• Children can swim with dolphins at summer camp.dolphin image by agno_agnus from Fotolia.com
  
  Throughout Miami-Dade County, summer camp programs are available for children and young adults with a multitude of physical, emotional and intellectual disabilities. These programs range from sports camps with activities designed to encourage fine and gross motor skill development to programs that foster the development of greater social and life skills. Some camps include regular field trips to nearby educational and entertainment venues, while others also offer year-round programming to continue the positive developmental changes that began in camp.
  
  

Carrie Brazer Center for Autism

• The Carrie Brazer Center for Autism offers the Leaps & Bounds summer day camp program for children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The program operates with no less than one professionally trained staff member to every five campers. Every morning between 9:00 a.m. and noon, campers participate in activities that assist in behavior modification and cognitive learning through mathematics, arts and crafts and reading. The morning also includes music therapy and activities such as obstacle courses and trampoline bouncing to improve gross motor skills. Campers participate in a variety of afternoon interactive field trips that offer the opportunity to swim with dolphins, go horseback riding and interact with animals at the petting zoo. Other activities throughout the program also includes visits from magicians, face painting, scavenger hunts and sports activities.
  
  The Carrie Brazer Center for Autism
  
  8790 SW 94th St.
  
  Miami, FL 33176
  
  305-271-8790
  
  cbc4autism.org
  
  

Dave and Mary Alper Jewish Community Center

• The Dave and Mary Alper Jewish Community Center offers summer programs for children and young adults between the ages of five and 19 with disabilities including Down syndrome, autism, intellectual disabilities and more. Designed to encourage the development of social, family and literacy skills, the Clayton Feig Teen & Young Adult Club offers year-round and summer programs for teenagers and includes field trips to Parrot Jungle, the Dade County Youth Fair and the Museum of Discovery and Science. Camp Tikvah is a two-week summer program that runs between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. each day. Campers participate in activities designed to improve motor abilities, attention and social skills and also offers inclusion with the general camp when appropriate. The center has a 15,000-square-foot indoor gymnasium, outdoor swimming pool, theater, baseball field, computer lab and more to provide physical and intellectual activities each day.
  
  Dave and Mary Alper Jewish Community Center
  
  11155 SW 112th Ave.
  
  Miami, FL 33176
  
  305-271-9000
  
  alperjcc.org
  
  

Miami-Dade County Department of Park and Recreation

• The Miami-Dade County Department of Park and Recreation offers a variety of year-round and summer activities for children with disabilities. Programs are open to individuals between six and 21 years of age and include swimming, soccer and golf lessons. The fencing club for teenagers and young adults with disabilities provides instruction and occasional competitions. The county's Camp Matecumbe is located on 26 acres of private property with sports programs and summer camps. The camp has a swimming area, indoor gymnastic facilities and a canoe launch. Programs at Camp Matecumbe are offered free of charge. Camp Greynolds offers wheelchair accessible accommodations for family summer vacations and has a variety of programs, such as the Oleta River canoe trip, nature hikes and storytelling campfire programs.
  
  Miami-Dade County Department of Park and Recreation
  
  275 NW 2nd St.
  
  Miami, FL 33128
  
  305-755-7800
  
  miamidade.gov