Tips to Find a Camp or Program
Use these handy guides to help you in the search for a program that best meets your needs:
Recreation Council’s Summer Camp and Program Tips 2021
National Center on Physical Activity and Disability Camp Guide
Call the Recreation Council to talk to your Area Coordinator
Service Area:
Missouri-Wide, St. Charles County, St. Louis City, St. Louis County
Program Type:
Agencies/Organizations, Arts, Day Camps, Horseback Riding, Martial Arts, Gymnastics, Music, Overnight Camps, Performing Arts, Recreation, Social Groups & Family Support, Sports & Fitness, Technology, Travel & Outdoor Adventures
Ages Served:
Adults, All Ages, Pre-School, Teens, Youth
Season:
Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter, Year Round
Inclusive Specialized or Both:
Not Applicable
St. Louis County Library
St. Louis County Library Sensory Story Times
St. Louis County Library offers Sensory Story Time for families with children ages 3-9 who are on the autism spectrum or who have multi-sensory needs. The program provides a welcoming environment for children to enjoy a story and other fun activities. The program uses props, toys and tactile objects, to offer children a variety of ways to process the information being presented. In an effort to help kids feel more comfortable, SLCL also provides noise canceling head phones and blue light covers to mitigate sensory stimulation such as fluorescent lighting and loud noises.
Service Area:
St. Louis County
Program Type:
Social Groups & Family Support
Ages Served:
Pre-School, Youth
Season:
Year Round
Inclusive Specialized or Both:
Specialized
St. Louis City Library
St. Louis City Library Sensory Story Times
Select St. Louis City Public Library locations offer Sensory Storytimes. Designed for children ages 3-9, Sensory Storytimes are more interactive and provide built-in time for sensory play. Literacy-rich environments are essential to the development of all modes of language for children and public libraries help caregivers provide this exposure to all children from a young age. Sensory Storytimes include freedom of movement with more visual aids, action and sensory experiences. These Storytimes are also smaller, reducing the group size and noise level for those with sound sensitivity.
Service Area:
St. Louis City
Program Type:
Social Groups & Family Support
Ages Served:
Pre-School, Youth
Season:
Year Round
Inclusive Specialized or Both:
Inclusive
Spark/AMT Dance Therapy & Movement
a program of DK Dance Productions
Spark / AMT is a dance therapy program based on the principles of Autism Movement Therapy for children who struggle with motor coordination, social, speech, and behavioral skills. It consists of warm up, short routines, movement, and games with therapeutic benefits. In addition to the program instructor, the class is staffed with volunteers to assist hands-on to enhance learning and a positive experience in the program.
Service Area:
St. Louis City, St. Louis County
Program Type:
Performing Arts
Ages Served:
Pre-School, Youth
Season:
Summer, Year Round
Inclusive Specialized or Both:
Specialized
We Rock the Spectrum Kid's Gym
Specialized Open Play Gym
We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gyms was founded to provide a place for children of all ability levels to play and grow together. As the only kids gym that offers an inclusive philosophy we have found all children can benefit from our uniquely designed sensory equipment that is specifically designed to aid children with sensory processing disorders. However, in our experience, all children are able to benefit greatly from this equipment and by allowing children of all ability levels to play together they are able to learn a great deal from each other and become the best motivation for success on every level.
Service Area:
St. Charles County, St. Louis City, St. Louis County
Program Type:
Recreation, Sports & Fitness
Ages Served:
Pre-School, Teens, Youth
Season:
Year Round
Inclusive Specialized or Both:
Inclusive
Foss Swim School
Swimming Instruction for Youth
At Foss Swim School, we provide a safe, fun environment that nurtures your child’s comfort in and love of the water. Our unique class curriculums are built on the latest research and are customized for each stage of your swimmer’s development. Whether your kiddo is fearful of the water or loves to splash but needs water safety, we have the perfect class for them.
Little Fishes Swim School was acquired by Foss in 2023.
Service Area:
St. Charles County, St. Louis City, St. Louis County
Program Type:
Sports & Fitness
Ages Served:
Pre-School, Youth
Season:
Year Round
Inclusive Specialized or Both:
Inclusive
Jamestown New Horizons
Therapeutic Horseback Riding
Jamestown New Horizons provides therapeutic/recreational horseback riding lessons to children with cognitive and physical disabilities to help improve their health and quality of life. The priorities at JNH are Safety Fun & Learning! Ages 3 – teens weighing less than 140 lbs.
Service Area:
St. Louis City, St. Louis County
Program Type:
Horseback Riding
Ages Served:
Pre-School, Teens, Youth
Season:
Year Round
Inclusive Specialized or Both:
Specialized
Music Therapy Piano Lessons
Private Instruction
Music Therapy or Adapted Piano Lessons for persons with special needs. Lessons provided in South St. Louis. Nicole Schmitt, MT-BC, specializes in Early Childhood, Special Education, and Neurodiverse Populations. She is a board certified music therapist employed by Midwest Music Therapy Services for 10 years. Nicole specializes in preschool music and movement groups and services for neurodiverse populations. She is also adjunct faculty at Maryville University in the music therapy department.
Service Area:
St. Louis City, St. Louis County
Program Type:
Music
Ages Served:
Pre-School, Youth
Season:
Year Round
Inclusive Specialized or Both:
Specialized
