Summer Camps
Michigan Special Needs Summer Camps for Teens and Adults
Get ready for an unforgettable summer at the Living and Learning Enrichment Center’s Summer Camp, specifically designed for teens and young adults with disabilities. Our two camps, Willow and Lotus, offer tailored experiences that meet the unique needs of each camper, ensuring they thrive in an environment that promotes personal growth, learning, and fun.
Located on our beautiful 12-acre property on the border of Novi and Northville, our camps provide a safe and supportive environment where campers can explore their passions, develop social and job skills, and form lasting friendships. Each camp fosters a sense of belonging and independence, empowering campers to grow personally and socially in a nurturing setting. By seamlessly integrating essential life and social skills into fun, hands-on experiences, we create natural learning opportunities that allow campers to apply what they’ve learned beyond the camp, ensuring long-term success and skill retention.
Our dedicated staff nurtures each camper with genuine care, fostering a deep sense of respect, compassion, and belonging. Campers are empowered to grow personally and socially, building confidence and independence in a nurturing environment. Our camps cater specifically to the needs of individuals with autism, offering a unique experience that sets us apart and appeals to families looking for supportive and specialized programs.
Whether you’re joining us for the first time or returning for another exciting summer, we can’t wait to welcome you to a season filled with adventure, learning, and lasting memories. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to be part of our Living and Learning community!
Dates and Pricing
2025 Summer Camp Dates, Pricing, and Registration
Camp runs weekly from June 23rd through August 14th, either on a Monday-Thursday or Monday-Friday schedule, depending on the week. The prices listed below reflect both the 4-day and 5-day camp week options.
Camp Lotus
$525 (Monday-Thursday: Week 1, Week 2, Week 4, Week 6, Week 8)
$650 (Monday-Friday: Week 3, Week 5, Week 7)
Designed for campers ready to enhance social skills, independence, and personal growth while building meaningful friendships.
Camp Willow
$575 (Monday-Thursday: Week 1, Week 2, Week 4, Week 6, Week 8)
$700 (Monday-Friday: Week 3, Week 5, Week 7)
A supportive space for campers who may need extra assistance, fostering connection, adaptability, and a strong sense of community.
Need-based scholarships are available. Please contact us at programs@llecmi.org or call 248-308-3592 for more details.
Enrollment
Registration Process
- All new campers are required to complete an intake. Contact Abigail Hanus, our Intake Coordinator, at 248-308-3592 ext. 210 or email intakes@llecmi.org to schedule an intake appointment at your convenience.
- Current members, sign up by clicking here.
- All required paperwork will be uploaded to the camper’s Mindbody account in the ‘Documents’ section on June 1, 2025. Paperwork must be completed prior to the first day of the camper’s first registered week of camp.
Weekly Themes Enhancing Social and Life Skills
Week 1, June 23 – June 26, 2025: Lights, Camera, Action!
Step into the world of lights, cameras, and creativity! During this fun-filled week, campers will explore the magic of performing arts and self-expression. From acting in mini-skits to crafting props and sets, campers will tap into their creative side. The grand finale? A chance to shine in an optional talent showcase at the end of the week! Whether it’s directing, performing, or designing, everyone’s unique skills will play a starring role. Let the spotlight find you in this exciting kickoff to summer!
Week 2, June 30 - July 3, 2025: Stars and Stripes Celebration
Get ready to wave your flags high and celebrate all things red, white, and blue! This patriotic week is packed with festive crafts like DIY flag-making, fun outdoor games, and even a backyard-style “picnic party.” Campers can join in themed challenges, enjoy starry-themed snacks, and create sparkler-inspired art. From honoring the spirit of Independence Day to enjoying summertime festivities, this week promises a star-spangled adventure for all!
Week 3, July 7 - July 11, 2025: Splish, Splash, Water Bash
Make waves at our Splish, Splash, Water Bash! Dive into a week of fun water-based activities, featuring creative games, exciting challenges, and refreshing adventures. On land, campers will create water-themed crafts and enjoy games inspired by the ocean and lakeside fun. It’s all about celebrating summer’s coolest element—water! Come prepared to get wet, have fun, and beat the heat in the best way possible!
Week 4, July 14 - July 17, 2025: Cooking, Cultures, and Connection
Take your taste buds on an international journey during this flavorful week! Campers will explore cuisines from around the world, learning to make delicious dishes inspired by different cultures. From exploring a variety of international dishes to experimenting with creative recipes, every day will bring new tastes and traditions. Campers will also engage in creative projects inspired by global cultures, exploring customs and traditions from around the world. Get ready to mix, bake, and share in this delicious celebration of diversity!
Week 5, July 21 - July 25, 2025: STEM Science Spectacular
Gear up for a week of discovery, invention, and hands-on experiments at our STEM Science Spectacular! Campers will explore fun topics like building simple robots, making slime, and launching homemade rockets. Activities will also include solving STEM-themed challenges and exploring the “magic” of science through creative projects. This week will ignite curiosity and celebrate the wonders of science, technology, engineering, and math!
Week 6, July 28 - July 31, 2025: All-Star Sports
Put on your game face for All-Star Sports week! Whether it’s soccer, basketball, kickball, or other exciting games, there’s something for everyone. Campers can also test their skills in relay races, obstacle courses, and team challenges. With a focus on trying new activities and celebrating everyone’s achievements, this week is all about having fun, staying active, and embracing the spirit of teamwork.
Week 7, August 4 - August 8, 2025: Down on the Farm
Get ready for a week filled with fun and connection as we explore life “down on the farm” and beyond! Perfect for animal lovers and budding farmers, this week offers hands-on experiences with our friendly farm animals, including alpacas, chickens, bunnies, and more. Campers will engage in exciting activities such as learning how to care for farm animals, feeding and grooming our alpacas, and discovering other fascinating wildlife. Each day offers opportunities to connect with animals, spark curiosity about nature, and gain new skills!
Week 8, August 11 - August 14, 2025: Back to Nature Adventures
End your summer with an outdoor adventure! Back to Nature week is all about exploring the beauty of the natural world. Campers will explore the outdoors through guided walks, engage in creative nature-inspired crafts, and discover essential outdoor skills through fun, hands-on activities. This week promises an unforgettable end to your summer by connecting to the great outdoors!
What do campers get out of summer camp?
For campers, social and life skills are not just another set of lessons—they’re vital tools that shape their everyday experiences and future opportunities. Here’s why delving into these skills at summer camp can be so motivating and impactful:
- Increased Independence: Learning social and life skills empowers campers to become more independent in various aspects of their lives. As they master these skills, they gain the confidence to navigate daily tasks and interactions more autonomously, which helps them grow into self-sufficient individuals.
- Enhanced Relationships: Social skills are essential for building and maintaining meaningful relationships with peers, family members, and others. Strengthening social skills at camp helps campers forge stronger connections, enriching their social experiences both at camp and beyond, and helping them create lasting friendships.
- Improved Self-Advocacy: By learning to express their needs, preferences, and boundaries effectively, campers develop self-advocacy skills that allow them to speak up for themselves and assert their rights in various situations, building their confidence and sense of agency.
- Preparation for Adulthood: As campers approach adolescence and adulthood, acquiring life skills becomes essential for their transition into a more independent life. Summer camp provides a structured, supportive environment to learn crucial skills like kitchen safety, community interactions, and handling real-life responsibilities, equipping them for future challenges.
- Opportunities for Inclusion: Social and life skills provide campers with the tools to engage in a variety of social, recreational, and vocational activities. These skills foster a sense of inclusion, enabling campers to pursue their interests and goals while participating fully in their communities and engaging meaningfully with peers from diverse backgrounds.
- Increased Confidence and Self-Esteem: Mastering social and life skills boosts campers’ self-esteem, giving them the confidence to face challenges, overcome obstacles, and believe in their ability to succeed. As campers see their growth and development, they build resilience and develop a strong, positive self-image.
- Creating Lasting Memories: Beyond the practical benefits, summer camp offers campers the chance to create memories that last a lifetime. The combination of social skill-building, outdoor fun, and the opportunity to make new friends fosters a sense of camaraderie, belonging, and joy that extends far beyond the camp experience, creating cherished memories and lifelong friendships.
- Fun and Adventure: Camp is also about having fun! The skills campers learn are woven into engaging, fun activities—whether it’s playing sports, exploring nature, or participating in art projects—that provide excitement while also reinforcing important lessons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this summer camp appropriate for teens and adults with autism or other special needs?
Yes! Our Michigan-based special needs summer day camp is designed specifically for teens and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other thinking, learning, or developmental differences. Campers benefit from a structured and supportive environment that focuses on building social and life skills, emotional regulation, executive functioning, and independence — all while having fun!
What types of social skills are taught during camp?
Social skills are taught through both structured activities—such as engaging group games, collaborative projects, and community experiences—and unstructured, natural interactions that occur throughout the camp day. Each structured lesson aligns with the weekly camp theme, while unstructured opportunities focus on essential skills like initiating and maintaining conversations, navigating group dynamics, building peer relationships, interpreting nonverbal cues, self-advocacy, and problem-solving. Our goal is to equip campers with real-world social and life skills that will support their success beyond camp!
What kind of activities can participants expect?
Every week includes a mix of enriching and fun experiences, such as:
- Music, art, and yoga
- Cardio drumming and miniature golf
- Cooking and gardening
- Water activities
- Animal care with our alpacas, bunnies, and chickens and time with therapy dogs
- Exciting off-site field trips to local hotspots
We carefully plan each experience to help campers grow in their social, emotional, and practical skills while enjoying their time at camp.
What qualifications and training do your staff have?
Our team is highly trained to work with neurodiverse individuals. Most of our camp staff are pursuing degrees in psychology, special education, or related fields, but all are deeply passionate about empowering, educating, and supporting our campers. During their over 40 hours of training, all camp staff receive:
- Seizure First Aid Certification through the Epilepsy Foundation
- CPR and First Aid training
- Crisis prevention and de-escalation training
- A week-long intensive training in the foundational principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), equipping our staff to meet campers’ needs in a calm, respectful, and responsive manner, with a focus on learning and skill development
- Emergency preparedness and procedures
- Recipient Rights
Summer camp at the Living and Learning Enrichment Center is overseen by a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and a Clinical Therapist, ensuring the highest quality training with a focus on person-centered, trauma-informed care, that respects each camper’s desire for autonomy.
Is the camp environment structured to support individuals with autism or other neurodiverse needs?
Absolutely! Our personalized approach allows us to create the best possible experience for every camper. Our camp environment is intentionally structured to be predictable, inclusive, and sensory-friendly. We support this structure through a combination of visual aids, clear routines, individualized accommodations, environmental adjustments, and additional strategies tailored to each camper’s needs. Prior to camp, our staff carefully reviews each camper’s intake information to ensure they are supported in a way that aligns with them. Additionally, our 12-acre campus is fully accessible for individuals with mobility needs, ensuring that all campers can participate in every activity.
Can participants continue in other Living and Learning programs after summer ends?
Definitely! The fun doesn’t have to end when camp does! Many of our campers also participate in our year-round social skills and vocational programs. These offerings allow for ongoing peer to peer connection, skill development, and personal growth beyond the summer. We’re happy to guide you to the right programs based on age, ability, and interests. Explore ongoing programs here.
Are field trips or off-site activities included?
Yes! The weekly cost of camp includes field trips and transportation. While the full schedule is still being finalized, past summer field trips have included Comerica Park, the Detroit Zoo, SeaLife Aquarium, and more! These outings are designed to reinforce the social and life skills taught during camp in real-world settings, while prioritizing safety and accessibility for every camper.