Camp Aldersgate
Today, Camp Aldersgate continues its dedication to providing year-round social service programs for over 1,700 individuals of all ages and backgrounds. During the summer months, Camp hosts week-long medical-specific camps for children and youth with the following medical conditions: muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, diabetes, cardiac conditions, arthritis, kidney conditions, asthma, oncology, and bleeding disorders. In addition to the medical camps, Camp host two Kota Camps to serve children and youth with special needs that are not covered under the Summer Medical Camps. Kota Camps allow our participants to bring a friend or sibling to camp with them to participate in the programs and activities.
While the Summer Medical Camps are only provided from June to August, Weekend Camps are provided for individuals from August to May. They are offered twice a month for children and youth with special needs. Weekend Camps are separated into three different trails. Each trail is geared toward each camper’s strengths and needs.
Camp Aldersgate also houses Seniors Day Out programs once a week from August to May. Each Thursday, senior adults from central Arkansas come together to enjoy fellowship, arts and crafts, exercise, lunch and other programs. Camp serves about 60 senior adults a week.
Camp Barnabas is a Christian summer camp for people with disabilities.
Community Connections is a non-profit organization in central Arkansas providing extra-curricular activities for children with special needs & support for their families.
Extracurricular activities help individuals explore their capabilities, as well as challenge them to grow. Extracurricular activities offered by I CAN! of Arkansas include dance, art, music, cheerleading clinics, soccer and CrossFit. Families may participate in any or all of the activities offered. These classes conclude with a devotional thought and time of prayer.
“A free, lifetime pass, plus a $10 handling fee. – available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability”
The Miracle League removes the barriers that keep children with mental and physical disabilities off the baseball field and lets them experience the joy of America’s favorite pastime. Since the main barriers for these adults arise from the natural grass fields used in conventional leagues, Miracle League teams play on a custom-designed, rubberized turf field that accommodates wheelchairs and other assertive devices while helping to prevent injuries.
The mission of Special Olympics Arkansas is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
“Therapeutic Recreation is a purposeful intervention designed to bring about positive emotional, social, physical or cognitive changes in individuals with disabilities. Indoor and outdoor therapy and interventions are designed to foster independence and develop skills for improved quality of life. These therapy programs are highly structured, goal-oriented opportunities to bring about change while incorporating a participant’s individual leisure interests.”
Many of the events held by the Tim Tebow Foundation are centered around children with disabilities. Check their events page for upcoming dates.
