Dream Oaks Camp fosters an environment of support and inclusion, where children are encouraged to recognize each other as individuals, not by their disabilities. By modifying strategies for each camp session to include the participation of all campers, regardless of physical, medical, behavioral or emotional challenges, children engage in adaptive camp activities, learn new skills and develop productive behaviors while having a blast!
As the child attends our program, staff and parents collaborate to identify 2 individualized goals for the child to progress towards while at camp (these could be behavioral, social, activities of daily living, or health/hygiene oriented). By focusing on each child’s strengths and abilities, staff members integrate these goals and facilitate campers’ success through participation in a variety of unique camp activities that include arts and crafts, music and drama, yoga, dance, scavenger hunts, aquatic programs (swimming and canoeing), boat rides, sports and games, nature studies, therapeutic horseback riding and many other fun camping adventures. Because of our high caliber 80 hour staff training and low camper-to-staff ratios of 3:1 or better, each child is able to receive this level of individualized care and support. We find that children that attend more regularly often achieve significant developmental, functional and behavioral gains that can be further developed and sustained across multiple settings.
In addition to serving children with special needs and chronic illnesses, our program naturally provides family support. By providing attentive staff, appropriate ratios, quality programming and thorough medical/safety measures, we give parents/caregivers the peace of mind necessary to fully enjoy and actively utilize the extended respite. Trust that all of their child’s needs are being met gives them the freedom to take time for themselves or other family members, recharging and strengthening the overall family unit.
Our program runs 8 weekly sessions, offering both residential and day camp for all 7 weeks and day camp for the last week.
Summer Residential Camp: Check in- 9:00 am on Monday, Check Out- 2:30 pm on Friday
Summer Day Camp: Monday 8:00 am-6:00 pm, Tuesday-Thursday 8:30 am-6:00 pm, Friday 8:30 am-2:30 pm
Session #1 (June 17th-21st): "Let's Go to the Cinema"
Session #2 (June 24th-28th): "A Week at Sea"
Session #3 (July 1st-5th): "The Amazing Circus"
Session #4 (July 8th-12th): "Tourist Week"
All activities during this week are tailored for children with severe sensory processing disorders.
Session #5 (July 15th-19th): "Blast from the Past"
Session #6 (July 22nd-26th): "Calling all Superheroes"
Session #7 (July 29th-August 2nd): "Olympics: A Race for the Gold"
Session #8 (August 5th-9th): "Candyland" *Day Camp Only.
All activities during this week are tailored for children with hyperactivity or disabilities that want to be physically challenged at camp. It will be fast paced and will require a strong endurance.
Camp is for ages 7 to 17.
Session of summer residential camp: $650
Session of summer day camp: $400
Financial aid and scholarships are available for families that need assistance.
Business Review
"Dear Dream Oaks Camp,
Thank you so much for two wonderful weeks of summer camp! Your foundation is truly unique and I can't express enough gratitude for the hope that you provided my family when we were in a dark place. I am amazed by all of the counselors and counselors-in-training that my son has had. He is definitely more independent at home; I see him doing things for himself that I know he learned at camp. He also came back after the second week really trying to communicate, which is something that he does not usually care to do.
This treasure box was given to him at the awards ceremony on the last day of camp. It was filled with all of his favorite things (you guys know him so well!) When he got home, he dumped the box into his sensory bin and went to town playing with it. In my mind, the treasure box is symbolic of Dream Oaks Camp, because it is a gift that keeps on giving, long after camp has ended."
"Dream Oaks provides such value to myself and my family... it gives us the ability to rest and not focus on taking full care, 24/7, of a totally dependent child with special needs. You lose yourself, you forget to take care of yourself, you forget your spouse or your typically developing children. This is a blessing- to have time to re-group in my own home, to sleep through the night and to get up when I want to, not because I need to... there is NO price that can be valued at, it is truly PRICELESS. The staff gets to know your kids.. the habits, nuances, and quirks, and are acquainted with them before even meeting them. They listen to you and focus only on your child. They want to be here, they want to help your kiddo... and it shows."
