A Camp for Youth & Young Adults with Autism & Asperger Syndrome, Ages 10 to 21

Discovery I: June 24 - 29 (boys and girls, ages 10-21)

Discovery II: July 10 - 15 (boys ONLY, ages 10-21)
Discovery Extreme Adventure: July 15 - 18 (boys and girls, ages 10-21)

Appropriate for campers needing 4:1 support. This camp is designed for youth with autism who are seeking a summer camp experience but would benefit from a high degree of structure and small group activities. Their special interests launch them into week-long fun!

watch the movie to prepare campers for their week.

Discovery is located at Camp Courage in beautiful Maple Lake, MN. Situated near the Twin Cities, this location provides nature adventures such as a bird sanctuary and naturalist sessions. The facilities are modern and spacious. Campers will be divided according to age, gender and interests, into sleeping cabins with four bedrooms and four campers per bedroom. Activity choices will include horse-back riding, swimming (indoor and out) boating, fishing, hiking, cooking, crafts, digital photography and special events.

Everyone participates in small group discussions focusing on social skill development, self-awareness and self-advocacy. Young adults with ASD work as mentors with the campers. Campers should be able to positively participate with small groups of peers while remaining safe as this camp does not provide 1:1 support. 

Camp Discovery Extreme Adventure 

Following the Discovery II camp session, up to nine fortunate Discovery campers and three staff members will embark on a River Canoe Adventure near Maple Lake.

This year's Extreme Adventure will be a fun and challenging canoe trip. We will get packed and head out of camp on Sunday afternoon. Camp out under the stars on Sunday night and canoe all day Monday, stopping along the river for lunch and breaks. On Monday night, we will set up camp again along the river and canoe again Tuesday morning. We will return to Maple Lake on Tuesday afternoon for a final night of fun and celebration. Parents will pick up their camper on the morning of the last day of camp. There will be no bus transportation option for the return to the Twin Cities.

Additonal training at Camp Discovery will be given to the five adventurers before they leave on their trip. The Camp Director will assess each camper to ascertain their readiness and fitness for this trip.

Extreme adventurers must:

• Tolerate several hours of canoeing
• Have attended Discovery at least one year previously
• Sleep in a tent in any weather
• Use a portable, outdoor toilet
• Tolerate insects/mosquitoes

Kari Dunn Buron developed Camp Discovery. She was succeeded as director of Camp Discovery in 2010 by Heather Hanzlick who co-directed Camp Discovery with Kari in 2009. Hanzlick, MS, has years of experience as an Autism Resource Specialist. Heather's co-directors this year are: Jill Pring (session I) who has over 15 years experience with ASD and numerous years working with Kari at Camp Discovery and Nichelle Zimmer (Session I) who has over 10 years experience as an Autism Resource Specailist and has worked for several years at Camp Discovery.

Related Links
download a map and directions to Camp Courage-Maple Lake (PDF)

Discovery Week 1 Menu (PDF)

Discovery Week 2 Menu (PDF)