Camp Kaleidoscope

Every family deserves a vacation — especially yours.

Camp Kaleidoscope is a joyful, inclusive retreat where autistic children and their families can rest, connect, and celebrate one another. It was created to honor each person’s individuality while supporting genuine experiences of relaxation, play, and belonging.

At the heart of this retreat is a simple belief: autism is a natural part of human diversity. Families are welcomed into an environment designed to help them thrive exactly as they are, with space for togetherness, independence, and time in nature. Flexible routines, inclusive activities, and staff who respect each person’s communication and sensory needs help create a setting where connection feels easy and authentic.

Support begins on the first day of camp, when each family meets their own Family Partner. This is typically a graduate student studying speech language pathology, occupational therapy, or a related field. The Family Partner helps facilitate camp life and offers practical support throughout the family retreat.

There is room for every kind of day here. In the mornings, children enjoy creativity, age-appropriate games, nature-based exploration, and supervised unstructured play. Meanwhile, adults have several dedicated hours to take a class, go for a hike, or simply rest. In the afternoons and evenings, camp staff lead shared activities for families and their Family Partners, including swimming, dance parties, and campfires.

The setting adds to the experience. Common Ground Center is a 700-acre sustainable campus surrounded by the beauty of the Vermont outdoors. The grounds include barn spaces that serve as classrooms and stages, playgrounds, hiking trails, sports fields and courts, hammocks, and more.

Each family stays in a cozy cabin tucked into the woods, yet still close to the dining hall and shared bathhouse. The bathhouse includes indoor and outdoor showers, electricity, and flush toilets. Families may also choose to tent camp on provided platforms or in the open field.

Meals are homemade by the kitchen staff and designed to be simple, plentiful, and full of options. The menu is planned in advance, which helps families with selective eaters know what to expect.

What families are saying

• “This was our first time at Camp Kaleidoscope and it was refreshing to visit a place where I (we) didn’t feel judged. The grounds were beautiful. We really appreciated the flexibility with food and that we could bring our own.” – Parent, New Hamshire
• “Camp K is an amazing experience! It is the one place where you know everyone ‘gets’ what it means to raise a child on the spectrum. Our family can just relax and be ourselves.” – Parent, Massachusetts
• “The blessing of Camp Kaleidoscope helps us to experience the joy autism can bring when the world cares enough to create a space for us.” – Camp Parent
• “Camp K is a community that offers a place for families like ours to be accepted for exactly what we are. At Camp K Autism is normal.” – Parent, Vermont

Here, every family belongs, every way of being is respected, and every moment is an invitation to simply be.