Camps That Let Kids Be Kids, No Matter The Circumstance
Any parent who has a child experiencing difficult situations involving health, development, or undergoing personal hardships wants to make life easier for them. Camps with specialized programs that encourage outdoor adventures, peer bonding, and an overall carefree feeling of just being a kid have provided thousands of campers with a safe space full of understanding staff members and kids who are going through the same situations as they are. Colorado is home to many of these specialized camps and honestly, I can't think of a better place for healing, comfort, and peace for special youngsters than the locations listed below.
Adam's Camp Colorado
This camp located in Granby provides mountain-based therapy and adventure camps for children and young adults with disabilities and developmental delays as well as activities and guidance for their parents and siblings.
Roundup River Ranch
Roundup River Ranch in Gypsum provides dedicated programs from June to October for various medical situations, including but not limited to asthma, neurologic disorders, heart disease, cancer, sickle cell disease, liver disease, and kidney disease. With a top-notch on-site medical team and days chock-full of outdoor fun, parents can rest assured their kids are both having fun and in good hands.
Cheley Camps
For over 30 years, Cheley Colorado Camps and Children’s Hospital have worked together to create a camp that hosts pediatric burn survivors from around the world. For eight days, kids will build friendships, explore the beauty of Estes Park, and gain confidence that will continue as they grow up.
Shining Stars Foundation
Kids with cancer and other serious illnesses get to experience snowsports on the gorgeous Aspen slopes. Partnered with experienced skiers and snowboarders, kids will have access to adaptive equipment that gets them down the mountain safely and with all smiles.
Camp Comfort
Hosted by Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice, Camp Comfort provides grief counseling to bereaved children ages 6-12. Their Georgetown location offers a weekend stay with meals, workshops, and various activities to help kids through the grieving process. Camp Comfort is staffed with trained mental health and grief counselors who are dedicated to helping your child understand their situation.
Aspen Camp of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
This camp accommodates kids who are deaf or hard of hearing to offer summer and winter outdoor programs at their Snowmass location. The skilled staff members provide instruction and guidance using American Sign Language and each day is packed with fun and bonding activities your son or daughter will revel in.
Ascendigo Autism Services
Designed for kids anywhere on the Autism spectrum ages seven and up, Ascendigo provides summertime programs involving mountains, lakes, ranches, and rivers in their Roaring Fork Valley location as well as ski and snowboard lessons in Aspen during the winter. Campers are supported by trained staff to help guide them through these experiences and to help them gain valuable life skills and experiences.
Nighthawk Ranch
Kids ages 10-18 who have completed their first phase of cancer treatment have the chance to experience ranch life with activities like cattle drives, feeding cows, building a log cabin, and much more. Nighthawk's Guffey location provides a quiet getaway where they'll spend time learning a love of the land as well as bonding with other kids with similar experiences.