Camp Information for Youth and Adults

Camp Information for Youth and Adults

Who have Vision and Hearing Loss (by state)

CONTACT: webmaster@hknc.org with any changes/updates to this list

Note: Camps/Retreats or services listed do not imply endorsement by HKNC. This partial listing is provided for informational purposes only. There are certainly other camp opportunities that are not listed here. This list is intended to aid families/individuals as they begin their search for a camp or retreat. There is specific advice on selecting a camp under the “Resources” section.

American Association of the Deaf-Blind (AADB)

Contact Information: American Association of the Deaf-Blind

8630 Fenton Street, Suite 121

Silver Spring, MD 20910

301-495-4402 TTY/VP; 301-495-4403 Voice

301-495-4404 Fax

Email: aadb-info@aadb.org

Website: www.aadb.org

AADB offers a National Conference for people who have hearing and vision loss every few years. Conference locations change. Deaf-Blind individuals (delegates) must pay a registration fee. There is a discount for early registration. Support Service Providers (SSPs) can attend at no cost (except for travel) in exchange for their volunteer interpreting, guiding and assisting delegates in experiencing and enjoying the conference. Delegates will be paired with SSPs based upon communication and mobility needs, but are encouraged to attend with their own SSPs. This helps to insure satisfaction among all participants. There is no limit as to the number of attendees. Previous conferences have had as many as 500 delegates and 500 SSPs, family members and local volunteers. Activities include workshops, attending AADB Board Meetings, special interest group meetings, tours of the local community, exhibit booths, and other recreational activities.

ALASKA

Camp Abilities: A Developmental Sports Camp for Children who are Blind, Deaf-Blind, or have Multiple Disabilities

Contact Information: SUNY Brockport

Dept of Physical Education

350 New Campus Drive

Brockport, NY 14420

Dr. Lauren Lieberman, Director

585-395-5361 voice

www.brockport.edu/camp-abilities

llieberm@brockport.edu

Camp Abilities is a week-long summer camp held in several locations: Brockport, NY, Wasilla, Alaska and Columbia, South America. Other sites are in the works including Arizona, Florida and Iowa. The camp is for youth age 6-19. Activities include swimming, tandem cycling, gymnastics, archery, canoeing, beep baseball, dancing, horseback-riding, and many other fun events. One-on-one counselors are provided for deaf-blind children. These counselors are undergraduate students in fields such as adapted physical education and special education from across the US. Camp Abilities has been in existence for at least six years and has become recognized as a quality, international camp.

CALIFORNIA

Camp Pacifica

Contact Information: California Lions Camp

P.O. Box 577663

Molesto, CA 95357

Brooke Myers, Camp Director

209-523-9403 voice

pacifica@californialionscamp.org or

tognetti49@msn.com

www.californialionscamp.org

Camp Pacifica has been providing summer camp activities to deaf, blind and deaf-blind youth for 25 years. The camp is located near Yosemite National Park and is open to boys and girls between the ages of 7 - 15. A camper in leadership training (CILT) program is available for youth age 16 and older. This July camp offers several activities include swimming, canoeing, horseback riding, arts and crafts, drama, field sports, tennis, archery and gymnastics. Lions Club scholarships are available to assist with the registration costs.

Enchanted Hills Camp (EHC) Deaf-Blind Retreat

Contact Information: Enchanted Hills Camp

c/o Rose Resnick LightHouse for the Blind and Visually

Impaired

214 Van Ness Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94102

Sook Hee Choi, Deaf-Blind Employment Access Specialist

415-431-4572 TTY 1481 voice

schoi@lighthouse-sf.org

www.lighthouse-sf.org

This retreat is designed to give adults 18 years and older with both vision and hearing loss the opportunity to participate in a weekend getaway loaded with traditional camp activities. The campground stretches over three hundred wooded acres on the slopes of Mt. Veeder, above Napa Valley. ECH facilities include: a swimming pool, horses and trails, a lake, nature trails, gardens, sensory playground, an arts and crafts building, theater, and dining hall. Guide ropes and Braille signage are provided for independent mobility around the camp. A nurse, on-call physician and support service providers (SSPs) are also available. EHC has national accreditation from the American Camping Association. The EHC Deaf-Blind is offered in June annually except the year that the AADB Conference is held.

Foundation for the Junior Blind’s Camp Bloomfield Summer Games

Contact Information: Foundation for the Junior Blind

5300 Angeles Vista Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90043

Monica Aguirre, Assistant Director of Recreation

800-352-2290 voice or 323-295-4555 voice

maguirre@fjb.org

www.fjb.org

The Foundation for the Junior Blind is a private, non-profit agency established in 1953, which provides a wide range of programs for blind, visually impaired, and multi-disabled blind children, youth, young adults, and their families. At its main campus in Los Angeles and its 40-acre camp in the mountains of Malibu, the Foundation helps students develop skills, confidence, and self-esteem. Several week-long sessions are offered each summer. These include camps for: elementary school children, school-aged buddies (attend with sighted peer), teens and youth with their family members. Additional day camps called Camp Bloomfield Summer Games team children, ages 5-12 from the Southern California community with youngsters who are blind or visually impaired to compete as “buddies” in Olympic-style track and field, aquatics, and archery one-day events. FJB has had students in the past who are hard of hearing and blind, but never worked with students who use sign language for primary communication.

GEORGIA

Summer Seminars for Blind (and Deaf-Blind) College Musicians

Contact Information: National Resource Center for Blind Musicians (NRCBM)

Music & Arts Center for Humanity

600 University Avenue

Bridgeport, CT 06601

David Goldstein, Director

203-366-3300 voice

info@blindmusicstudent.org

www.blindmusicstudents.org

Agnes Scott College (camp location only)

141 E. College Avenue

Atlanta & Decatur, GA 30030

800-868-8602 voice/404-471-6000 voice

www.agnesscott.edu

(Direct questions through NRCBM)

The National Resource Center for Blind Musicians (NRCBM) co-sponsors a number of seminars for school-age blind musicians. A seminar designed specifically for blind, college-age musicians is offered at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. This July camp teaches sight singing, Braille music dictation, and terminology courses in order to enter music compositions into a computer and print them in Braille or on a musical staff for a sighted teacher. Blind and Deaf-Blind students from across the world attended the seminar. David Goldstein, NRCBM’s director is also deaf-blind.

Deaf-Blind Access of the South Camp (DBAS Camp)

Contact Information: DBAS Camp

2776 Biscayne Drive

Conyers, GA 30012

Frank or Rita Levine, Directors

770-739-4617 voice/TTY

frankj11@bellsouth.net

DBAS Camp is held at Fort Yargo State Park in Winder, Georgia. The mission is to extinguish isolation for a weekend, by bringing together Deaf-Blind individuals from the Southeast and USA, exposing them to new experiences through workshops, team building, and social gatherings with the assistance of Support Service Providers (SSPs) while improving the self-esteem of the Deaf-Blind. Activities include horseback riding, hiking, boating, fishing, dance, table games, arts and crafts. The camp is typically offered in the fall for one long weekend. SSPs will be assigned to 50 Deaf-Blind campers as requested. SSPs can attend at no charge. Camper registration is first come, first serve.

ILLINOIS

Camp Lions of Illinois

Contact Information: Lions of Illinois Foundation

2814 DeKalb Avenue

Sycamore, IL 60178

Mario Gumino, Camp Lions Director

mgumino@tbc.net

Alan Wilson, Camp Lions Registrar

adwilson@tbc.net

800-955-5466 voice 815-748-9088 TTY

www.lionsofillinoisfoundation.org

Camp Lions of Illinois offers several weeks of camp opportunities from mid-June through the first week of August at three different locations in Illinois: Camp Reynoldswood in Dixon, East Bay Camp in Bloomington, and Camp Dubois in Dubois Center, IL. One week is specifically for deaf-blind adults, others are for deaf-blind kids, kids with hearing loss and kids with vision loss. Youth ages are 7 to 17, and the adult camp includes ages 18 and older. The camp is fully supported by Lions in Illinois and there is no cost to youth or their families. A deposit holds their place, but is returned at the end of the week. Counselors are skilled in various communication methods. Activities include swimming, nature hikes, horseback riding, crafts, pontoon boat rides, archery, and team sports.

KENTUCKY

Kentucky Association of the Deaf-Blind (KADB) Annual Retreat

Contact Information: KY Dept of Vocational Rehabilitation

209 St. Claire Street

Frankfort, KY 40601

Janis Friend, DVR Coordinator DB Services

502-564-4440 ext 263 voice/TTY

JanisK.Friend@mail.state.ky.us

Shannon Caldwell, KADB President

606-864-7049 voice

sjgc@mis.net

Initiated in 1996, KADB’s Retreat is held in May each year. It is open to adults who are deaf-blind. If younger than 18, the consumer must be accompanied by a legal guardian. The Lexington Lion’s Club pays for registration costs for deaf-blind consumers and a friend or family member. It’s held at the Kentucky Leadership Center owned by the University of Kentucky in Faubush, two hours from Lexington. There is an educational component with a keynote presenter which varies from year to year as to the topic. Social activities include dances, nature walks, crafts, group games and excellent food. A pre-retreat workshop for SSPs is held the day before, sponsored by the Eastern Kentucky University Interpreter Training Program.

LOUISIANA

LA Career Development Center’s Annual Deaf-Blind Camp

Contact Information: Louisiana Career Development Center (LCDC)

121 Convention Street

Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Jackie Broussard, DB Camp

225-387-0889 voice/TTY

www.Arcbatonrouge.org

JBroussard@arcbatonrouge.org

LCDC hosts a weekend camp for people who are Deaf-Blind. Campers are paired with SSPs who interpret, guide and help campers enjoy the weekend. The camp is held at Camp MaryHill in Pineville, Louisiana, about 2 hours from Baton Rouge. Approximately 25 deaf-blind adults ages 18 and older attend each October. The camp is open to anyone from across the US, although many are from Louisiana. Campers are encouraged to provide their own SSPs. Interested SSPs are encouraged to volunteer their time in exchange for free room and board.

MARYLAND

Deafblind Camp

Contact Information: Christ United Methodist Church of the Deaf

1040 S. Beechfield Avenue

Baltimore, MD 21229

Rev. Peggy Johnson, minister and contact person

410-247-5045 or 410-242-6303 voice/TTY

Revpink@aol.com

www.christdeafchurch.1accesshost.com

Christ UMC of the Deaf provides an annual camp for deaf-blind people each June from Sunday through Friday. It is one of two summer camp opportunities that the church sponsors. It is held at West River Camping Center in Churchton, Maryland. It is 30 minutes south of Annapolis. The camp is very accessible with everything located on one level. Behind the camp is a beautiful lake and marina. The camp is not religious, but an optional bible study is offered. Activities revolve around a camp theme which changes annually. Ongoing activities include boating, games, wall climbing, and a day trip to nearby attractions. The camp serves 35 campers on a first come, first serve basis. Out-of-state participants are welcome.

MASSACHUSETTS

Perkins School f/t Blind’s Outreach Weekends/Vacations & Summer Programs

Contact Information: Perkins School for the Blind

Outreach Program

175 N. Beacon Street

Watertown, MA 02472

Beth Caruso, Program Director and Supervisor of

Outreach Services

617-924-3434 voice

outreach@perkins.org

www.perkins.org (go to Outreach)

Perkins offers two different programs: Outreach Weekends/Vacations and Summer Programs. The Outreach Weekends/Vacations occur according to age of youth, and have specific themes such as vocational exploration, sports, theater and travel. The Summer Programs occur by age groups. The Elementary Summer Program is a week-long event that focuses on socialization and daily living skills, in the context of outdoor games, field trips and fun. A similar Summer Program is available for teenagers, with additional emphasis on self-awareness, and improving self-confidence. Teens over age 16 can also participate in the Outreach Summer Employment Program. Students are exposed to a variety of job opportunities in a five-week paid job experience. These students also live in the supervised apartments on Perkins campus and are responsible for their own meal preparation, household management and recreational activities.

MICHIGAN

Deaf-Blind Transition Camp

Contact Information: June 22-25, 2008 FREE

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

Beth Kennedy: Beth.kennedy@cmich.edu

888-758-0508 voice/TTY (Beth Kennedy)

Jill Gaus: jagaus@sbcglobal.net

517-764-6178 (V/TTY/VP

This camp is for young adults who are deaf-blind, ages 16-19 years old who are concerned about attending college or looking for a career and it is FREE. The campers will stay in a dorm at MSU to see what college life is like. They will also meet deaf-blind adults who have gone to college and/or are competitively employed. Registration material available at www.dbcentral.org.

SHI-M=DB Workshop (Self Help for Independence in Michigan Equalizing the Deafblind)

Contact Information: DeSales Conference Center

1124 Ventura Drive

Brooklyn, MI 49230

Jill Gaus, Camp Co-Coordinator

517-764-6178 voice/TTY

jagaus@sbcglobal.net

Self Help for Independence in Michigan Equalizing the Deafblind (SHI-M=DB) sponsors this four-day camp, held in beautiful Brooklyn, Michigan at Camp DeSales. Brooklyn is an hour from Lansing and an hour and a half from Detroit. The purpose is for deaf-blind adults to meet new and old friends and teach sign language students, interpreters and SSPs how to communicate, guide and promote independence with the deaf-blind. The camp is specifically for deaf-blind adults who are at least 18 years of age and self-sufficient. Established in 1997, the camp has typically been attended by residents of Michigan.

NEW MEXICO

Zia Deaf-Blind Retreat

Contact Information: Zia Deaf-Blind Club of New Mexico

c/o Debby Lieberman

10 Abiquiu Court

Sandia Park, NM 87047

Debby Lieberman, coordinator

505-268-0199 TTY 0196 voice

877-351-6667 fax (toll free)

deblieberman@earthlink.net

The Zia Deaf-Blind Club of New Mexico holds an annual 3-day, 2-night retreat the third weekend of September. It is held at the Glorietta Conference Center, twenty miles southeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico; a beautiful part of the state. Out-of-state participants must provide their own SSPs. The cost is approximately $100 (not including transportation). Activities include hiking, fishing, boating, picnics, storytelling, workshops, games, crafts, and evening socials or theme parties. The Zia Deaf-Blind Club also hosts social activities and outings several times a year in addition to the Retreat.

NEW YORK

Camp Abilities: A Developmental Sports Camp for Children who are Blind, Deaf-Blind, or have Multiple Disabilities

Contact Information: SUNY Brockport

Dept of Physical Education

350 New Campus Drive

Brockport, NY 14420

Dr. Lauren Lieberman, Director

585-395-5361 voice

www.brockport.edu/camp-abilities

llieberm@brockport.edu

Camp Abilities is a week-long summer camp held in several locations: Camp Abilities is expanding to other locations. In addition to those currently operating in New York, Iowa, Alaska, Arizona, and Vermont efforts are under way to create new camps in Columbus, OH; Puerto Rico, Whales, Toronto, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas. The camp is for youth age 6-19. Activities include swimming, tandem cycling, gymnastics, archery, canoeing, beep baseball, dancing, horseback-riding, and many other fun events. One-on-one counselors are provided for deaf-blind children. These counselors are undergraduate students in fields such as adapted physical education and special education from across the US.Camp Abilities has been in existence for at least six years and has become recognized as a quality, international camp.

Camp Helen Keller

Contact Information: Helen Keller Services for the Blind

One Helen Keller Way

Hempstead, NY 11550

Bill Dale, Camp Director

516-485-1235, ext. 607 or

email: info@helenkeller.org

www.helenkeller.org

Created in 1953, Camp Helen Keller is a free, six-week day camp for blind or visually impaired children ages 4 to 15. Located on the grounds of Farmingdale State College in Long Island, the camp is staffed by professionals in rehabilitation & education. There are nurses and/or campus health center care in place for campers and the counselor to camper ratio is 3:1. Activities include indoor swimming, water & field games, arts & crafts, music & dance, adaptive computer instruction and a variety of age-appropriate field trips. The camp is open to eligible children from Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The camp provides door-to-door transportation for campers in Nassau and West and Central Suffolk countries.

NORTH CAROLINA

Camp Dogwood

Contact Information: (points of contact change each year)

Helen Keller National Center

Monika Werner McJannet, Regional Representative

404-766-9625 Voice 2820 TTY

mw4hknc@aol.com

www.nclf.org (for information on the facilities only)

Camp Dogwood is a camp for deaf-blind adults who reside in North Carolina. It is sponsored by the North Carolina Lions’ Foundation. Typically held on two different long weekends in September, the camp is for North Carolina residents. SSPs are recruited from across the country, however. Previously held in one weekend, the camp expanded to accommodate the numbers of people who wanted to attend. It is located on Lake Norman in Catawba County, near Hickory, NC. Activities include horseback riding, swimming, arts and crafts, boating, nature trail hiking, hay rides, talent nights, and socialization. All facilities are accessible and Camp Dogwood provides a fine camping experience for mobile individuals and campers with mobility assistance needs. Persons responsible for organizing this event change each year, so consult website for general information or the HKNC regional representative for dates and current contact information.

North Carolina Deaf-Blind Associates (NCDBA) Mini-Conference

Contact Information: North Carolina Deaf-Blind Associates (NCDBA)

(points of contact change each year)

Helen Keller National Center

Monika Werner McJannet, Regional Representative

404-766-9625 Voice 2820 TTY

mw4hknc@aol.com

www.ncdba.org

NCDBA sponsors this annual event for deaf-blind residents of North Carolina. The format is similar to a “mini” AADB conference. The location of the event changes each year but is usually held in the springtime. Persons responsible for organizing this event change each year, so consult website for general information or the HKNC regional representative for dates and current contact information.

OHIO

Cleveland Sight Center’s Highbrook Lodge

Contact Information: Cleveland Sight Center

c/o Cleveland Society for the Blind

1909 East 101^st Street

Cleveland, OH 44106-8696

Greg McGrath, Camp Coordinator

216-791-8118 ext 227 voice

GmcGrath@ClevelandSightCenter.org

www.clevelandsightcenter.org

Highbrook Lodge has been holding summer camp experiences for over 75 years. The facility is located in Chardon, Ohio, 45 minutes east of Cleveland. They offer camping sessions for youth and adults who have vision loss, and persons with multiple disabilities. Summer camp sessions last from 3 - 10 days. A wide variety of outdoor and indoor activities include swimming, bowling, beeper baseball, outdoor camping, and nature walks are available for campers and their families. Specific sessions are offered for golfers as well. There is one session for adults who have both vision and hearing loss, where interpreters are on staff. Children attend during the session for their age group. Staff have been oriented with basic sign language. New campers are oriented to the facility and grounds upon arrival as well. The children’s sessions are a traditional camp experience with added emphasis for vision loss. The adult sessions take on the resort approach, with a variety of activity choices throughout the week. The camp’s director states that Helen Keller once visited their camp many years ago, and her words and presence shaped the mission of the camp to what it is today.

Ohio Association of the Deaf-Blind Retreat

Contact Information: OADB Retreat

P.O. Box 204

Elyria, OH 44036-0204

Judy A. Groner, Chairperson

440-322-7160 TTY

440-322-1567 FAX

In August, 2004, OADB hosted the First Annual Retreat during the last weekend of the month. It was held on the campsite of Hiram House in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. It is located southeast of Cleveland. Activities included workshops about leadership development, SSPs, and support groups as well as a variety of recreational activities including hiking, arts & crafts, table games, and a bonfire.

TENNESSEE

Tennessee Organization of the Deaf-Blind (TODB) Camp

Contact Information: TN Organization of the Deaf-Blind (TODB)

c/o John Forbes

4040 Woodlawn Drive, Unit #34

Nashville, TN 37205

John Forbes, TODB Vice-President

615-269-8864 voice

jcforbes@bwsc.net

Cathy Steger, Deaf-Blind Coordinator

615-313-4917 voice or 6601 TTY

Cathy.Steger@state.tn.us

TODB supports a summer camp for anyone between the ages of 10 - 95, who has vision and hearing loss. Campers are encouraged to attend with an SSP. If campers are under age 16, they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The camp is for persons with all abilities levels. Campers served by agencies must be accompanied by staff from the agency. The camp is held at Camp Lindahl in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, just east of Nashville. Activities include swimming boating/sailing, canoeing, crafts, woodworking, hiking, horseback riding, shopping at Opry Mills, games, dancing, hay rides, and camp fires. Educational workshops are also a part of the agenda. Information about the camp can be found in the TODB News, a free publication available from John Forbes. Camp is not held annually. Campers are encouraged to attend other regional/national events in the off-years.

TEXAS

Camp SIGN

Contact Information: Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

4800 North Lamar

Austin, TX 78756

Ann Horn, camp coordinator

512-407-3254 TTY 800-717-2459 voice

Ann.Horn@dars.state.tx.us

www.dars.state.tx.us

www.gssjc.org/residentcamp/misty.asp (info about campsite)

Camp SIGN is a communications and barrier free environment for students who are deaf and hard of hearing between the ages of 8 and 17. It is open to youth who are deaf-blind as well. The goal for Camp SIGN is to have all Texas campers participate regardless of their communication mode. Camp SIGN is held at a wonderful campsite in the woodlands of Conroe, Texas just 35 miles north of Houston. It is located at Camp Misty Meadows which is owned and operated by the San Jacinto Girl Scout Council. Activities include swimming, horseback riding, arts and crafts, archery, and drama. The camp is completely dependent on donations.

Camp Summit

Contact Information: Camp Summit

2915 LBJ Freeway, Suite 185

Dallas, TX 75234

Lisa Braziel, Camp Director

972-484-8900 voice

L.braziel@campsummittx.org

www.campsummittx.org

Camp Summit is located north of Dallas and has an annual, weeklong session for adults who are deaf-blind. Two Deafblind Consultants are hired to assist counselors during the special deaf-blind week. Activities include horseback riding, ropes challenge course, swimming, arts and crafts, and parties. Camp Summit is a non-profit organization that receives funding through the Dallas United Way. Campers range in age from 6 - 50 years old.

UTAH

Adventure Learning Program & other Year-Round Recreational Activities

Contact Information: National Ability Center

P.O. Box 682799

Park, City, UT 84068

Jenn Carpenter, Adventure Learning Manager

435-649-3991 ext. 609 voice/TTY

nac@nac1985.org

www.nac1985.org

The National Abilities Center is Located just outside the beautiful mountain resort of Park City, Utah, the 26-acre ranch has a bunkhouse that sleeps 52 in a state-of-the-art facility. Opportunities include horseback riding, canoeing, swimming, camping, leadership development courses, challenge course activities, and an adaptive ski program that promised to teach anyone to ski. The Abilities Center is open to persons with all types of disabilities and their families. People with vision and hearing loss have participated in their events. Registration costs remain low so that everyone can attend; no one is turned away if they cannot pay.

WASHINGTON

Seabeck Deaf-Blind Retreat Camp

Contact Information: The Deaf-Blind Retreat

c/o The Lighthouse f/t Blind

P.O. Box 14959

Seattle, WA 98114

Shane Dickson, Camp Director

206-436-2231 TTY 206-436-2133 voice

dbretreat@seattlelh.org

www.deafblindlh.org

In its 29^th year, Seabeck Deaf-Blind Retreat Camp is sponsored by the Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind. This week-long event held in August balances indoor and outdoor activities with relaxation. Located in Seabeck, Washington, two hours from Seattle, the camp is for deaf-blind adults from across the country. SSPs (qualified volunteer interpreter/guides) are always needed. There is no cost for SSPs and it is a good opportunity to complete an independent study or CEUs. Approximately 60 campers and 100 SSPs participate in this annual camp. Seabeck is well-known across the country as an excellent camp opportunity with unique recreational activities.

RESOURCES

DB Link - National Information Clearinghouse for Children and Youth Who are Deaf-Blind

Teaching Research

345 N. Monmouth Avenue

Monmouth, OR 97361

800-438-9376 Voice

800-854-7013 TTY

www.DBlink.org

dblink@tr.wou.edu

Check website or call and request a current listing of summer camps for children who are deaf-blind

Find A Camp!

American Camping Association

5000 State Road 67 North

Martinsville, IN 46151-7902

765-342-8456 voice

www.aca-camps.org

This website is rich with information including: how to choose a camp, accreditation, questions to ask, getting ready to go, and search options for the 2300 camps listed including “deaf & hard of hearing” and “blind and visually impaired”

KidsCamps.com

500 NE Spanish River Blvd., Suite 30

Boca Raton, FL 33431

877-242-9330 voice toll free

www.kidscamps.com

info@kidscamps.com

over 21,000 camps and their contact information including a large listing of camps for kids who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Blind/Visually Impaired.

The Summer Camp Handbook

by Christopher Thurber & Jon Malinowski

800-330-5851 voice or 603-777-3528 voice

www.campspirit.com

jon@campspirit.com or chris@campspirit.com

summer camp advice for parents with humor, professional services for camp directors

Other Possible Resources:

There are a number of community opportunities offered every year across the country. Consider checking these local community resources for other summer camps, day camps, recreational activities, or social outlets:

- Civic Organizations

(Lions Clubs, Sertoma, Kiwanis, and others)

- Community Education Program

- Community Parks and Recreation

- Easter Seals

- Family Learning Weekends

(through your State Deaf-Blind Project, School for the Deaf, School for the Blind)

- Internet search for “Camps”

- Local Community College or University

- Local High School (ask counselor/advisor)

- National Family Association for the Deaf-Blind (NFADB)

(national office and regional directors)

- Recreation Council in larger metropolitan communities

(maintain camp/retreat listings; sponsor summer opportunities fairs)

- Special Olympics

- State Parent Training & Information Centers (PTI)

- Yellow Pages

Other Summer Opportunities for Students

Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (by State)

These programs were not specifically geared to youth and adults who have hearing and vision loss, but were such unique experiences that they might be worth considering.

CALIFORNIA

Deaf West Theatre’s Professional Summer School for Actors

Contact Information: NoHo Arts District Theatre

5112 Lankershim Boulevard

North Hollywood, CA 91601

Linda Bove, Summer School Director

818-762-2998 voice

818-508-8389 TTY

deafwest@ao.com

www.deafwest.org

Deaf West Theatre began holding the Professional Summer School for Actors in 2000. Twelve deaf or hard of hearing students from across the country are selected to attend the 3-week intensive program. Classes include: acting technique, scene study, improvisation, sign language translation, mime and stage combat. Students who have previous community theatre experience and those enrolled in college theatre programs will be given primary consideration. This program has never had deaf students with vision loss. However, for students who enjoy acting, this program is very unique.

COLORADO

Aspen Camp School for the Deaf

Contact Information: Aspen Camp School for the Deaf
P.O. Box 1494
Aspen, CO 81612

B.J. Blocker, Executive Director

970-923-2511 voice 6609 TTY

camp@acsd.org

www.acsd.org

Every summer ACSD hosts over 100 Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, ages 8 - 20, from across the United States. All sessions (except the one-week Teen Arts & Innovations Session) include outdoor education, creative arts, drama, photography, horseback riding, river rafting, communication skill development, computer experience and opportunities for personal growth. Located in Old Snowmass, Colorado, twenty minutes from Aspen, this camp has been in existence for over 30 years. In addition, ACSD also offers the annual Winter Ski/Snowboard Program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teens. Scholarships are available for all families. ACSD has worked with teenagers in the past who also had low vision or Usher syndrome, but have not worked with totally deaf-blind youth. The camp also has no braille signage.

TEXAS

Camp Hear Me

Contact Information: Hear Me Foundation

4814 Woodstream Village Drive

Kingswood, TX 77345

Tamala Irish, Executive Director

281-496-ORAL (6725) voice

www.hearmefoundation.org

info@hearmefoundation.org

Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children (camp location)

in Killeen, Texas

www.peaceablekingdomretreat.com

Camp Hear Me is offered by the Hear Me Foundation to produce happier, better educated and independent individuals. Founded in 1999, the camp is for deaf and hard of hearing youth who communicate orally. The camp is held and supervised by the staff of the Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children in Killeen, Texas. Activities include a challenge course, rock climbing, fishing, canoeing, team sports and archery. Participation by the whole family is encouraged. Although they have not had children attend who also had vision loss, they have had a number of children with other disabilities in addition to their hearing loss. Camp administrators are open to serving kids with dual sensory impairments. Financial support is available.

RESOURCE

Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center

Gallaudet University

800 Florida Avenue NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-651-5340 voice/TTY

www.clerccenter.gallaudet.edu (click on summer camps)

Annual listing of summer camps for deaf & hard of hearing children across the US