A First-of-Its-Kind therapeutic camp for Children with Special Needs
What did you do differently this summer? It’s the question CARE began hearing again and again when children returned to school in September. Teachers called. Therapists called. Parents called. All with the same sense of surprise. The children they expected to come back slightly behind after the long summer break weren’t behind at all.
They were ahead. They were communicating more. Regulating better. Trying new things. Socializing in ways they hadn’t before.
“Each morning as I drive up to camp, I see a crowd of children in their blue CARE CLUB shirts singing their favorite songs at the top of their lungs,” says Victoria Safdieh, founder of CARE. “A smile immediately spreads across my face, because in that moment I know, this is love. This is pure happiness.”
Last summer, CARE expanded its services to the special needs community by launching CARE CLUB, a first-of-its-kind therapeutic summer program designed specifically to support children with special needs during the months when progress is most at risk.
For many children with special needs, the summer months can be incredibly challenging. During the school year, their days are structured with specialized programs, therapies, and individualized educational support. But when summer arrives, that structure often disappears.
“They didn’t regress,” one therapist said. “They thrived!” That moment captured exactly why CARE took one of its biggest leaps yet. Without consistent support, many children experience regression. Skills they worked hard to build throughout the year, like communication, behavioral regulation, academic development, and social interaction, can slip away. Parents know this reality all too well. Other camps the children were going to were not equipped to meet their children’s complex needs, and the idea of sending their child somewhere without the proper therapeutic support can feel overwhelming.
CARE Saw That Gap and Knew It
Had to Be Filled
CARE CLUB was created as a one-of-a-kind summer program where therapy, structure, and fun all come together. CARE CLUB summer programs blend the best elements of school-based therapeutic programming with the magic and excitement of summer camp. It is a place where children can continue building the skills they work on all year long while also experiencing the freedom and fun every child deserves.
Every Detail of CARE CLUB Was
Designed with Intention.
The camp includes on-site physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and even aqua therapy, ensuring that children continue receiving the support they need throughout the summer. Multiple BCBAs (Board Certified Behavior Analysts) are on staff, and every child has an individualized behavioral plan carefully followed throughout the summer.
The CARE team works closely with each child’s therapists from the school year, ensuring continuity in the strategies and goals that are already helping them succeed. The camp BCBAs remain in communication with the child’s year-round providers so that progress can continue seamlessly.
In addition, what makes CARE CLUB truly special is the environment. Children are placed in small, carefully structured groups, designed to prevent sensory overload and allow each camper to feel safe and supported. Each child receives one-on-one attention, so the camper gets the individualized care they deserve. The days are filled with a thoughtful mix of academic reinforcement, creative sensory activities and exploration, social development, and traditional camp fun so the children are encouraged to grow while enjoying the summer experience.
Camp trips are some of the most meaningful moments of the summer. Many parents share that certain outings feel impossible to attempt with their child on their own. But through CARE CLUB, children can experience adventures and explore new places they might otherwise miss.
Then there is the heart of CARE CLUB, dedicated counselors and the extraordinary team that dedicates their summers to these special children. Their patience, compassion, and commitment go far beyond what anyone expects from a typical summer job. For many counselors, the relationships they build with campers become deeply personal and remain close even after camp ends.
The Results Have Been Remarkable
After the first summer, word spread quickly. Families saw the impact. Therapists noticed the difference. Schools were amazed by the progress. As a result, CARE CLUB has doubled in size for its second summer. It is yet another example of CARE’s ongoing commitment and expansion to meet the evolving needs of our special needs community.
Growth like this is only possible with the support of the community. On April 20–21, CARE will launch its annual Charidy Campaign, with an ambitious goal of raising $1 million to continue expanding services for the growing number of children and families who rely on CARE. The need has never been greater.
Thanks to the compassion and generosity of our community, CARE can continue building programs like CARE CLUB where children are not only supported, but empowered to strive. Every child deserves a summer where they don’t fall behind. They move forward.
