Summer can be a genuinely hard stretch for autism families — the structure of the school year disappears, and finding a camp that can actually meet your child's needs isn't always straightforward. The good news is that Michigan has a real, established network of camps specifically built for autistic children and their families.
Day Camps and Skill-Building Programs
OUCARES, run through Oakland University's Center for Autism Research and Education in Rochester, offers a range of summer day camps for individuals on the autism spectrum from early childhood through adulthood, including programs combining STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) with social and communication skill-building in a structured, supportive environment.
Living and Learning Enrichment Center, based in Northville, runs themed summer day camps (Camp Willow and Camp Lotus) specifically for teens and young adults with autism and developmental disabilities, ages 11 and up, running across multiple weeks in the summer with both 4-day and 5-day options. Need-based scholarships are available.
Overnight and Sibling-Inclusive Camps
Camp SkyWild offers a week-long overnight camp experience for children on the autism spectrum ages 7-17, with a companion Siblings Program for neurotypical siblings ages 6-16 — a genuinely valuable option for families wanting a shared camp experience across their children. Family camp weekends are also offered separately in spring.
Several other overnight and residential camp programs across the state serve individuals with autism and broader developmental disabilities, often at facilities that also serve other special needs populations, so it's worth checking specific program details to confirm fit for your child.
Finding the Full Current List
Because camp programs, dates, and availability change from year to year, we'd rather point you toward comprehensive, actively maintained directories than risk giving you outdated specifics. The Autism Society of Greater Detroit maintains a running list of camp resources and scholarship funds, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' Children's Special Health Care Services (CSHCS) Family Center publishes an annual Michigan summer camp guide specifically for families of children with special needs, along with camp scholarship fund information — they can be reached at 517-241-7630.
What to Ask Before Enrolling
Before committing to any camp, it's worth asking directly: What's the staff-to-camper ratio, and what training do counselors have specific to autism? How does the camp handle sensory sensitivities or meltdowns? Is the environment structured or more free-form, and which does your child tend to do better in? Are scholarships or financial assistance available if cost is a barrier?
Camps as Part of a Bigger Picture
Our Individual ABA Therapy service is designed around exactly this kind of goal. A good summer camp experience can reinforce social and independence skills your child is already building in other settings — including ABA therapy. If your Mount Pleasant-area family is looking for in-home ABA therapy alongside summer program options, our ABA therapy in Mount Pleasant page has more information, or Get Started Today to get started.
This article is part of our directory, The Complete Directory of Autism Resources in West & Central Michigan. Clinically reviewed by Kimberly Blazer, BCBA.