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Camp Oakhurst Special Needs Camp – NEW JERSEY
Camp Oakhurst, established in 1906, is operated by New York Service for the Handicapped (NYSH), an independent non-profit social service agency with offices in New York City and Oakhurst, New Jersey.
NYSH serves children, teens and adults with physical and developmental disabilities, including autism. Our campus is fully accessible and barrier free for wheelchair users, including our heated swimming pool!
Camp Oakhurst is only about 55 miles south of New York City, but for the 1,300 children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities who attend our programs each year, it feels like a long way from home–and that’s just the way they like it.
Services Include:
Summer Camp Program
In 2013 Camp Oakhurst will have a nine week summer program. The first week will be for adults (approx. age 20 and up) and the next six weeks for children and teenagers (between the ages of 8 and 19 — attending for two, four, or six weeks). Then in mid- to late-August there will be two separate one-week sessions for children and young adults (ages 6 to approx. age 21) diagnosed with autism.
Each summer campers are grouped according to age, not disability. We have six camper cabins (three for males, three for females) each housing up to twelve campers. Trained staff provide physical care assistance and support throughout the day. The camper to counselor ratio is on average 2 to 1 and there is 24-hour nursing coverage on site.
The daily program at Camp Oakhurst in our summer sessions includes many familiar activities like swimming, sports/recreation, arts/crafts, music/drama, cooking, media arts, nature programs, and much more. Our 15-acre facility is barrier-free and includes a gymnasium, and a heated swimming pool. All activities are tailored to the individual abilities of our campers. Our daily schedule is supplemented with special events and social outings to beaches, boardwalks, and other area attractions.
Year-Round Out-of-Home Respite
The goal is to strengthen the entire family by giving the care giver timely breaks and the family member with disabilities a chance to live in a supportive environment outside the home.
Family care givers who are coping with the long term responsibility of looking after a relative with disabilities at home need relief. They can get periodic respite breaks for 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 days (as scheduled) while their relative with disabilities is cared for at Camp Oakhurst.
Overnight respite is available throughout the year. Registered families receive a calendar of scheduled periods and can reserve time in advance so it can coincide with their plans for vacations, business trips or other events. It can also give family care givers important time to themselves or time to recuperate from an illness.
While participating in a the overnight respite program, family members with disabilities participate in activities with their peers and have access to seasonal recreational activities, which include arts/crafts, athletics, cooking, media arts, music/drama, swimming, off-Camp trips and other activities. Staff members provide physical care and supervision 24 hours a day. Transportation is available.
Day Respite
Day Respite is only available to adult residents of Monmouth County. Time is arranged in advance to allow care givers the freedom to attend to family business or spend time alone.
While participating in a day respite program, adults with disabilities participate in activities with their peers and have access to seasonal recreational activities, which include arts/crafts, athletics, swimming, games, and other activities. Staff members provide physical care and supervision all hours the day recreation program is in session. Transportation is available.
Go to the Apply for Services section of this website to download an application for services. Summer camp session schedules are typically available in January each year. See our Calendar for more information.
If you want more information about Camp Oakhurst, please contact us at 732-531-0215 or info@nysh.org for more information and an application.
New York Office
1140 Broadway – Suite 903
New York, New York 10001
Phone: 212.533.4020
