10 Best Summer Camps in Denver for Kids with Autism

When looking for summer activities for your child, it is important to not only find a summer camp that will be able to meet their unique needs but will also provide them with a fun, exciting, and memorable summer experience.

 

Here are the 10 best camps in Denver for kids with autism! Vetted and approved by camp insiders and families, each camp on this list is equipped to work with children with autism and other learning differences.

Day Camps

Find the perfect day camp that will give your child the chance to try new things, make new friends, and learn new skills! Day camps will fill your child’s day with new exciting adventures that they then can come home and share with you each and every night.

 

 

Summer Club｜Website｜Lakewood & Aurora, CO

 

Why we love it: Club Spark’s Summer Club takes your child out into the community to experience all it has to offer while helping them build social and safety skills. Summer Club meets each morning at the Consultant’s for Children, Inc. office (Lakewood or Aurora) where your child will then board a Club Spark bus for a day out in the community. A typical day will consist of a morning activity, followed by lunch, and then an afternoon activity. Activities might include exploring a local park, checking out a museum, or going to the movies. Every child who participates in Summer Club will work with an ABA trained technician on social and life skill goals from a treatment plan created for your child based on your goals and information provided during intake.

 

Pricing Information: Club Spark accepts certain waivers, insurances, and Medicaid. You can click here for specific information.

 

Perfect for: Ages 4+｜1:1 Camper to Counselor ratio | Day Camp | After School & Summer Programs Available

 

Important to note: In order to attend Club Spark’s Summer Club a child must have current or past experience with an ABA provider. They also must have experience using a public restroom.

 

 

Mountain Therapy Camps｜Website｜Granby, CO

 

Why we love it: Mountain Therapy is an Adam’s Camp program with 4 different options to choose from — Pathfinder, Pathblazer, Trailblazer, and Pioneer. Each camp will have slightly different age requirements, activities, focuses, camper to counselor ratios, and overnight options. No matter which option you choose for your child, each week-long therapy camp will provide intensive, multi-disciplinary therapies that will help your child work towards all of their therapy goals (speech, physical, occupational, music, art, and behavior). A Mountain Therapy Camp experience will help campers transition from relying completely on therapists and care providers to taking risks, making “supported” mistakes, problem-solving, and learning how to work toward independence. Daily activities will vary by the specific program but may include canoeing, swimming, a tubing hill, zip line, and hiking. Click here to learn more about each specific program.

 

Pricing Information: $2,950 for week-long session.

 

Perfect for: Ages 5+｜Camper to Counselor ratio varies depending on specific program | Day & Overnight Options | Weekend & Summer Programs Available

 

Important to note: Adam’s Camp also offers a Sibling Camp for typically developing siblings of campers to meet and interact with other children with families like their own. Click here to learn more about the Sibling Camp!

 

 

 

Summer Woods Camp｜Website｜Winter Park, CO

 

Why we love it: Summer Woods Camp is a program offered by National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD). NSCD was established over 50 years ago when founder Hal O’Leary set out to teach 23 children with amputations how to ski and today is a world leader in creating and providing adaptive outdoor recreation experiences. This day camp program focuses on promoting independence and camaraderie. Campers will spend their days laughing and learning while participating in a wide array of activities. Daily activities at Summer Woods Camp may include hiking, archery, NSCD Moves (a ninja warrior course), horseback riding, paddleboarding, kayaking, fishing, and more! The NSCD Moves, a ninja warrior course, is wheelchair accessible and has obstacles that campers can maneuver under, around, and through.

 

Pricing Information: $600 for the four-day session.

 

Perfect for: Ages 6+｜Camper to Counselor ratio varies depending on activity | Day Camp | Winter & Summer Programs Available

 

Important to note: Campers who require help with self-care will need to provide their own personal care provider for the length of the camp. Please contact the camp directly for more information.

 

 

Adventure Camp｜Website｜Denver, CO

 

Why we love it: Calling all athletes! Another National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) program, Adventure Camp will give your child the opportunity to explore the Front Range through a variety of outdoor activities including canoeing and kayaking, archery, outdoor rock climbing, and white-water paddling. Everything NSCD does is focused on the idea of rethinking ability and focusing on seeing the “able” in everyone. Adventure Camp fully embodies that mindset. A summer at Adventure Camp will give your child the opportunity to learn important lessons about themselves and others, find new, healthy hobbies and activities, increase their overall fitness and quality of life, meet new friends, and have fun! Your camper’s day will start at Empower Field at Mile High, where they will then be transported to and from the day’s venue. Venues will vary across the Front Range depending on the day’s specific activity.

 

Pricing Information: $600 for the Youth & Teen Adventure Camp programs; $400 for the Adult Adventure Camp program. Both programs are four days long.

 

Perfect for: Ages 5+｜Camper to Counselor ratio varies depending on activity | Day Camp | Winter & Summer Programs Available

 

 

Therapeutic Horseback Riding Camp｜Website｜Winter Park, CO

 

Why we love it: If your child loves horses, you need to check out the National Sports Center for the Disabled’s (NSCD) Therapeutic Horseback Riding Camp. This day camp will provide your child with the opportunity to learn all about grooming, tacking (Not sure what that is? They’ll learn!), and, most importantly, riding! Campers will enjoy both trail and arena riding, plus game and craft activities.

 

Pricing Information: $450 for a three-day session.

 

Perfect for: Ages 6+｜1:3 Camper to Counselor ratio | Day Camp | Winter & Summer Programs Available

 

Important to note: While there is no max age limit, the maximum rider weight is 200 lbs. Also, campers who require help with self-care will need to supply their own personal care provider for the length of the camp.

 

Overnight Camps

Give your child the opportunity to really immerse themselves in the summer camp experience and develop a stronger sense of independence. At an overnight camp, your child may spend their days hiking, fishing, swimming, and canoeing and then spend their evenings around a campfire sharing stories and making new friends.

 

 

Colorado Lions Camp｜Website｜Woodland Park, CO

 

Why we love it: Colorado Lions Camp has been hosting differently-abled campers since the 1960s. A Colorado Lions Camp experience will give your child the opportunity to try out swimming, archery, fishing, hiking, yoga, cooking classes, dances, gardening, campfires, drama, and more! All the activities offered at the Colorado Lions Camp are specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals with: Down syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorders, developmental delays, intellectual challenges, blind/visual impairments, deaf/hard of hearing, physical disabilities, or mental disorders.

 

Pricing Information: $600 per six-day session, includes a $200 non-refundable registration fee.

 

Perfect for: Ages 8+ | 4:1 Camper to Counselor ratio | Overnight | Weekend & Summer Programs

 

Important to note: Campers with special dietary needs (gluten-free, dairy-free, diabetic, etc.) will incur an ‘alternative menu’ fee of $100. You also have the option to provide your child’s own food for the week at no additional cost.

 

 

Adventure Sleep Away Camp｜Website｜Granby, CO

 

Why we love it: Adventure Sleep Away Camp is full of fun, challenge, and adventure that will expand your child’s social horizons and develop their courage to try new things, all while increasing their sense of independence and confidence. Adventure Camp offers co-ed activities including archery, a tubing hill, canoeing, dances, hiking, and more! During their time at Adventure Camp, campers will focus on personal growth, confidence, independence, group dynamics, and courage. The camp’s lodging is provided by YMCA of the Rockies, with cabins for males and females. Each cabin houses 2–4 campers, and comes with its own full restrooms and kitchen. Lunch will be served in a central cabin area, while snacks and personal food for campers will be held by staff and distributed to campers as needed.

 

Pricing Information: $1,180 for a six-day session.

 

Perfect for: Ages 9+｜5:1 Camper to Counselor ratio | Overnight | Weekend & Summer Programs Available

 

Important to note: While campers are only allowed to register for one week-long summer session, they are able to waitlist additional weeks, in case camp spaces don’t fill up.

 

 

Camp Big Tree｜Website｜Breckenridge, CO

 

Why we love it: Rafting, rock climbing, hiking, and more! Camp Big Tree is a five-day program designed for young people with sensory integration disorders, autism, learning disabilities, and/or attention deficits. While at Camp Big Tree campers will be hiking and rafting to different overnight locations, and through a variety of outdoor activities, designed around established experiential education models, participants will develop social skills, teamwork traits, and leadership qualities that will transfer into everyday life.

 

Pricing Information: $950 for a five-day session. Scholarships may be available. Click here for more information.

 

Perfect for: Ages 12–16｜2:1 Camper to Counselor ratio | Overnight | Winter & Summer Programs Available

 

Important to note: Campers will be involved in cooking, cleaning, and gear preparation, so BOEC does require that all participants be fully independent with self-care tasks or be prepared to bring a “buddy” to camp.

 

 

Wilderness Camp｜Website｜Breckenridge, CO

 

Why we love it: Wilderness Camp will give your child the opportunity to spend five fun-filled days on the river! A program designed specifically for teens and young adults with developmental and learning challenges, your child’s camping experience will start at Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) Wildnerness Site in Breckenridge, where campers will then be driven to Highline State Park to start their camping experience. During this five-day adventure, campers will canoe, river camp, hike, explore, and more! Campers will also be involved in cooking, cleaning, and gear preparation during the course, but the emphasis is always on having fun.

 

Pricing Information: $1,050 for a five-day session. Scholarships may be available. Click here for more information.

 

Perfect for: Ages 16–21｜2:1 Camper to Counselor ratio | Overnight | Winter & Summer Programs Available

 

 

Camp Little Tree｜Website｜Breckenridge, CO

 

Why we love it: Camp Little Tree is a Children’s Hospital Colorado program, hosted by Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC), specially designed to meet the unique needs of children with developmental, learning, and sensory challenges. Utilizing occupational therapy (OT) principles, Camp Little Tree provides sensory processing, sensory-motor, social, and self-care support, while facilitating peer interactions and fun camp activities. Camp Little Tree adapts traditional camp activities to the unique needs of its campers to foster success and a sense of achievement. While at Camp Little Tree your child will live, work, and play in a “family” group of 8-10 campers, 2-3 outdoor educators from the BOEC, and 2-3 specialized OTs from Children’s Hospital. Campers will assist in cooking and cabin clean-up along with peers and adults. Daily activities may include climbing, canoeing, a ropes course, field games, crafts, journal writing, fishing, and outdoor education. At Camp Little Tree, the focus is placed on developing independence, competence, social skills, and self-esteem.

 

Pricing Information: $600 for a three-day session.

 

Perfect for: Ages 8-12｜2:1 Camper to Counselor ratio | Overnight | Summer Only

 

Stuck on which one to pick? Check out our guide on choosing the right summer camps for autistic children!