Best Special needs Summer Camps in Massachusetts

Ages 9–19

Berklee College of Music's summer site lists youth programs in Boston: Day Sessions in music (ages 12 to 14) and Youth Musical Theater (ages 12 to 14), ABLE day sessions for musicians with disabilities (ages 9 to 17), and two residential two-week intensives for teens, the High School Composition Intensive (15 to 19) and Vocal/Choral Intensive (15 to 18). The Valencia, Spain youth program on the same page is not counted here.

As published: Day Sessions Music and Youth Musical Theater $900 per week (listed as reduced from $1,100 for early registration); ABLE $1,100 per week; High School Composition Intensive $2,132 tuition plus $1,768 housing (two weeks); Vocal/Choral Intensive $2,132 plus $1,768 housing (two weeks). Dates shown without a year (July 12 to August 6 weeks, June 21 to July 3 for the vocal intensive).

A sleepaway camp on Martha's Vineyard for children and adults with a wide range of disabilities, with arts, music, horseback riding, boating, beach days and island trips. Tuition-free, funded by donations, with roughly a 1:1 camper-to-counselor ratio.

As published: Tuition-free for all campers (camp fundraises each year); 2026 sessions listed as four 2-week sessions between June 23 and August 23

Ages 6–22

Camp Rainbow is a city-run summer camp for Cambridge young people with disabilities ages 6-22, held weekly from July to mid-August with full-day (9am-3pm) and half-day options. Activities include swimming, arts and crafts, cooking and a field trip every Wednesday.

As published: $60 per week full day; $15 per week half day (half day only for students in the Cambridge Public Schools Extended School Year program)

Ages 8–12

A free inclusive sports day camp run by UMass Boston's Center for Social Development and Education, with half the campers having an intellectual or developmental disability. In 2026 it ran July 6-31 on the former Mount Ida campus in Newton, with free transportation and meals.

As published: Free; $25 registration fee for accepted applicants only; admission by lottery

Ages 6–16

Camp Triumph is a therapeutic day camp founded in 1991 for children and teens with social skills challenges and other special needs, now held at the E. Ethel Little School in North Reading. Groups of up to 11-12 children have 3 counselors, with psychologists, BCBAs and licensed clinicians supervising.

As published: 2027: 3-week session $3,175; 2-week session $2,200; 8-week season $8,550; payment due May 15, 2027; sliding-scale plans may be available

Ages 5–15

A day camp on the Williston Northampton School campus in Easthampton with small age-based groups (Cubs 5-6, Bobcats 7-9, Lynx 10-12, Pumas 13-15) and an emphasis on inclusion and friendships. Campers use the school's turf fields, pools, courts and ice rink for sports, games, and arts and crafts.

As published: $399 per one-week session (summer 2026; eight weekly sessions June 22 to Aug 21, 2026); 2027 not yet listed

Ages 8–14

An Old Colony YMCA day camp on Lake Tispaquin at 375 Wareham Street in Middleboro with a ropes course, swimming, archery, sports, outdoor adventure and environmental awareness. Specialty tracks include Aquatics (ages 8-14), Circle Y Equine riding (8-12 and 13-15) and an adaptive East Camp.

As published: Traditional week "as low as $345 for members and $415 for non-members" (page undated, 2026 session listed); specialty camps, care and transportation cost extra

Ages 6–16

A specialized overnight camp for children with type 1 diabetes, dedicated at its North Oxford site in 1932 and grown from 8 girls that first year to a cumulative reach of 2,000+ children and families served over its history. Runs four 2-week sessions per summer with a dedicated Counselor Training Program; current single-summer capacity and tuition were not published.

As published: Not published on pages accessed — site references a separate "Rates & Financial Aid" page not captured directly. 2026 session dates: June 22–Aug 14, four 2-week sessions (per search-indexed site content); $250 non-refundable deposit required. bartoncenter.org (https://www.bartoncenter.org/clara-barton-camp-north-oxford-ma/)

Ages 3–17

Hockomock Area YMCA runs five day camps in Foxboro, Franklin, Mansfield, North Attleboro and Bellingham (Camp Blackhawk), with core day camp plus specialty, STEAM, swim, gymnastics, inclusion and teen programs. The 2026 season opened with a preschool welcome week on June 8 and all campers on June 15.

As published: Not published

Ages 5–15

The Springfield Jewish Community Center runs an ACA-accredited day camp on a 20-acre campus on the Springfield and Longmeadow line, with Traditional Camp, Inclusion Camp for campers with different abilities and a 2-4-1 Sports Camp. Activities include swimming, a ropes course, archery, sports, arts and crafts and Jewish cultural celebrations. Families can book from one week, and a counselors-in-training program serves teens 14 to 15.

As published: Not published (the camp page refers to its registration page for rates)

Ages 6–13

Summer day camps at the JCC of the North Shore in Marblehead: KinderCamp for ages 2 years 9 months through kindergarten, Camp Simchah for entering grades 1 to 7, specialty tracks in tennis, art, sports and travel, and a Leaders-In-Training program for entering 8th and 9th graders. Camp Simchah offers traditional camp activities and pool time with Spirit Days, and the J runs an Inclusion Program with two Inclusion Co-Directors.

As published: Not published (2026 rates are in a Dates and Rates download); $10 off per week for early bird registration by March 1; $100 materials fee for the EHS STEM specialty camp