Frequently Asked Questions
What services do you provide?
- Summer Camp: week-long sleep-over sessions begin Sunday afternoons and wind down early the following Saturday morning. Sessions run from 6/8 - 8/23.
- Summer Day Camp: Monday through Friday 9am - 5pm (6/16 - 8/22).
- Weekend Getaways run from September through April.
Who goes to Camp Joy?
Kids ages 6+ and adults with mental retardation, autism spectrum disorders, brain injury, neurological disorders, visual and/or hearing impairments, Angelman and Down syndromes, and other developmental disabilities. We specialize in serving people whose disabilities range from mild to profound. The majority of our campers need help with daily tasks.
Adventure Weeks exclusively serve campers who are higher functioning, ambulatory, verbal, continent, and able to benefit from extra special field trips and action-oriented fun.
What's a day at Camp like?
It's a blast! Our motto is "Summer Fun for All". We adapt traditional camp activities so that people with disabilities have a great time. It's all about new friends, positive experiences, and outdoor adventure. Activities include swimming and horseback riding, outdoor games, arts & crafts, nature exploration, storytelling, music, dancing, siesta time, and evening activities. Check out our Photo Gallery. Meals are served family-style, and we accommodate most special diets.
Our recreational focus is balanced with personalized attention to each camper's needs. The majority of our campers may need supervision and/or assistance with daily tasks, including mobility, communication, health care needs, feeding, dressing, showering, and toileting. We manage incontinence, too. Our nurses respond to many different health care needs, and a hospital is 15 minutes away.
My son or daughter uses a wheelchair...
No problem! Nearly one-third of our campers use mobility devices. Camp Joy is barrier free with extensive paved trails. Our cabins, lodges, and activity areas have access ramps (even the horse corral!). At the pool, a ramp and water chair help non-ambulatory campers enter and exit the water.
Where is Camp Joy? In the woods, of course! We share the woods with deer, wild turkeys, and some bugs as well! The 57 acre site is about an hour from Philadelphia and Harrisburg; 1.5 hours from Trenton; about 3.5 hours from New York City, Baltimore, and parts of Delaware.
Do you provide transportation?
Our ability to provide transportation for sleep-over campers is limited. We do not provide Day Camp transportation. Please contact us for more information.
May parents and other family members visit? Sure, just call us ahead of time. We always welcome visitors, even if you just want to 'check out' Camp Joy --contact us!
What about the staff?
Most of our staff are college students; many are training to become special education teachers, doctors, therapists, social workers, or psychologists. While their backgrounds vary, their common strengths include maturity, sensitivity, and the motivation to provide active, compassionate care. Usually, each counselor supervises two or three campers. If a camper requires more intensive supervision, please contact us before the camping session to discuss the camper's needs. We'll advise you of 1:1 staffing availability and additional costs.
What are the fees?
The Summer Camp sleep-over session fee is $1098; the fee for our special Adventure sessions (for higher functioning campers) is $1218 due to our higher programming and transportation costs. The day camp fee is $140 per day.
Who pays for Camp Joy?
We receive funding from different sources: public and private agencies, school districts, and families. To learn more about help with funding, call your regional disabilities agency or special education department. Please understand that we require written funding authorization prior to the start of all camping sessions.
From a camper's mom...
"Tracey really enjoys her time at Camp Joy. From the counselors to the cook, all of the staff are so friendly, well prepared, and eager to help the campers have a great, safe time. It's so gratifying to see the counselors and other campers greet her by name, and it's even more touching to see her respond with such a big smile. We NEVER worry when Tracey's at Camp Joy: we know that she's in such good hands. She has really benefited from all the camp activities, and it's amazing how many new friends she's made! Tracey always looks forward to coming to Camp Joy... thanks for being such a big part of her life."
For a program brochure and camper application, contact us. Also, feel free to call or email us anytime: 610.754.6878
