2010 Summer Camps and Programs

Sign up for our Summer Camps! Camps are specifically designed for children with Autism, Asperger’s or other Developmental Disorders

A description of each program is below, along with the option to register online. We have programs for ages 4-7, 8-12, and 11-18. If you'd like more information, you can download the Summer Camps Brochure. To have a brochure mailed to your home, email us at or call Christine at (616) 698-0306.

2010 Summer CAMPS Sessions - Ages 4-7 and 8-12

2010 weekly summer camp sessions are:
June 28 - July 1
July 12 - July 15
July 26 - July 29
August 9 - August 12

Description: Your child is going to LOVE the exciting adventures we have planned for this summer! Each week we will explore a different theme together, complete with lots of opportunities for movement, music, problem solving, working together, and indoor and outdoor fun. Our camps are designed to offer a fun, safe, and therapeutic environment for children with developmental disabilities to engage with peers, try new things, and retain skills over the summer months. A low staff to child ratio ensures that everyone is supported. Principles of the Relationship Development Intervention (RDI)® Program are integrated throughout all activities, which provides opportunities for campers to improve communication, increase competence, enhance regulation, and build relationships.

Summer 2010 Summer CAMPS Schedule: You may select the weeks that best fit your schedule – choose one, a few, or all of them depending on your needs and summer plans. Our camp weeks run from Monday through Thursday. Morning programs meet from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and are for children ages 4-7. Afternoon programs meet from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. and are for children ages 8-12. If your child is younger than 4 or older than 12, please call to discuss your specific needs.

*Parents with children in the CAMPS program are invited to attend 2 parent-only sessions to facilitate carryover of techniques into the home environment. A session on communication strategies will be July 14 from 6:30-7:30pm and a session on guiding your child to participate in activities will be August 4 from 6:30-7:30pm. These sessions are included in the cost of the CAMPS program.

Cost: 1 Full Week Session (Monday-Thursday): $280

Sign Up Here for Summer CAMPS Ages 4-7

This age group meets mornings from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
If your child is younger than 4, please call to discuss your specific needs.

June 28 - July 1: Red, White, & Blue Ages 4-7, 9am-12pm	CLOSED
July 12-15: Let’s Make Music Ages 4-7, 9am-12pm	CLOSED
July 26-29: All About Pets Ages 4-7, 9am-12pm	CLOSED
August 9-12: Fun in the Sun Ages 4-7, 9am-12pm	CLOSED

Sign Up Here for Summer CAMPS Ages 8-12

This age group meets afternoons from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
If your child is older than 12, please call to discuss your specific needs.

June 28 - July 1: Red, White, & Blue Ages 8-12, 1pm-4pm	CLOSED
July 12-15: Let’s Make Music Ages 8-12, 1pm-4pm	CLOSED
July 26-29: All About Pets Ages 8-12, 1pm-4pm	CLOSED
August 9-12: Fun in the Sun Ages 8-12, 1pm-4pm	CLOSED

Collaborate and Create! Summer Camp Program for Teens - Ages 11-18

2010 Collaborate and Create dates are:
Session 1: June 29 and July 1, July 6 and July 8, July 13 and July 15,
Session 2: July 26 - July 29 - whole week this week

Ages: 11-18 (call to discuss your child’s specific needs if s/he is outside of this age range)

Description: Get ready for some serious work – and lots of fun! This group tackles some major projects over the summer months. Past projects have included putting up fences, landscaping, building an adventure course, woodworking, and a variety of take-home creations. These projects provide opportunities for thinking, problem solving, communication, physical activity, working together, and building relationships. Principles of the RDI® Program are integrated through all activities. For those of you who have participated in the past and are wondering – YES, Bill will be back this summer! He’s got a whole list of projects planned and is looking forward to seeing you all.

Cost: One 3-Week Session from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays: $450

Cost: 1 Full Week Session from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Monday-Thursday: $400

Sign Up Here for Collaborate and Create! - Ages 11-18

This age group meets mornings from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Session 1: June 29, July 1-15 Ages 11-18, 9am-12pm, Tues & Thurs	CLOSED
Session 2: July 26 - July 29 Ages 11-18, 9am-12am, Mon-Weds, 9am-1pm Thurs (includes group picnic lunch)	CLOSED

To sign up via regular mail:

You can download the Summer Camps Registration Form. To have the registration form mailed to your home, email us at or call Christine at (616) 698-0306 if you have any questions.

“Our family flew from California to Michigan this summer and rented a cottage on a lake near Horizons so our son could participate in the summer camps program. We had a great summer and enjoyed not only the slower pace of life that came with staying away from home but also watching the progress our son made.

Since returning home it’s been great to hear our son’s one-on-one aide at school, as well as others, observe a noticeable difference. I really notice it, too! Certainly he is not “cured,” but he has shown some significant growth. For one, his self-care skills have blossomed. Before Michigan he would need full assistance with going to the bathroom, washing his hair in the shower or bath, brushing his teeth, and assisting himself at the dinner table. He is now VERY independent with all of these skills.

While he is still not really comfortable participating in activities out in the world, he is much more willing to observe them. This I see as a big step, whereas before he would always attempt to distract himself with something electrical or fine motor in order to avoid. Another significant area of growth is in his relationship with his younger sister. Before Michigan he was very unwilling to play with her. Now he is more willing, although he still has a lot of learning to do in this area.

We have seen our son taking much more initiative with adults and is becoming more outgoing with them. The amount of time he spends “zoned out” has also lessened, as has his overall level of sensitivity. There has been some solid progress and we thank you for your help in facilitating this! You are truly in the right profession.”

- Cecily Ruttenberg (Santa Cruz, CA)

My 12 year old son thoroughly enjoyed summer camp at Horizons this year! The staff put together an awesome program, based on RDI, for the older children. They worked on needed and important projects. Their goal was to create an obstacle course for the center and put in a vegetable garden. They were part of the planning and implementing stages of the projects, and followed them through to completion. They had to work side by side to make this happen. There were plenty of opportunities for peer interaction, working on common goals, problem solving, processing directions, and thinking through decisions. Our son is looking forward to another wonderful summer camp and is looking forward to the new projects they have in store for him. The staff at Horizons are committed, caring, and supportive, and always work to help our son we successful!

- Lee Chassee (Byron Center, Michigan)

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