Camps and retreats that accommodate disabilities offer welcome, enjoyment and spiritual renewal to individuals with disabilities and their families. Numerous Anabaptist-related groups and facilities host retreats or camps specially planned for persons with disabilities and their families.
Contact the individual facility for dates and more information about specific events.
Project Promise Retreat
Shipshewana, Indiana
Project Promise Retreat is a weekend event sponsored by MDC Goldenrod for persons with developmental disabilities. It is also open to families and caregivers.
College Mennonite Church has hosted a summer day camp for Deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
Camp Mack
Milford, IN
Camp Mack is the host site for two camps run by other organizations. Please contact these organizations directly to register for their camps. They are:
Mental Health Spiritual Retreat Weekend is a camp for people with mental illness and their families.
Bethel hosts a
special needs day camp that runs Monday through Friday. Some families come to bring the individual and stay in guest rooms. Participant ages range from 6 to 62. Activities are matched to individual campers who attend. This camp is funded on a donation basis. Phone:
(606) 666-4911![]( "Call: (606) 666-4911")
or
email Bethel to inquire.
Older teens and young adults with
intellectual disabilities spend time working in a fair-trade store and assembling health kits to be distributed worldwide, while having fun and supporting one another. Contact Emily Taylor,
847-429-4396![]( "Call: 847-429-4396")
. It is currently taking place every other year.
Special Week has been a highlight of the summer camp season at Black Rock Retreat for over twenty-five years. Black Rock’s own counselors and volunteers serve as staff for adults with intellectual and physical disabilities.
Shalom Retreat, Camp Hebron
Halifax, Pa.
Shalom Retreat is an exciting week full of activities, laughter, and friendships for adults (age 18 and over) who have special needs. All campers stay in motel-style lodging with a roommate and share a private bedroom and bathroom. The ratio of staff to special needs campers is about 1:3. The week offers crafts, coloring, puzzles, swimming in the pool, petting horses and other furry friends. Application and more information.
Spruce Lake has hosted Joni and Friends International Disability Ministry’s family camps since 1991, with retreats 3 times each summer, always with a waiting list. They also host the disability ministry Christian Overcomers three times a year.
Register for these events held at Spruce Lake directly through the organization:
Monarch Camps serve campers with intellectual disabilities ages 16 through adults. One of the three sessions offered is for people with higher mobility.
Brethren Woods hosts a camp for elementary and middle school-aged campers who are deaf or hard of hearing. This weeklong program includes traditional camp activities supplemented by ASL classes led by interpreters who stay on site for the duration of the camp to help with communication.
