As the summer season grows closer, parents of children with neurobehavioral disorders often find themselves in search of a camp or a program that will allow their children to continue to learn, grow, and socialize with others during the break from school. Luckily, Baltimore and its surrounding counties offer numerous selections to provide the ultimate summer experience for your child. Listed below are just some of the available options for recreational and therapeutic summer programming.
Neurobehavioral Associates is always available to provide guidance on programs and activities that may benefit your child. Our experts will conduct an assessment and provide you with comprehensive resources and recommendations for a year-round plan.
Day Programs for Children
Located in Howard County, Camp Attaway is a therapeutic and recreational day camp for children aged 7-13 who have difficulty managing their emotions and behaviors. Providing swimming, cooperative games, art, drama, and nature, Camp Attaway’s goal is to provide a positive, enriching summer experience for kids who, far too often, have negative experiences. Campers interested in attending Camp Attaway go through a screening process to ensure that the camp is an appropriate fit for each child, and all eligible children can enroll regardless of their ability to pay. Neurobehavioral Associates works closely with Camp Attaway; our neurobehavioral professionals would be happy to discuss the program with you in further detail.
Camp Aristotle at The Auburn School provides engaging, growth-focused programs at each of their Baltimore, Fairfax, and Silver Spring campuses. Camp Aristotle is unique in that its programs are geared toward a variety of student needs, including children with autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit disorders, anxiety, depression, and general sensory or communication differences, although not all children have an official diagnosis. The school offers programs for kindergarten through rising 10th graders, as well as Open House dates for Camp Aristotle include March 7th and March 21st; interested parents can register for Open House on the school’s website.
Summer Sensations Day Camp offers an in-depth program, including art, music, speech, and occupational therapies, as well as bike riding instruction and water play. Children diagnosed with a variety of conditions have enjoyed Summer Sensations Day Camp, including students with Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, speech delays, learning differences, and cerebral palsy. This year’s camp will be held in July, and the program is currently enrolling registrants.
Verbal Beginnings specializes in therapies and interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder, meeting with children all across Maryland throughout the school year to develop social skills and promote communication growth. A subset of this program, Social Beginnings, expands upon these therapies by providing services to children with communication and social disorders. Every year, Social Beginnings holds a six week summer camp with recreational and therapeutic activities to aide in socialization for children with communication difficulties, all within an “around the world” day camp theme. All groups are monitored by board-certified behavior analysts, and campers are expected to attend all sessions for maximum benefit. This program often has a waiting list, so applying early is recommended.
Overnight Programs for Children and Adults
Located about an hour and a half from Baltimore, Easterseals Camp Fairlee in Chestertown offers exciting overnight (as well as day) opportunities for children and adults. From traditional, recreational activities, such as swimming and fishing, to beach and amusement park outings, the list of residential camping choices at Camp Fairlee is boundless. For families participating in the Maryland Autism Waiver Program, Easterseals Camp Fairlee can be added to your plan of care and used to cover the cost of camp.
The League at Camp Greentop in Thurmont is another program offering the traditional overnight, recreational camp experience for both kids and adults. Provided by the League for People with Disabilities, day experiences are also available through at other camps. Many of these camps, including the overnight Camp Greentop, also accept autism waiver hours.
A Summer to Thrive
Summer breaks can continue the same growth-centered mindset of the school year, along with a hefty dose of fun and adventure. Check out any of the above camps for more information on their programming, and use available resources such as the web, or publications like Baltimore’s Child Magazine, to discover even more opportunities available in our state. Our references page can also help you to locate organizations who can provide news and information related to a specific condition.
