Camp Firefly

Firefly, Teen, Next Step Camps are located just minutes from Wisconsin Dells at JCC's Camp Chi.

swimming, ropes course, boating, arts & crafts, cooking, horseback riding, archery, camp fire, singing, dancing, talent show, radio, drama, olympics, climbing wall, socialization groups

Once school is out, many parents of children with emotional and behavioral issues have limited resources and options for summer activities, especially those that provide an exciting and social environment. Our summer camp offers the perfect solution.

Camp Firefly offers a unique overnight summer camp experience to boys and girls, ages 9-18, who have been diagnosed with social disorders, such as Social Anxiety, OCD, PDD, Asperger's Syndrome, Non-Verbal Learning Disorder, and High Functioning Autism.

It was developed to provide a social, fun, typical overnight camp experience for children who need more support and assistance in social situations, and who may have difficulty attending a typical camp. Camp Firefly offers all of the experiences of a camp that include gaining a sense of autonomy, community, and friendship, while providing the therapeutic, supportive assistance that helps children accomplish these goals.

Camp Firefly (9-14) provides significantly more therapeutic and counselor support than other camps. Our counselors have graduate level training and are seeking professional mental health degrees or work in special education. If your child has never experienced an overnight camp, Camp Firefly offers the attention that can help your child adjust to this new experience. Additionally, Camp Firefly can serve as a way for your child to transition and prepare for a typical camp if that is a personal goal. Children are placed in small cabin groups to better promote friendships and social skills. Counselors work with their cabin groups to provide active and fun activities that promote teamwork and collaboration. In addition to all the fun camp activities offered throughout the day, counselors lead the campers in group therapy daily. These groups are specialized to meet the social needs of the campers and build a sense of community and companionship.

In addition, to such engaging, fun activities, the Teen camp (ages 14-16) includes opportunities for mentoring younger campers, doing a service project, participating in a special teen-oriented field trip. The Next Step camp, is specific to young adults (16-18 years) who have graduated Teen camp, and which includes vocational placements, organizing activities for younger campers, and special outings geared toward independent living.