Give Your Child
“the Best Week of the Year”
at MDA Summer Camp

The mission of Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation is to offer special needs children and their families rustic, Arizona ranch-style camp and retreat experiences enhanced by programs designed to foster nurturing interactions between campers and the animals residing at the Ranch. 

Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation is distinctive in terms of our unique programs whereby individuals with special needs interact with our animal residents, most all of whom were born with physical differences or suffered injury, abuse, abandonment, or loss of a caregiver. Our specially-designed facility and programs are the result of a collaborative effort with numerous community organizations that serve children and families with special needs – from the design of the facility to the programs designed to meet the needs of these special, diverse underserved populations. This beautiful mountain sanctuary situated east of Payson, Arizona, was built from the ground up to accommodate the unique and often complex needs of individuals facing myriad challenges. Working in partnership with organizations that serve those with physical, medical and developmental challenges, Whispering Hope Ranch provides the wonder of nature and animals in a fully accessible, healing environment.

Our facilities, Apple Canyon Center, are designed specifically for our campers; enabling guests to enjoy the magic and beauty of a wondrous wooded hideaway while being only minutes away from comprehensive medical facilities and services. Fun facilities are available at camp to provide experiences of fun, accomplishment and memories: Group campfire areas, art/crafts porch, horseshoe pits, basktball court, volleyball court, challenge/ropes course, kid’s cooking class kitchen, soccer and softball playing fields, costume room, archery range, miles of hiking trails, fishing pond, KCGT radio station, heated swimming pool, carnival activity tent, horse corrals and riding rings.

Wonderland Camp serves many at-risk children every summer. Their lives are enriched physically, personally and spiritually through healthy outdoor activities in a safe and caring environment in which the children can learn and grow. Wonderland camp offers a variety of sports, boating, nature paths, fishing, climbing tower, rock wall, and archery.

Calvin Crest offers 250 acres of rolling hills, woods, recreation spaces and activities, hiking trails and scenic views overlooking the Platte River provide a setting for renewal, rest and refreshment of body, mind and soul. Activities offered are swimming, hiking trails, basketball, sports field, and arts and crafts.

The mission of Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation is to offer special needs children and their families rustic, Arizona ranch-style camp and retreat experiences enhanced by programs designed to foster nurturing interactions between campers and the animals residing at the Ranch. 

Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation is distinctive in terms of our unique programs whereby individuals with special needs interact with our animal residents, most all of whom were born with physical differences or suffered injury, abuse, abandonment, or loss of a caregiver. Our specially-designed facility and programs are the result of a collaborative effort with numerous community organizations that serve children and families with special needs – from the design of the facility to the programs designed to meet the needs of these special, diverse underserved populations. This beautiful mountain sanctuary situated east of Payson, Arizona, was built from the ground up to accommodate the unique and often complex needs of individuals facing myriad challenges. Working in partnership with organizations that serve those with physical, medical and developmental challenges, Whispering Hope Ranch provides the wonder of nature and animals in a fully accessible, healing environment.

Grizzly Creek Ranch is fully ADA accessible and located in Portola, CA, just 45 minutes from Reno, NV and two hours from Sacramento, CA. The campus offers modern facilities that are clean and comfortable. We offer a spacious dining hall, patio area with a fire pit, amphitheaters, various activity centers for programming, multiple campfire sites and a spacious lawn for play and learning. A health center is centrally located on campus and all staff are CPR/First Aid certified and have passed federal and state background checks.Grizzly Creek Ranch is surrounded by magnificent vistas, valleys and meadows on 1,500 acres of pristine Yellow Pine forest. From our high ropes challenge course to the forest and river ecosystems, Sierra Nevada Journeys' campus at Grizzly Creek Ranch is breathtaking.

Camp John Marc inspires confidence for life through high-quality camping programs for children, teens, and families.  Year round programming and specialized camp facilities are uniquely designed in partnership with Dallas-Fort Worth area pediatric hospitals, community volunteers, and health organizations who are dedicated to serving campers living with chronic medical and physical challenges.  The dignity of each camper is nurtured at Camp John Marc as well as in the community through its outreach programs.

The Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center puts Honesty, Caring, Respect and Responsibility into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Through discovery of the great outdoors, skill development and guidance in the importance of building healthy relationships, campers leave with a renewed sense of achievement, belonging, confidence and courage to try new things. Activities that are offered are climbing wall, indoor swimming pool, waterfront swimming, splash pad, game room, gymnasium, horseback riding, petting zoo, and art & crafts.

Camp Fairlee provides a safe and accessible camp experience where campers are challenged to discover their full potential, acquire new skills, and make new and lasting friendships. While campers enjoy their time at Camp Fairlee, their families are able to take a needed break from caregiving. Activities are geared to age and interests of each individual and can include swimming, wall climbing, zip line, horseback riding, outdoor games, arts/crafts and more.

Our mission forms the base of everything we do at Happiness Is Camping. It is the foundation our organization is built on. We can’t accomplish this mission without the help of many incredible people. Thanks to the help of many kind individuals, we are able to provide services such as: exceptional care provided by a staff of dedicated medical professionals, around-the-clock supervision in fully handicap accessible facilities, exciting activities including swimming, an adventure and ropes course, color wars, hikes, cookouts, dances, talent show, and much more.

Camp Grant Walker is Louisiana’s 4-H Youth Resident Summer Camp is more than just fun and games. 4-H Camp strives to develop a variety of life skills related to Head, Heart, Hands and Health. One of the most important skills children learn from camp is self-sufficiency. That is, they learn how to survive four whole days on their own. Activities include swimming, canoeing, archery, and opportunities to try various sports.

YMCA Camp Seymour - Camping, like many YMCA programs, is about learning skills, developing character and making friends. But few environments are as special as camp, where kids become a community as they learn both how to be more independent and how to contribute to a group as they engage in physical, social and educational activities. Camping teaches self-reliance, a love for nature and the outdoors, and the development of attitudes and practices that build character and leadership—all amidst the fun of camp fires, bugle calls, canoeing, archery, talent shows, and meaningful relationships.

Manzano Mountain Retreat has a wide range of recreational and organized activities for you and your group. With an Olympic sized swimming pool, a full size gym, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, fishing pond, and access to miles of trail, you will never run out of things to do at Manzano Mountain Retreat and Event Center located outside Albuquerque, New Mexico. Our team building and sports training activities are perfect complete that package making MMR a perfect setting for corporate retreats, for camps as well as family Reunions.

Camp Cuyamaca - East of San Diego, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park offers respite from the dry Southern California landscape. The park’s 24,700 acres of oak and conifer forests and expansive meadows are broken by running streams. Activities offered are swimming, casino night, campfires, talent shows, and a dedicated team of activities staff.

It is a wonderful three season camp located on 55 acres in Lexington, Michigan. It overlooks 1800 feet of beautiful Lake Huron shoreline and has two streams and a hardwood forest. Our campers will tell you that Camp Cavell has a positive, long lasting effect on people’s lives. We bring together people of many different abilities, cultures, and economic backgrounds, helping to create a respectful community. Activities include: waterfront, crafts, archery, horseback riding, kayaking, backpacking, woodshop, technical tree climbing, photography, nature and more! Our educational programs address environmental education, conflict resolution, communication, & team building.

Rochester Rotary Sunshine Campus is a fully accessible residential summer camp that has met the needs of children with paralysis and other physical challenges and their families since 1922. It is the only camp facility of its kind in Greater Rochester that gives children with special needs unique overnight camping experiences. Sunshine Campus offers state-of-the-art experiences for campers, including a rock climbing wall, zipline, Olympic sized swimming pool, archery course, fully accessible wooden treehouse, and the Gizzi Family Sensory Center.

Camp Aranzazu is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with chronic illnesses and special needs by providing unique camping, environmental education, and retreat experiences. On the inland side of camp, we have guest cabins, dining hall, an art center, two swimming pools, an archery range, Ropes Challenge Course, sanctuary, and two freshwater ponds. Our 27 acres on Copano Bay are accessible via a 600-foot bridge and feature a fishing pier, floating dock, nature education building, bird blind, boardwalks and firepit. We have a lot to explore!

Double H Ranch - Program areas include an indoor and outdoor pool, a high ropes course, archery, horseback riding and pasture, picnic pavilion, stage area, dining hall, Arts & Crafts building/ski chalet, and various other outdoor spaces used for recreational play and opportunities to explore nature.

Timber Pointe Outdoor Center is the premier resource in the state of Illinois for providing specialized outdoor recreational, experiential and family programs for individuals with disabilities and illnesses in a fun, safe and accessible environment. Each session includes traditional camp activities such as swimming, fishing, hiking, canoeing, a pontoon boat ride, arts & crafts, target sports, barnyard animals, high ropes, zip-line and horseback riding. We strive to create an experience that is inclusive, stimulating and educational while providing opportunities that might otherwise seem impossible due to physical limitations, developmental delays or illnesses.

Camp ASCCA is a special place where campers with disabilities have the opportunity to express their individuality and independence within a carefully supervised setting.The needs of campers with disabilities are cared for by trained staff, and there are many different camping opportunities for all individuals throughout the year. Their families also are provided with a chance to relax in the knowledge that over 41 years of experience goes into providing a safe environment where fun can be had by all. The activities offered at Camp ASCCA include horseback riding, swimming, canoeing, fishing, arts and crafts, accessible waterslide, zip-line, water tubing, archery and rifle range, mini-golf course, paved nature trails, splash pad, and more.

Canyon Camp has been designated a National Natural Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior. Two of its five canyons contain unique plants and trees. The lodge, meditation spots, hiking, games, challenge course and swimming make this the right camp and retreat place for many groups. The natural beauty of the red-rock walls, the seeming isolation of the setting from the outside world and the convenience of a major city all make Canyon the perfect place to gather your group.

Free from the confines of disease, illness or disability, children discover that they can just be kids! How does this happen? Victory Junction is a medically safe, yet exhilarating camp, that challenges children who have a serious medical condition to try things they never imagined possible. As they conquer activities like zip lining and archery or experience bowling, fishing or swimming, children build confidence that will shape how they view the rest of their lives. The magic happens on our lush 84 acres in the rolling hills of Randleman, North Carolina near Greensboro. Once children pass through our gates, the boundaries and limitations they live with on a daily basis disappear and they simply concentrate on having fun! That’s when they shine!

The Florida Elks Camp mission is to mold the current generation of youth into adults that we’d be proud to have as American citizens. Our motto is to “inspire, connect, and expand.” We inspire our kids through the quality of our facilities, of our staff, and of our programming. Without electronics, we help kids build connections between themselves and their peers, their counselors, and nature. Through all of this, we have the opportunity to expand their compassion for others, their own self-confidence, and their ability and desire to make an impact on the world around them.

YMCA Camp Kon-O-Kwee Spencer has been providing an unforgettable camp experience to children, families, and members of the community for more than 90 years. Our camp programs engage families, encourage adults, and inspire kids to learn, grow, and thrive. We welcome campers with special needs because we know the camp experience truly changes lives. It creates opportunities for campers to experience things they never thought possible. It builds communities by bringing together people with similar experiences and stories. And it’s something we believe should be accessible and available to everyone. We tailor our programs and facilities to meet the needs of every camper, including those with special needs. From wheelchair accessible lodging and nature trails, to a splash pad suitable for all abilities, to programming that’s inclusive and innovative, we make the camp experience accessible to all.

Our dedication to providing guests with exceptional homemade meals, comfortable facilities and friendly service-oriented staff has earned Quaker Hill a reputation for excellence and a following of many local customers. Quaker Hill Camp and Conference Center is located on 72 acres just 100 miles north of Boise. Nestled at 5100 feet in the mountain resort town of McCall, Idaho, the area boasts of a number of breathtaking views. Activities include swimming, kayaking, boating, climbing wall, multipurpose field, zip line, and much more.

Our mission forms the base of everything we do at Happiness Is Camping. It is the foundation our organization is built on. We can’t accomplish this mission without the help of many incredible people. Thanks to the help of many kind individuals, we are able to provide services such as: exceptional care provided by a staff of dedicated medical professionals, around-the-clock supervision in fully handicap accessible facilities, exciting activities including swimming, an adventure and ropes course, color wars, hikes, cookouts, dances, talent show, and much more.