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Summer Recreation Ideas and Opportunities
Many of the camps and recreational opportunities for people with autism take reservations in January, February and March for summer. The following is a list of several recreational opportunities you may want to consider.
Camps
Wisconsin Badger Camp: PO Box 240, Platteville, WI 53818, #608-348-9689. An outdoors educational and recreational opportunity for individuals with developmental disabilities. Eight one week sessions: one week for children, one week for teens and young adults, six one week sessions for adults.
Easter Seals/ Kindcare Southeastern Wisconsin: Holler Park, 5151 S. 6th Street, Milwaukee and Schuetze Recreation Center, 1120 Baxter Street, Waukesha, #414-449-4444 (Program Director) www.wi-se.easterseals.com Easter Seals Southeastern Wisconsin provides 2 ten week summer camp programs for individuals age 7-21 with disabilities. Programs are available Monday through Friday from 7:30AM -6:00PM. Activities include arts and crafts, swimming, group activities, community outings and much more.
Easter Seals Respite & Recreation: 101 Nob Hill Rd. Ste. 301, Madison, WI 53173 #608-277-8288 www.wi-easterseals.com Weekend camps during the year and 6 day camps during the summer. Siblings of campers may attend selected weekend dates.
Milwaukee Center for Independence: Various locations are the sites for Resident and Day Camping programs offered through the Adventures for L.I.F.E. Program. For a registration brochure for 2006 contact: MCFI Adventures for L.I.F.E., 2020 W. Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233 or call Lynn Allen at 414-937-2095.
Wisconsin Lions Camp: 3834 County Rd. A, Rosholt, WI 54473 #715-677-4761 www.wisconsinlionscamp.com Summer camps are one week for children ages 9-17 years of age. Family-respite camps are available February as well as spring and summer family camps.
Camp Algonquin: 4151 Bryn Afon Rd., Rhinelander, WI 54501 #800-521-2074. This camp serves children with learning disabilities, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder as well as children who need reinforcement and support in the development of reading and written expression skills. Seven, four, three and two week sessions. Age range 7-17 years of age.
Camp Discovery: Lake George, MN - near Itasca State Park. #715-369-1277 Residential camp for children & young adults with high-functioning autism or asperger syndrome.
Camp for Special People: Archbishop Cousins Catholic Center, Milwaukee, WI #414-769-3439. Residential camp for developmentally disabled adults ages 23 to 75.
Camp Hand-In-Hand: Brainard, MN #615-647-1083. Residential camp for children & teens with autism.
Camp Pow Wow: Menomonee Park, Waukesha County, WI. #262-542-9811 Day camp for individuals with developmental disabilities aged 7 and older.
Christian League for the Handicapped: PO Box 948, Walworth, WI 53184 #262-275-6131. Services for people with developmental disabilities are summer camp, housing and recreational opportunities which integrates people with and without disabilities.
Wil-O-Way Grant/Underwood Recreation Center: Now run by the Milwaukee County Office for Persons with Disabilities contract with Easter Seals/Kindcare SEW, Sue Klowian #414-482-0133, ext. 221. Six-week day camp for children and adults 5-60 years of age with developmental disabilities. Wil-O-Way Grant/Underwood also offer year round recreation programs for teens and adults with physical, developmental and emotional disabilities. Open to Milwaukee County residents.
Children’s Outing Association: 900 E. North Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53212 #414-263-8383. Services include childcare, recreation, group work, camping and a family center.
Recreation Departments
The following recreation departments offer some programs for children and adults with special needs. It varies with each recreation department so please call for more information. If your local recreation department is not listed here it may be that they have programs for kids with special needs and we are unaware of it. Some recreation departments may not have programs specially designed for children with disabilities but may be able to provide someone to assist your child or allow you to have someone you know assist your child and participate in their recreation program. Please call your local recreation department for specifics. We would be happy to include the information in our list for next year. Please share your information with us!
Brookfield Park & Rec: #262-796-6675. Summer recreation, day camp, adaptive aquatics, Challenger Little League, seasonal crafts, kids night out, aerobics.
Menomonee Falls Rec. Dept: #262-255-8460. Horseback riding, bowling, swimming, day camp, Challenger little League, Special Olympics basketball, Saturday Social Club.
New Berlin Rec. Dept: #262-797-2443. Adaptive aquatics.
Waukesha Park & Rec: #262-524-3737. Frame Park Rec. Club, physically challenged swim. The Rec. Connection for young adults. The “AccessAbility” services provides assistance required participation in regular programs.
Waukesha Park & Rec: #262-524-3737. Frame Park Rec. Club, physically challenged swim. The Rec. Connection for young adults. The “AccessAbility services provides assistance required participation in regular programs.
Sports & Activities
Wisconsin Special Olympics: #800-924-5202. Wisconsin Special Olympics offers year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with cognitive disabilities and closely related developmental delays. Call for the site nearest you.
TOPSoccer: A community based training team placement program for young athletes with disabilities. Organized by youth soccer association volunteers. The program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl age 8-19 years of age who has a mental or physical disability. There are currently seven TOPSoccer sites: Milwaukee, Brookfield, Madison, Racine, Sussex, Merton, and Walworth. For more information contact John Janasik at the Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association state office #414-545-7227 or #800-937-7778 ext. 17, email : janasik@execpc.com
Challenger Little League: Provides boys and girls with disabilities the opportunity to experience the emotional development and fun of playing Little League Baseball. Call the Little League Regional Office nearest you for more information.
Therapeutic Horsemanship
Avalon Therapeutic Equestrian Center: N. 9368 Greenvalley Rd., Watertown, WI 53094 #920-206-1148
Dreamcatcher Therapy Services: N84 W19100 Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 #414-839-1464
Four Beats Inc: 9736 N. Serns Rd. , Milton, WI 53563
Midwest Therapeutic Riding Program: PO Box 085184, Racine, WI 53408 #262-857-6573
Ozaukee Therapy Services: 10602 N. Port Washington Rd., Suite 101, Mequon, WI 53092 #262-241-8030
Ranch Riding Center: N84 W19100 Menomonee Ave., Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 #262-251-8670
Rides and Reins Therapeutic Equestrian Center: 4371 Arthur Rd., Slinger, WI 53086 #262-644-8324
S.M.I.L.E.S., Special Methods in Learning Equine Skill: N 2666 County Rd. K, Darien, WI 53114 #262-724-3470. Therapeutic horsemanship to individuals of all ages with physical, cognitive or emotional disabilities.
Ice Skating
The Pettit National Ice Center: Offers special skater classes for children and adults with special needs. A fun way to help skaters with special needs develop motor skills while improving overall skating ability and building self esteem. Contact Debbie Bingham #414-266-0100.
Travel/Fun
Able Trek Tours: PO Box 613, Platteville, WI #608-348-2311. Offers chaperoned and integrated tours for people with developmental challenges and others who require assistance traveling. Offers over 50 one-day and multi-day vacation packages. Must sign up for tours at least 60 days in advance and be at least 16 years of age.
Disney World: Offers a special entrance pass to attractions thus avoiding a long wait in lines. Call #407-824-2222 to obtain a “Disability Guide Book”.
Great America: Offers a similar program to Disney called “exit pass”. You may find it helpful to bring a letter from your doctor stating child’s diagnosis. Some people have used IEP or Mteam but it can be more difficult to obtain the pass this way. Pass is good for a party of four and person with disability must ride on the ride.