Summer camps and program fill up quickly, especially now with limited group sizes and staff shortages. So don’t delay! Take a look at the Recreation Council’s 2022 Summer Opportunities Guide for tons of summer fun ideas and activities. Qualified individuals with developmental disabilities can even apply for a Recreation Council voucher to assist with the fee if needed.
Here are a few of the overnight camps now accepting registration:
Sunnyhill Adventures Specialized Weeklong Overnight Camp (all ages, all disabilities) – June 19-August 19, 2022. $750 for 1:5 group ratio. Waitlist for 1:1 campers at this time.
Camp Barnabas Specialized Weeklong Overnight Camp (ages and disabilities grouped by weeks, sibling weeks available), June 5-August 12, $1,500 per week.
Wonderland Camp Specialized Weeklong Overnight Camp (ages 6-65+, all disabilities) – May 22-August 5, $950 per week. Plus – Spring weekend camps March 25-27 & April 1-3 at $275, and VIRTUAL DANCE PARTIES $10 each Feb. 11, Mar. 26, Apr. 29
There are also several day camps accepting registrations:
Variety’s Adventure Camp Specialized Summer Youth Day camp (ages 4-20) FREE ~ Registration is open until Monday, February 7, 2022.
Harbor Unlimited Specialized Family Day Camp Retreat (all ages & all disabilities), May 28-31, 2022, $150 for one person, then a sliding scale for each additional caregiver/family member.
LifeBridge Partnership Specialized Summer Youth Day Camp, August 15-19, 2022, Cost: $125. Locations in St. Louis County and St. Charles. St. Louis City residents qualify for a full 9 weeks of camp held at Paraquad in St. Louis from June – August for only $100.
Camp Circle Star Specialized Summer Youth Day Camp, June 13-17 • June 20-24 • June 27-July 1 • July 5-8 • July 11-15 • July 18-22 • July 25-29 • August 1-5 • August 8-12. Contact: Renee Eickmeier (314) 402-4032. COST: $350 + $50 transportation per week.
There are MANY MORE camps with open registration or they will be accepting applications very soon, so make sure to visit the Recreation Council’s website for a full list!
You can also search for other inclusive youth summer camps at Fun 4 STL Kids or BluePrint 4 Summer.
Ideas for Finding Summer Caregivers & In-Home Providers
- Care.com
- Special Ed School staff or paraprofessionals looking for summer work – ask to post something in schools/newsletters
- Contact nursing students at local hospitals or schools of nursing or child development majors at nearby colleges.
- Go to your local college departments, such as special education, psychology, social work, Occupational Therapy, etc. and put up a flyer about needing respite or summer childcare.
- Network with contacts in the community such as family, friends, church members, etc. to get ideas on potential caregivers.
- Always do your research when hiring a provider. Investigate if they are licensed and able to do the job. Interview them and do a visit where the care will be provided. Always ask for and check references. Communicate with the provider often and always be on the lookout for any warning signs your child might exhibit that might indicate that things are not working out.
