Summer Camps

Children's Mercy Kansas City understands the importance of all children having the experience of camping and is providing the following list as a resource for camping options. This list includes information about camps for children with and without special developmental or medical needs. Children's Mercy is providing this list of regional summer camps as a courtesy only, and the list is not exhaustive. The information does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Children's Mercy of the camps listed or the organizations associated with each camp. Children's Mercy is not responsible for individual outcomes or experiences at camps.

American Camp Association

Search by zip code or camp name to find camps, programs and sessions the camp offers close to you.

Best Kansas Summer Camps

Search by zip code or camp name to find camps, programs and sessions the camp offers close to you.

Blue Valley Recreation (Overland Park, Kan.)

Blue Valley Rec offers many adapted and integrated leisure activities designed for individuals with disabilities. Includes swim lessons, bowling, dancing, cooking, open swim, open gym, a walking club, T-ball, softball, golf and bocce ball. Single day events include miniature golf, gardening, karaoke and much more!

Boy Scouts Rotary Youth Camp (Lee's Summit, Mo.)

Offers long-term camping experience to Boy Scouts with special needs.

Camp Barnabas (Purdy, Mo. - southwest Missouri)

Camp Barnabas is a residential camp which focuses on people with all types of disabilities. Campers can be anywhere from 7 to 35, depending on their disability. Each session is directed to specific needs: developmental disabled, physically disabled, autistic/Asperger's, blind/visually impaired, deaf/hearing impaired, amputees, chronic illnesses and others. Siblings are also welcome and have their own programming.

Camp Encourage

This camp encourages social growth, independence, and self-esteem in youth with autism spectrum disorders through a quality, overnight camp experience located in the greater Kansas City area.

Camp Erin

Hosted by Kansas City Hospice and staffed by certified grief counselors, Camp Erin is a two day overnight camp for kids ages 6 to 17 who are grieving the death of someone close to them.

Camp Hickory Hill (Columbia, Mo.)

Camp Hickory Hill is a summer camp for children with diabetes. They offer a supportive medically supervised environment where children with type 1 diabetes, ages 8-17 have an opportunity to discover kindred spirits, build self-confidence, learn about managing their diabetes more independently and have a whole lot of fun.

Camp MITIOG (Excelsior Springs, Mo.)

Camp MITIOG is a camp for young people with spina bifida. All of the traditional camping activities are offered, with a one to one camper/counselor ratio and medical staff on-site.

Camp Planet D (Kansas City, Mo. and Linwood, Kan.)

Camp Planet D is an overnight camp for kids with diabetes, ages 7 to 15. Newly diagnosed and first time attendees receive priority admission.

Camp Systole

Sponsored by Congenital Heart Disease Families Association, Camp Systole is a medically supervised overnight summer camp and day camp for children living with heart disease. Camp Systole is free-of-charge and provides an old fashioned camp experience held at the Wilderness Retreat in Lawson, MO with hiking, arts and crafts, swimming, fishing, etc. The overnight camp is 4 days/3 nights for children with heart disease, ages 9-17. The 1 day day camp is for children with heart disease, ages 6-9 and their siblings.

Children's Therapy Group (Overland Park, Kan.)

Children's Therapy Group is a multi-disciplinary clinic specializing in sensory integration therapy. In the past, they offered fine motor enhancement classes for preschoolers and kindergartners, a handwriting class for ages 6-8, cursive writing for kids 7-10, fun with language for kids 3-9 who have problems with social, pragmatic and expressive language, sensory motor group for preschoolers, creative arts for kids 6-9 and water fun for kids with behavioral, learning and motor coordination problems.

Children's Therapy Services Summer Camp (Leawood, Kan.)

Children's Therapy Services offers a variety of summer camps and individual therapies for children with special needs. Camps include Social Language Preschool & Elementary Groups, Outdoor Preschool Playgroups, Speech Articulation, Kindergarten readiness and more. All camp curriculum are written by licensed speech pathologists or certified teachers.

CLO's Midnight Farm Day Camp (Baldwin City, Kan.)

Midnight Farm's Day Camp is for kids and young adults with autism and other intellectual/developmental disabilities. Activities include crafts, singing, animal interactions and more. Horseback riding is available for an additional fee.

Express Yourself Camp (Tonganoxie, Kan.)

The Express Yourself Camp helps children ages 6-14 deal with the unique feelings following a loss or life change. Small group activities will include music therapy, a multi-media project, physical activities, arts and crafts, skits and a closing ceremony. Campers will learn different ways to express their feelings of loss and to remember a loved one or a life change in a celebratory way.

Heartland Therapeutic Riding Horsemanship Camp (Bucyrus, Kan.)

Heartland Therapeutic Riding offers a one-week, inclusive horsemanship camp for kids 8-16 years old with or without special needs. PATH Intl-certified instructors and small camper/staff ratio ensure a safe, fun experience for all. Each day includes a riding lesson, horsemanship skills, crafts and lots of hands-on horse time.

Horsin' Around at Midnight Farm

Horsin’ Around is a horsemanship day camp for children ages 6-16 with or without special needs. Campers will learn riding skills, general horse knowledge and ground skills to help them become well-rounded riders. Camp will also include horse-themed crafts, games, pony parade and a horse show on the last day. Half-day Junior Camp, and full day Horsemanship Camp.

Joint Adventures (Missouri)

Joint Adventures is a five-night overnight camp for children with rheumatic diseases. For more information, contact the Department of Rheumatology at Children’s Mercy Kansas City.

Joshua Center Summer Camp (Kansas City, Mo.)

The Joshua Center Summer Camp is available to children with a primary diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome, Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Two camp dates: June 15-17 for grades (completed) 3-6; June 18-21 for grades (completed) 7-12.

KC Kids Fun Camps

A directory of summer camps: General Day and Overnight Camps, Science and Nature Camps, and Special Needs Camps.

Midwest Brachial Plexus Network, Inc. and Rotary Youth Organization (Lee's Summit, Mo.)

Midwest Brachial Plexus Network, Inc. and Rotary Youth Organization offer a three day overnight camp for children with brachial plexus birth injuries.

Midwest Children's Burn Camp (St. Louis, Mo.)

Midwest Children's Burn Camp is held at Camp Sabra, a residential camp. This is a program for children ages 6-17 with burn injuries and offers traditional camp activities.

Muscular Dystrophy Camp

Muscular Dystrophy Camp is a one-week residential camp for anyone ages 6-21 with a neuromuscular disease. Contact the local MDA office for details.

Salvation Army - The Three Trails Camp

The Three Trails Camp offers several camping options: Junior Camp Ages 7-10, Tween Camp Ages 11-12, Teen Camp ages 13-17 and Family Camp Parents/Children.

Sertoma-Schiefelbusch Communication Camp (Lawrence, Kan.)

The Sertoma-Schiefelbusch Communication Camp is a collaborative effort between the Lawrence Sertoma Club and the Shiefelbusch Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic at KU. The camp is open to children ages 4-10 with and without communication challenges.

Sugar Creek Equinapy Summer Camp (Pleasant Hill, Mo.)

Sugar Creek Equinapy offers summer therapeutic camp for special needs children.

Wilderness Camping & Retreat Center (Lawson, Mo.)

Wilderness Camping & Retreat Center provides summer
camp opportunities for children and youth.

Wonderland Camp (Lake of the Ozarks)

Wonderland Camp is a residential camp for children with developmental and physical challenges. All of the traditional camp activities are offered. There are also special weeks for children with Prader Willi Syndrome and brain injuries. Plus a wheelchair accessible tree house!