Seasonal: Camp Guide

Autism Project of Rhode Island, 51 Sockanosset Crossroad, Cranston. 785-2666. Move, Think, Create, Communicate camp for ages 5-21 with an autism spectrum disorder, sponsored by the Autism Project of R.I., Aug. 14-18 and Aug. 21-25. Camp times vary depending on age group. Located at Champlin Scout Reservation, Scituate Avenue. $450 per session, scholarships available. Visit www.theautismproject.org; e-mail connie@theautismproject.org; or call Connie Rinehart at 785-2666, ext. 103.

Bradford L. Dunn Institute Summer Program 2005, a skill-strengthening academic camp for students with learning differences held in four locations (East Bay, Blackstone Valley, Providence, South County); two-site programs can be combined with afternoons at the corresponding site's camp (see General category above for Wheeler School and St. Andrew's School). Six-week (July 10-Aug. 18), four-week (July 10-Aug. 4: South County site only) and three-week (July 10-28 or July 31-Aug. 18) sessions offered, mostly morning programs, with some afternoon options. Choices range from intensive Orton-Gillingham-based reading, writing and spelling programs, to math, and study and organization skills programs (all in fun camp atmosphere), to creative writing, acting and game-making. Contact the Institute for dates and offerings for different grade levels and locations (not all courses offered at all sites). Prices range from $150-$1,990; financial aid available. Registration deadlines: May 8 (Providence and South County), June 9 (Blackstone Valley). Admissions process required for Providence and South County programs only. Call 723-4459 (R.I. Tutorial office); www.dunninstitute.org.

Camp Hope/American Cancer Society, grounds of Camp Aldersgate, North Scituate. One-week camp, Aug. 20-25, for ages 8-17 with history of cancer and their siblings. Activities include arts and crafts, fishing, boating, swimming, special events, campfires and overnight camp-out. Attendance is free. To learn more about Camp Hope, to send a camper, to become a volunteer or to become a counselor, contact Cyndee Bjerke at 243-2655. Registrations must be received by Aug. 3.

Camp Kindred is a therapeutic day camp for ages 8-16 diagnosed with Asperger's Disorder, high functioning autism or non-verbal learning disorder. Two-week sessions between July 10-Aug. 18. Games, social skills and team-building activities in addition to traditional camp fare. $1,000. For program details and registration, visit www.neurodevelopmentcenter.com and click on Summer Programs, or contact Debbe at debbefate@cox.net or 351-7779, ext. 105.

Camp Ruggles, 133 Stone Dam Rd., North Scituate. 647-5508. Six-week day camp in Glocester geared to children with emotional disabilities, ages 6-12. Swimming, fishing, boating, arts and crafts. June 26-Aug. 4. $3,200 for the season. Registration deadline June 1. Contact George M. Jacques, director.

Camp Shane Weight Loss Camp calls itself the longest-running weight loss camp in the world. Located in the Catskill Mountains of New York, it aims to give boys ages 8-17 and girls ages 8-25 the tools to get healthy and stay healthy, teaching basic nutrition as well as cooking in a portion-controlled, accepting environment. Campers may choose from lots of activities, including sports on land and water, performing arts, high-tech games, arts and crafts and paintball. Runs June 21-Aug. 19. One 3-week session is $3,050; six weeks is $5,150 and nine weeks is $6,000. Web site is www.campshane.com. Off-season, call (914) 271-4141; in June, call (845) 292-4644.

Camp Surefire, a program of the Diabetes Foundation of Rhode Island, combining recreational activities with diabetes education and encouraging independence and a positive attitude toward diabetes management. July 19-23 for ages 9-12, $375; July 21-23 for ages 7-9, $150. YMCA Camp Westwood, Coventry. 24-hour coverage by a physician and a registered nurse. No child with diabetes is denied attendance due to lack of money or transportation. Call the camp director, Kim, at 383-4500.

Celiac Support Group for Children. Five-day sleep-away camp in North Scituate for ages 7-16 with celiac sprue disease. Aug. 13-18. Campers enjoy outdoor adventures, arts and crafts, nature programs, cooking classes, swimming, boating, canoeing, low and high ropes, all gluten-free meals and more. $300. Contact Tanis Collard at (508) 399-6229 or by e-mail at csgc@ix.netcome.com. Web site: www.csaceliacs.org (follow the Cel-kids links to Camp Celiac).

Clara Barton Camp for Children with Diabetes, North Oxford, Mass. (near Worcester). (508) 987-2056, (508) 987-3856. www.bartoncenter.org. E-mail info@bartoncenter.org. Resident summer camp for girls and boys with diabetes ages 6-16 offering waterfront activities and aquatics, nature, arts and crafts, sports, horseback riding. One- and two-week sessions June 25-Aug. 10, $1,000 per week. Adventure Camp for ages 13-17, $1,000 per week. Barton Day Camps, coed for ages 6-12. $500 per week. Family camp, Aug. 20-25, $250 per person, children under 2 free. $50 registration fee. Financial assistance available for resident camp programs.

Diabetes Association Summer Day Camp, P.O. Box 1525, Fall River, Mass. (508) 672-5672. Camp Kyle T. Woodruff for Children with Diabetes fosters friendships among young people with diabetes, their siblings and friends through a safe, fun, active program while enabling them to face the challenges of living with diabetes. Program includes arts and crafts, nature studies, nutrition, sports and games, swimming and diabetes education. July 10-14, July 17-21, July 24-28, July 31-Aug. 4, Mon-Fri, 9 am-4 pm. Free for children with diabetes within the Diabetes Association's service area; $100 per week for those outside service area. E-mail Camp Director Joyce Cullen at jcullen@diabetesma.org or visit online at www.diabetesma.org.

Easter Seals Camp Hemlocks is a residential respite care recreational program for children and adults with physical or developmental abilities. Six- and 11-day camping sessions offered June through August. Activities include talent shows, arts and crafts, outdoor living skills and sports. Web site: www.eastersealscamphemlocks.org. Call (860) 228-9496, ext. 200.

Perspectives Summer Camp, Pastore Leisure Center, Charlestown. 742-7556. Eight-week program designed for campers to learn skills through therapeutic recreational activities. Camp is "integrated," in that services are provided to ages 5-21 with and without disabilities. Activities include recreational field trips, arts and crafts, swimming, paddleboats, social building skills, educational, recreational visitors, overnight camping. Camp runs June 26-Aug. 18 from 9 am-3 pm, including transportation. Application deadline June 1. Prices vary.

Shake-A-Leg Adaptive Sailing Program at Fort Adams State Park with fully accessible dock facilities. Contact Kate Jennings at 849-8898 or write to P.O. Box 1264, Newport, RI 02840. For people with physical and developmental disabilities; recreation, instruction and competitive sailing in custom-adapted Freedom 20 sailboats. Each boat accommodates four people and one instructor for each two-hour session. Coed and serves all ages. Sessions run June through August. $70 for two hours of sailing.

Shake-A-Leg "Confidence is Cool" Youth Program, P.O. Box 1264, Newport, RI 02840. 849-8898. Three one-week sessions; 20 children with physical disabilities ages 7-12 per session. Session 1: June 26-30; Session II: July 10-14; Session III: July 24-28. The day camp operates from 10 am-3 pm, Mon-Fri in Fort Adams State Park. $75 per session. Scholarships available.