Scholarships for Campers With Intellectual Disabiltiies

Scholarship funds are needed to send children and adults with intellectual disabilities to sleep away camp, in Ingleside, IL.

Special Camps (est in 1995), offers swimming, fishing, canoeing, Ziplining, yoga, archery, crafts, woodworking, drumline lessons, adapted sports, games and talent shows to 200 campers per season, with the help of a 100% volunteer team of camp nurses, adult leaders, and teen camp counselors. Evening parties include bonfires with s'mores, songs and skits, bingo, parades, competitions, incredible dance parties and more. We also offer free holiday parties to over 500 guests each year.

With your support:

• Scholarships for all campers in need. Raising a child with differing abilities can be costly. We don't want to add to the financial burden.

• Charges of $900 per camper can be reduced to $450.

• Campers + volunteers alike, gain confidence, leadership skills, and life-long friendship through the challenge of activities like ziplining.

• Volunteers learn from the campers they serve, for free.

• Week-long respite for 190 families.

• Free Easter + Halloween parties for 500 people.

Last Year's Little Miracles

• A camper who spoke only occasional words since contracting COVID 4 years ago, now speaks once again in sentences! We were so thrilled, he stayed an additional week for added practice.

• A new camper, eager to tell her parents everything about camp, spoke for in full sentences for the first time Now, her parents know she can.

Donations of any denomination are greatly appreciated in helping us keep Special Camps affordable for all, and provide scholarships to those in need.