's Happening in Special Education?
Good things are happening here
SUMMER CAMPS & SCHOLARSHIPS
SUMMER CAMPS
Friendship Circle
Provides camps and programs for children with special needs. Friendship Circle ensures that there is a minimum of one adult counselor for every four campers. In addition, they work to provide teen volunteers on a 2:1 basis. Friendship Circle has a designated task force to ensure safety is the priority during all camp sessions. All staff are heavily trained in Friendship Circle’s safety guidelines and are followed meticulously during all camp programming.
Bloomfield SCAMP
SCAMP is a 5-week summer program that seeks to provide an exciting and therapeutic summer program for individuals with disabilities ages 3-26 in the Metro Detroit area. Bloomfield SCAMP was founded in 1967 and was the first summer camp in our area to provide a summer program for individuals with disabilities. Campers enjoy a variety of structured activities that focus on social skills improvement, language enrichment, and prevocational skills are focused on at SCAMP. They also enjoy art and music therapy and physical education. Participants in this program will swim at Walnut Lake which is located behind West Hills Middle School in West Bloomfield.
RARA SCAMP
Summer camp for individuals ages 5 - 25 with special needs. SCAMP is a Special Needs summer camp for people 5-25 years of age with disabilities. It is a 6-week camp that meets Monday-Friday in June and July. SCAMP is designed for individuals who will be successful in a 3:1 ratio. SCAMP is led by adults working in some aspect with people with disabilities in everyday life and is fully staffed by either working professionals in such a field or by students going into a field of working with people with special needs. All staff members are over the age of 18.
Clarkston SCAMP
SCAMP is a five-week summer program developed and designed for children and young adults with special needs. It runs from the end of June to the beginning of August (except for the week of July 4) from 9:00 am-2:00 pm Monday through Wednesday. The cost of SCAMP is $500 for Clarkston in-district and $700 for out-of-district. There is financial assistance for those in need. The actual cost of the camp is much higher than the tuition but we strive to keep costs as low as possible for our families.
Team GUTS
Team GUTS offers several camp opportunities for children, teens, and adults with special needs and disabilities. Camp themes all center on physical fitness, exercise, and sports activities. Activities are especially important for the special needs community given the unique challenges they face in remaining fit. Experienced, caring staff works with campers to help them build self-confidence, create lasting friendships, and try a variety of fitness and sports options. The goal is to provide a safe and inclusive place where fitness is fun and campers can be themselves.
Judson Center
Autism Connections’ summer programs provide a behavior-based educational summer experience (ages 4 through adult) while including all the fun of a typical summer camp! Programs are uniquely designed to mirror the support and experience that a child receives during the school year by providing all of the same support. Judson Center works closely with individual school districts to address individualized educational program (IEP) goals and maintain school-year progress. They also offer a wide variety of additional supports including behavioral, social, and communication supports to enhance skills in those areas as well.
FAR Therapeutic Arts & Recreation
FAR Therapeutic Arts & Recreation offers 4 exciting summer camps for individuals ages 5 and up with special needs and their siblings!
Disability Network of Eastern Michigan (DNEM)
View their calendar for events
NoteABLE Youth Ensemble
Middle and high school youth who play instruments are part of a performing ensemble tailored to youth with special needs.
Camp Tall Tree
Camp Tall Tree provides a traditional overnight summer camp experience. The program aims to service kids and young adults on the Autism Spectrum, as well as their siblings and neurotypical peers. 4 programs are offered.
OUCARES
Offers a variety of summer day camps for individuals on the autism spectrum ages 3 years old through adulthood.
Very Special Camps
Resource listing special needs camps in Michigan.
YMCA
Resource listing special needs camps in Michigan.
Special Days Camps
Special Days Camp is a one-week, residential camp program available to any child who had or currently has cancer. Partners Camp gives siblings their own week of carefree and action-packed summer camp. Provides a traditional camp experience for children with cancer and their siblings.
Lions Bear Camp
Lions Bear Camp offers camp experiences for the visually impaired and those with diabetes.
Very Special Camps
Dedicated exclusively to camps that serve individuals with one or more of a wide range of special needs. In-person, online, and virtual camps.
On my Own of Michigan
Providing summer programs to build independent living and vocational skills in a fun, summer camp environment. Students engage in cooking, art, movement, life skills, functional academic groups, and individual work time with an instructor.
SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS
CEC Scholarship
Through the Council for Exceptional Children. Need a current IEP. Up to $250
Children's Special Health Care
Up to $250 every other year
Jack’s Place
Recipients must have a primary diagnosis of Autism. Up to $250 available
OUCARES
OUCARES offers its own scholarship on a first come, first served basis if you attend camps and programs there
RARA SCAMP
If you attend RARA SCAMP you can earn up to $125 towards camp by volunteering, donating raffle items, or participating in the bowling fundraiser.
The Family Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Conference Scholarship
The Family Center is fortunate to be granted privately supported funds through the Children’s with Special Needs Fund (CSN Fund) which supports unique services and projects for children with special health care needs that are not provided by state or federal funds.
CAMP TALL TREE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Camp Tall Tree awards scholarships each year, based on need and availability of funds. The scholarship application is built into our regular online application for camp.
Michigan Council for Exceptional Children
This scholarship program is intended to provide support for educational/training opportunities when students are no longer eligible for special education (and Section 504) programs and services provided by public education (i.e., graduation or reaching 26 years of age). Awards can be granted up to $1,500 and would support anything from transportation, special equipment, and tutoring, including tuition. These funds are intended to augment, not replace, funds available through other agencies.
Michigan Autism Partnership
The scholarship application is to be filled out by a parent or legal guardian and will be used by MAP to determine eligibility for assistance. The information provided in this application will remain confidential and will be reviewed only by a Board Member of MAP.
C.A.R.E. Foundation
Anybody who has a child diagnosed with autism lives within the US, and has an income level of less than $75,000 per year for the entire household can apply for this grant. Before the grant is awarded, proof of ASD diagnosis from medical professionals as well as IRS Tax forms indicating the household income need to be provided. Grant applications are accepted year-round with no deadline. Grants are funded throughout the year and are determined by the funding available. (These grants are provided by the fundraising efforts of the CARE Foundation team).
Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation
Requests for Scholarships are open in May. Registrations will only be accepted and responded to during those times. ASDF will need to know what type of scholarship you are applying for (camp, swimming, equestrian, etc.) and the cost. At that time, they will need documentation from your child’s doctor stating that they are on the Autism Spectrum.
Autism Care Today
Autism Care Today provides funding assistance to families throughout the United States on a quarterly basis. These grants are designed to provide access to individuals and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. Since 2005, Autism Care Today has helped more than 1,562 families and provided more than $1.85 million in grants.
Friendship Circle
Shay Ziff was a camper at Friendship Circle Summer Camp and her family wants to make sure that everyone has a chance to enjoy camp as much as she did. Complete the Shay Ziff Sends a Kid to Camp Scholarship application and Friendship Circle will be in touch when the Ziff family selects recipients.
