Resource GuideAutism-Friendly Summer Camps and Programs
AutismBC
For Caregivers
Do you know of a Summer Camp program that we should have included on this list? Let us know here.
All camps are day camps unless otherwise noted. While AutismBC does not oversee these programs, we wanted to make a searchable and regional list to help you with your planning.
Online:
Creative Interventions (Art therapy for autistic children)
Fully Woven – online body doubling and parallel play – Saturday’s 1-2:30
Online Playgroups (Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society)
Sirotas Alchymy (martial arts) – Camps and day programs
Mentoring | MindJam (MindJam offers emotional support and guidance for children and adolescents through gaming and game design.) UK, available worldwide
Vancouver Coastal & Fraser Regions
Camps:
Zajac Ranch for Children *Registration now open for summer 2023 (Overnight)
Easter Seals Summer Programs *Registration now open for summer 2023 (Overnight)
Grouse Mountain Adventure Camps (Neurodiverse friendly. Please reach out to the camp to ensure they can accommodate your child before registering. Please note this camp does not accept autism funding at this time.)
Sasamat Outdoor Centre *Registration now open for summer 2023 (Overnight)
Supported Summer Day Camps (Vancouver Area) — “Four supported summer day camps are offered by the community centre associations at Champlain, Dunbar, Hastings, and Hillcrest community centres” https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/adapted-and-integrated-programs.aspx Email: [email protected]
Pivot Point Day Camps (Cloverdale)
Simon Fraser University — Autism & Developmental Disabilities Lab — Camps
Science AL!VE @ Simon Fraser University
True Colours Consulting Inc. – Services, ABA Therapy, Horse Therapy — (Yarrow) Offers summer camps covered by AFU
Empowered by Nature — Activities for All Abilities (Maple Ridge) — inclusive social groups, recreational therapy, educational programs, and outdoor programs
Camps for neurodivergent kids and youth during school breaks (thisworldsours.com)
Programs | BC Association for Advancing Communications (bcaac.ca) – PANDA AAC Camp 2023 is open to children ages 5-14.
- Camp dates: Tuesday-Friday, July 25-28 (9:30am-2:30pm) and Saturday, July 29 (9:30am-12:30pm)
- Where: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
- Cost: $150 (includes camp fees and a T-shirt for camper)
Programs:
BC Association for Advanced Communications – BCAAC is a non-profit organization focused on promoting literacy for everyone and supporting *AAC users, educators, and families in British Columbia.
SpeechEase — Social Groups, Book Club, Adult Choir (Burnaby, Coquitlam)
Disabled Sailing Association of BC
Ready. Set. Volunteer. Easter Seals
Ages: 17 – 29 years
Cost: $300/week ($240 for Week 3)
Dates Offered: July 24 – 28, July 31 – August 4, August 8 – 11 and August 14 – 18
Martial Arts (Sirota’s Alchymy)
Active Kids (UBC Vancouver Campus) *Registration opens April 3, 2023
Whistler Adaptive Sports Programs
Bike, Swim & Sports Programs (Pedalheads)
Adaptive Soccer (Player First)
This World is Ours (Vancouver)
STEM Sprouts — Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.). Our STEM-focused social groups are a place for neurodivergent students to thrive in an inclusive and safe environment. Located in Vancouver, B.C. Summer registration is now open.
The. C.O.D.E. Initiative — Empowering underrepresented youth in the fields of coding & S.T.E.A.M.
LDS Society Summer Program — Registration is now open!
Skill Building Programs:
Girls Group (Cloverdale & Clayton, Surrey & New Westminster)
Glamour Girls (ABA Learning Center)
Summer Jamboree (ABA Learning Center)
Pivot Point Family Growth Centers
Autism Campus Prep by Sinneave Foundation
SFU Autism & Developmental Disabilities Lab Camps
Science AL!VE @ Simon Fraser University (sciencealive.ca) Now open for summer registration!
STEM Sprouts — Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.). Our STEM focused social groups are a place for neurodivergent students to thrive in an inclusive and safe environment. Located in Vancouver B.C.
The. C.O.D.E. Initiative — At The C.O.D.E. Initiative, we believe every student should have access to inclusive, accessible, and tailored STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) opportunities. We are here to teach these topics through fun and inclusive education.
Therapeutic Summer Camp | Summer Social | Vancouver – few spots remaining!
City of Vancouver — Adapted Programs
Power for All Adventure Therapy — Power for All Adventure Therapy provides universal access to adventure-based activities to people from all walks of life in spite of physical, cognitive, social ability and financial resources. We are supported by community partners and volunteer efforts!
Exceptional Minds Summer Workshops – Exceptional Minds is now offering virtual Summer Workshops! We are excited to provide students on the autism spectrum with digital art classes for summer fun or exploring a possible career path.
Workshops are taught over Zoom by our professional instructors and include:
- Character animation
- Motion graphics
- 3D modeling
- Video game creation and more
Interior Regions
Camps:
Agur Lake Camp (Summerland) – for the whole family
Easter Seals Summer Programs *Registration now open for Summer 2023 (Overnight)
Branch Out Summer Camps (East Kootenays)
Silver Lake Camp *Registration now open for Summer 2023 (Overnight)
MacKenzie Camp (United Church of Canada) *Registration now open for Summer 2023 (Overnight)
Blue Lake Camps *Registration now open for Summer 2023 (Overnight) (Kootenays) * Support worker costs not included in camp fees
Canucks Autism Network (Kelowna & Kamloops)
Pivot Point Day Camps (Kamloops)
Pivot Point Day Camps (Cranbrook)
Mind Over Learning (Kelowna)
City of Kelowna Adaptive Summer Programs
Camp OC Registration opens April 5th, 2023
People in Motion (Kamloops)
Programs:
Skill Building Programs:
Pivot Point Family Growth Centers
Progressive Education Solutions
Mind Over Learning (Kelowna)
Northern Region
Camps:
Easter Seals Virtual Kids Camp@Home (Ages 6 – 18)
Ness Lake Bible Camp — Registration now Open!
Family Camp (roughacres.org) (Smithers)
Summer Camp – Camp Cal (campcaledonia.ca) (Smithers)
Programs:
Summer Club – YMCA of Northern BC
YMCA of Northern BC Outdoor Education
Active Minds Active Bodies | University of Northern British Columbia (unbc.ca)
Horses Touching Hearts Therapeutic Riding Association
Cimarron Way~Equine Assisted Learning – Your Life…Unbridled!
Skill Building Programs:
Active Minds Science PALS Camps (Ages 6-8) | University of Northern British Columbia (unbc.ca)
Active Minds Science Camps (Ages 9-12) | University of Northern British Columbia (unbc.ca)
UNBC Active Minds Programs | University of Northern British Columbia
Pivot Point Family Growth Center
EdGE Learning Centre (bvcls.com) (Smithers)
Smithers | Orchestra North (Smithers)
Rain or Shine Art Studio | Facebook (Prince Rupert)
The. C.o.d.e. Initiative
STEM at Home | University of Northern British Columbia (unbc.ca)
Prince George Tennis and Pickleball Club (pgtennisandpickleball.ca)
Vancouver Island
Camps:
Little Steps Summer Camps *Registration opens in April for summer 2023
Easter Seals Summer Programs *Registration now open for summer 2023
Embrace Arts for All Abilities
Programs:
Lifetime Networks Provides 1:1 support for camps
Victoria Conservatory of Music
Lifetime Networks Summer Inclusion Programs
Outer Coast Outfitters | Facebook – Nanaimo area
Island Clinical Counselling Summer Groups (Nanaimo)
Skill Building Programs:
Pivot Point Family Growth Centers
Search and Rescue for Autism – Social Stories
Workshop Opportunities:
Family Support Institute of BC (FSI)
Province Wide
BC Wildlife Federation Youth Camps (day and overnight)
Need something more?
Kids Up Front – Kids at Home craft ideas and lesson plans
Sensory Regulation Summer Tips
Aide Canada Summer Fun Collection – collection of activities, ideas, low cost and accessible organizations.
Autism on the Road: 10 Tips for a Successful Summer Vacation
Playing Outdoors: Building Skills, Exploring and Creating Memories for Autistic Children
ACT (Autism Community Training) also has a more in-depth list of summer camps HERE
CAFBC Launches Send A Child To Summer Camp Fundraising Campaign (childrensautismfederationofbc.ca)
Camp Fees Supplement BC
Jumpstart – Individual Child Grants
Kamps for Kids Funding (Victoria BC only)
Resources
Further Reading
A Guide to Individual Education Plans (IEPs) in BC
The start of the school year new to an autism diagnosis can stir anxiety and leave you with a lot of questions about how your […]
Transitioning to Summer with Your Autistic Child
Transition can refer to different types of changes. For example: daily transitions from one activity to another; life transitions into adulthood; annual transitions from the end of a school year to the summer. There are strategies and techniques that you can use to help manage transitions on any scale. Learn how to deal with transitioning to summer challenges for your child and your family.
An Extraordinary Summer
It feels like we started summer right after spring break (if only Mother Nature got that memo and brought the warm weather). Despite families homeschooling […]