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Camps and Activities

Please check back for updates. If you are aware of additions to include in this listing, please contact SD Parent Connection at sdpc@sdparent.org

Find additional programs and activities through your local:

  • libraries and community centers
  • schools and churches
  • youth leagues or sports organizations
  • park and recreation programs
  • youth organizations such as Boy/Girl Scouts, Boys/Girls Clubs, YMCA or YWCA
  • childcare facilities and programs
  • 211 Helpline (where available)
  • independent living centers
  • organizations serving individuals with disabilities or special needs
  • United Way or Chamber of Commerce offices

Consider programs/activities that your child’s typically developing peers are involved in. Many are supportive and willing to accommodate a child with a special need. Your child will gain opportunities for fun and friendships.

ADHD

ADHD Friendly Programs for Summer
additudemag.com

ADDitude: 2019 Camp & School Directory for ADHD/LD Students
additudemag.com

Academic

LifeScape - Rapid City
1-800-584-9298
605-444-9700
Power Reading and Spelling, Extreme Speech, Social Skills
lifescapesd.org

LifeScape - Sioux Falls
1-800-584-9298
605-444-9700
Handwriting, Let's Talk with AAC, Helping Hands, Power Mobility, Social Skills, Family Fun Fitness Camp
lifescapesd.org

Music Therapy Services - Sioux Falls
605-310-8268
Notable Start Developmental Music Program, Teen Tones Peer Group Band
musictherapyservicessd.com

Cross Disability

Adaptive Aquatics - Lifescape - Sioux Falls
605-444-9579
Year around programming for toddlers through age 21. Visit: lifescapesd.org

Adaptive Aquatics - Sanford Wellness Center - Sioux Falls 
605-328-1600

Two sessions annually, the school session runs September thru May and the summer session runs June thru August. To sign up, call or email adaptiveaquatics@sio.midco.net Visit: sanfordhealth.org

Very Special Camps.com - Nationwide
veryspecialcamps.com

Brookings Area Camp Adventure
A barrier-free day camp experience located in Brookings, South Dakota for individuals with special needs. Contact Shawnalisa at brookings_campadventure@yahoo.com or visit the website.
brookingscampadven.wix.com

Children's Therapy Services - Rapid City
605-716-2634
Handwriting Camps, Reading Groups, Speech Groups (or individual), Autism Groups, Aquatic Therapy, and additional activities. Email at info@childrenstherapyservicessd.com or visit website. childrenstherapyservicessd.com

Lifescape - Rapid City
1-800-584-9298
605-791-7400
Power Reading and Spelling, Extreme Speech, Social Skills Visit: lifescapesd.org

LifeScape - Sioux Falls
1-800-584-9298
605-444-9700
Handwriting, Let's Talk with AAC, Helping Hands, Power Mobility, Social Skills, Family Fun Fitness Camp Visit: lifescapesd.org

Lutheran Social Services School and Summer Programs - Sioux Falls (Formerly Here4YOUTh)
605-271-6327
Childcare, after school, summer and respite programming for ages 3-21.
lsssd.org

Music Therapy Services - Sioux Falls
605-310-8268
Notable Start Developmental Music Program, Teen Tones Peer Group Band
musictherapyservicessd.com

Our Camp, Inc. - Glendo and Story, Wyoming
605-484-4741
Camping opportunities for individuals with physical, social, or cognitive disabilities. Camps run for three, four and six day for ages 5-18, 19-39, and 40+. For information, call or email our.camp@yahoo.com.
ourcampwy.org
facebook.com/ourcampwy

True Friends - Minnesota (Formerly Courage Camps.org - Minnesota)
Offer camp opportunities throughout the summer at 5 camp sites. Some camps are specific to a special need or disability. Respite weekends also available. Contact at 952-852-0101 or visit website truefriends.org

Kids Camps.com - Nationwide
kidscamps.com

My Summer Camps.com - Nationwide
mysummercamps.com

Summer Daycamps.com - Nationwide
summer-daycamps.com

Camp High Hopes - Sioux City
camphighhopes.com

Sleep Away and Day Camp sessions. Call at 712-224-2267 ext:102

Developmental Disabilities

Special Journey's, LLC
Call 402-884-1014 for Omaha office or 913-227-0044 for Kansas City Office. Omaha office serves Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. Kansas City office serves Kansas and Missouri. Email at info@specialjourneys.org

Trips Inc. Special Adventures - Nationwide
tripsinc.com

Equine Therapy

THERAPEUTIC RIDING PROGRAMS - STATEWIDE
Eagles Ride Equine Center - Piedmont
605-787-6657
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Visit: facebook.com/EaglesRideEquineCenter

Hope Reins Equestrian Outreach - Baltic
605-470-9783 Visit: facebook.com/Hope-Reins

Horse Power (formerly Handi-Riders) -Sioux Falls
605-251-1685 Visit: horsepowersf.com

Joy Ranch - Florence
Riding for a Reason allows people with disabilities the opportunity to achieve new successes in horsemanship. These sessions are 4 one-hour lesson. For more information, contact Morgan at 605-866-4622 or email at joyranch@losd.org. Call toll free at 1-800-888-1464. Visit website for more information. losd.org/summer

SunCatcher Therapeutic Riding Academy - Rapid City
605-939-4907
suncatchertra.org
Email at SunCatcherRiding@gmail.com

SPURS Therapeutic Riding Center - Aberdeen
facebook.com/spursTRC
spursaberdeen.org
spurs@nrctv.com
605-226-1099

STARS-Special Training & Riding Skills - Brookings
Contact Kristine Skorseth at 605-690-0259 or email at brookingsstars@gmail.com for more information
Facebook Page: facebook.com/brookingareastars
Website: starsbrookings.org

Camp Gilbert - Waubay
Camp for children ages 8 - 18 with diabetes. Located at NeSoDak camp near Waubay. Call at 605-212-6027 or email at campgilbertinfo@gmail.com
campgilbert.com

Camp Odayin - Stillwater, Minnesota
1-866-963-2946 or 651-351-9185
Day, residential and family camps for children with heart disease. Email at info@campodayin.org
campodayin.com

Diabetes Camps.org - Nationwide
Call at 651-351-9185
diabetescamps.org

Kamp for Kids - Family Diabetes Camp
For children with diabetes.
diabetesincorporated.org

NeedyMeds Camps
239-985-3554
This is a listing of camps for children and adults with specific diseases, and for children who have a parent or a family member with a specific disease. These are not necessarily free camps, or camps for financially needy children and families. But, some of these camps offer financial aid, so contact the individual camp for details. If you're looking for programs that provide general financial aid for camping or other activities, then go to the Diagnosis Based Assistance area of NeedyMeds and search by the specific disease.

The programs listed in this database include camps for children with one specific disease, whole types of diseases (such as all types of cancers) or broader chronic diseases. Many of these camps are funded by either private or government organizations. Some camps take children from anywhere in the U.S., while others are limited to people in specific states. Most have some type of eligibility requirements.

Hearing Impairments

Summer Language Enrichment Program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students - Sioux Falls
605-201-5702
Provides students the opportunity to acquire language skills, experience socialization with peers and community activities, and observe adult deaf role models. Weekly thematic units and field trips will reinforce language, socialization skills and culture. For more information, contact Julie Luke at julie.luke@sdsd.sdbor.edu or 605-201-5702.

Recreation

Adaptive Aquatics - Sanford Wellness Center - Sioux Falls 
605-328-1600

Two sessions annually, the school session runs September thru May and the summer session runs June thru August. To sign up, call or email adaptiveaquatics@sio.midco.net Visit: sanfordhealth.org

Dakota Spirit Sparkers - Sioux Falls
605-373-0414
Offering a positive experience through cheerleading for child to young adult athletes with special abilities. Spring, fall and winter sessions. Visit: dakotaspirit.com

Just Jymnastics - Rapid City
605-341-5914
Offers traditional gymnastics classes and classes for students with different physical or cognitive abilities or emotional needs. Visit: justjymnastics.com

Joy Ranch
A barrier free camp and retreat center with an 1880s theme located north of Watertown. Camps scheduled throughout the summer for children, families and adults. People of all disabilities are welcome to participate in all programs at Joy Ranch. Email at joyranch@losd.org or call toll free at 1-800-888-1464 or local at 605-274-4622. Visit the website at losd.org/summer

Miracle League, Sioux Empire Baseball Association - Sioux Falls
605-336-3462
Youth Division for players ages 5-18 with special needs. Adult Division is for players ages 18 and older with special needs. Email at sebaadministration@souxempirebaseball.org or visit website for applications
siouxempirebaseball.org

Native American Advocacy Program Camps
Visit lakotayouthdevelopment.org or call Marla C. Bull Bear at 605-775-2147

Personal Fitness Training - Sanford Wellness Center - Sioux Falls
605-328-1600 - Oxbow Location
Individual and group  fitness sessions with personal coach. For youth with special needs. For information, call or email Carole Wolf, certified teacher at cwolf@sio.midco.net. Visit: sanfordhealth.org

PDR Youth Deer Hunt - Clark
605-233-0331
Annual fall event. A real South Dakota hunting experience for physically-challenged, including wheelchair enabled adolescents ages 12-18. Free. facebook.com

Sioux Wheelers - Sioux Falls
605-351-5573
Wheelchair basketball for children, youth and adults of all abilities. Participation is not limited to those who use a wheelchair. Email contact info@SiouxWheelers.com and website is: siouxwheelers.com


Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation- Summer Developmental Track Meets

605-367-8222 Visit: siouxfalls.org

South Dakota Dept of Games, Fish and Park - Statewide
605-773-3391
Strives to accommodate the needs of people of all abilities by providing greater accessibility to facilities and programs for persons with disabilities. Visit: gfp.sd.gov

Special Olympics South Dakota - Statewide
605-331-4117 or 1-800-585-2114
Aberdeen, Brookings, Mitchell, Sioux Falls, Watertown, Yankton Visit: sosd.org

Skiing and Snowboarding - Great Bear
605-367-4309
Great Bear Skiing in Sioux Falls offers adaptive skiing program for people with disabilities. Lessons offer specialized gear and individual instruction. Each lesson includes private instruction, equipment and a lift ticket. 2 hour lessons are $40. For more information call Great Bear at 605-367-6031. Visit: greatbearpark.com

Soccer Camp - Sioux Falls
605-332-5911
Dakota Alliance Soccer Club Visit: dakotaalliancesoccer.com

Special Olympics United - Wolf Pack Team
605-261-5716
Teams for participation in Special Olympics South Dakota. For information, please e-mail unitedspo@sio.midco.net or contact Carole Wolf at 605-261-5716. Visit: unitedwolfpack.org

US National Parks and Federal Recreation Areas
877-444-6777
Persons with disabilities can get a Free, Lifetime Access Pass to National Parks and Federal Recreation area in the United States. Visit: recreation.gov

Physical Disabilities

Adaptive Adventures.com - Nationwide
303-679-2770
Email at info@adaptiveadventures.org or visit the website for more information.

adaptiveadventures.org


Meeting The Need - Black Hills

605-484-7566

A unique wheelchair friendly wilderness retreat located on an old tin mining operation in the Black Hills. Contact Vern Shafer at vernshafer@gmail.com or visit the website for more information.

Meeting the Need


Joy Ranch - Watertown

Toll Free 1-800-888-1464 ; Local 605-274-4622

A barrier free camp and retreat center with 1880s western theme located north of Watertown. People of all abilities are welcome to participate in all programs at Joy Ranch. Contact Joy Ranch at joyranch@losd.org for more information or visit: losd.org/summer

Transition Programs

Independent Living Choices (ILC)
605-362-3550
Free program for students 16-21 with IEPs who plan to live independently, find employment and/or obtain post-secondary education. Email at j-l-c@ilcchoices.org or visit the website for more information.
ilcchoices.org

Visual Impairments

SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED SUMMER PROGRAMS

The Extended School Year Summer Program brings together students from across South Dakota who are blind and visually impaired for learning and fun.

  • Students who are blind or visually impaired, ages 6-21, who reside in South Dakota may attend free of charge. Students residing outside of the state may attend the program in Aberdeen on a tuition basis.
  • Each student’s summer program is coordinated with their IEP or 504 Plan. If your child’s team determines that he/she needs the “Skills of Blindness” to receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), the Summer Program offered at the SDSBVI can be considered as an Extended School Year (ESY) program.
  • A student may attend one week or any combination of one to six weeks.


Summer Program Overview

For more information call (605) 626.2580 or (888) 275.3814 or visit their website sdsbvi.org.

COST A FACTOR?

When exploring opportunities for your child/family, do not hesitate to ask program staff about discounted fees, sliding fee scales for families with Medicaid/limited resources; scholarships for children with special needs; or referrals to programs that may provide financial assistance so children may participate.

If your family is involved with any state or local programs to support your child with special needs, check to see if that may be a resource for financial assistance for recreational or educational opportunities. If not, ask them for referrals.

HOW TO SEARCH FOR CAMPS

By Medical Condition/Diagnosis (specific conditions such as brain cancer or general categories like cancer) needymeds.org

By Non-Medical Condition (social, emotional, psychological or educational issues and disabilities. This includes such categories as bereavement, bullying victims, family issues and children whose family has been or is in the Armed Forces). needymeds.org

By Camp Name needymeds.org

By Camp Location needymeds.org