It’s time to think about getting those registration forms in for summer camp for your children. Sending some of my special children off to several summer camps has helped me to keep my sanity for years now. The children absolute love camp, they have a great time. It is some of their fondest memories and mine. You’d be surprised how many regular camps, with regular prices, can accommodate special needs children.

One of my favorite camps that my children have been attending for about eleven years now has two registered nurses always on the grounds. If the children don’t come for their medications, the nurses hunt them down. They’ve given injections to one of my children, pills twice a day to most of my children and they even took one of my children to the doctor since they are six hours from where we live. They then went to the pharmacy and filled the prescription and administered the medication for the rest of the week.

They have a trading post that sells treats and gifts, but the application has a place to write in any restrictions your child might have and they make a point of rigidly following those restrictions. They have swimming, kayaking, crafts, group games, daily Bible study, and even a shooting range. They send a school bus to a neighboring town to pick the children up on Tuesday morning and the following Monday afternoon they bring them back. Too expensive you might think, but it’s only around $200 for the whole week and the children say the food is delicious.

A church about 20 miles from us has a camp on the river that last from Monday until Friday that isn’t quite as sophisticated, but a lot cheaper. They charge $10 for the week. They will accept donations for food, but that isn’t mandatory. They also have a full time nurse on staff.

Another camp I used when I really needed a break was also a church related camp but of a different affiliation than ours. It was about a $300 a week but also offered horseback riding, rock climbing and small engines. They don’t have a bus though, so I’d have to drive three hours to drop the children off, otherwise I might use it more.

I once did an internet search for camps for special needs children and some of them are outrageous. I saw camps that wanted a couple thousand a week, there isn’t anyway we could afford that. I’m very grateful for Christian camps that offer the services, the respite along with a good time for all and a good message. So I don’t have to feel guilt about sending my darlings away for a desperately needed break for me.



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