Intro to Special Needs , National Multi-Rec Camps, & Other Camping Programs

After reviewing the many comments from our visitors, it became clear to YWO, that there was an unmet demand for information on outdoor opportunities for people with special needs. While there are many individual programs for people with developmental disabilities, physical or mental limitations, or people with serious injuries; mainstream outdoor sites often times ignore this growing part of our society. We further found that there wasn't a single web site that covered the entire range of outdoor special needs. We attempt to correct those short comings here. Next, we attempt to address the needs of those of us over 50 by providing you with a few links at the bottom of the next page for "senior activities."

This section is divided into two pages. On Page One, you will find: 1) National Full-Year Recreation Programs, 2) General Camps, 3) Summer Camps, 4) Children's Camps, and 5) Athletic Training Camps. On Page Two, you will find 1)Team & Individual Sports, 2) Other Wheelchair Sports, 3) Hunting & Fishing, 4) Disabled Veteran's, 5) Organized Outdoor Activities & Individualized Instruction, 6) Other Outdoor Related, and 7) Seniors & Travel Programs.(1)

Please consider these two pages as a beginning point for your special outdoor journey. We welcome the chance to provide you with more services to meet your individual needs in the days to come. There is much more work for all of us to do in this area. Next year, we will be expanding our outdoor special needs topics by including adaptive physical fitness, self defense & survival training, and travel companions for people with special needs.

Press Onward, My Friend! (Please click on the images to the left, or the underlined names, to go to their their web page.)
	National Full-Year Recreation Programs-
	Boy Scouts of America, Special Needs Division, The *BSA* recognizes and welcomes youth with disabilities into their ranks as full fledged members and encourages them to participate all levels in their local troop. The BSA is a full year activity program. Click here to go to the BSA's homepage.
	National Spinal Cord Injury Association. Through working with their local chapters, the NSCIA provides assistance to those with a wide variety of spinal injuries to excel in all areas of their life including recreation and leisure.
	National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The NMSS has many outdoor activities arranged through their local chapters.
	National Sports Center for the Disabled. This national sports center operates several full-year programs in outdoor recreation for people with many different disabilities. They are one of the largest outdoor recreation programs in the nation. Of their 20+ programs, they are noteworthy for their disabled baseball, basketball, and snowmobiling programs. They promote competitive sports.
	Disabled Sports USA. Disabled Sports USA is a major leading provider of full-year programs for people with disabilities,
	American Council for the Blind. The American Council for the Blind is one of the oldest and largest organizations for visually impaired. They have many links to outdoor activities, including adaptive baseball, bicycling, golf, and underwater scuba.
	The United Cerebral Palsy Association, has numerous listings of outdoor opportunities under their Sports & Leisure Section.
	The Courage Center is a full-service rehabilitation center for people with disabilities. In addition to many outdoor and indoor sports; they sponsor The Courage Camps, Mn. Please scroll down to the last entry under Children's Camps for links to their Minnesota Camps.
	General Camps-
	United Spinal Association Disability Services provides links for outdoor sports and recreation. The USADS also maintains a separate travel destination service. Lastly, their Tech Guide™ provides access to numerous other outdoor resources. Please click here for a Good Camp Directory.
	*ISER- Internet Special Education Resources*. This is a big summer camp directory for needy youth.
	On-Line Listing of Very Special Camps for Children at: http://www.veryspecialcamps.com/camps/
	Summer Camps-
	The Epilepsy Foundation. The Epilepsy Foundation is a national organization designed to help people with epilepsy to succeed. The Foundation, through its affiliated chapters, runs several summer camps.
	National Spina Bifida Association, provides a one week special summer camp for children with this crippling medical condition.
	Children's Camps-
	The Easter Seals Society of America has many camps for children with disabilities.
	Muscular Dystrophy Association runs camps for children with muscular dystrophy and other disabilities.
	Wisconsin Badger Camp, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Badger Camp is for kids with developmental disabilities in Wisconsin.
	One-Step-at-a-Time, a camp operated by a Chicago hospital group for children with cancer.
	Camp Courage and the Courage Center, Golden Valley . These two Minnesota camps are loosely affiliated with other Courage Camps and Camps Courageous across the country. (See above for more info on the parent organization, The Courage Center.)
	Athletic Training Camps- The U.S. Special Olympics, is part of an international sports organization for young people with intellectual disabilities. The *Special Olympics Team USA,* trains at various college campuses throughout the nation. This year (2007), the Team is training at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.
Special Olympics, A True Book Series, by Michael Kennedy
Special Olympics, A True Book Series, by Michael Kennedy	(1) Because our Special Needs Organizations often update their web pages, we encourage you to do a Google Search, if our links prove to be outdated. Thanks!
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Intro to Special Needs , National Multi-Rec Camps, & Other Camping Programs

National Full-Year Recreation Programs-

General Camps-

Summer Camps-

Children's Camps-

Athletic Training Camps-