Neighborhood and Community Services

703-324-4600 TTY 711
12011 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, VA 22035
Lloyd Tucker
Director

Department Resources

Therapeutic Recreation Camps


About our Camps

Therapeutic Recreation Services' (TRS) elementary and teen camps are traditional day camp programs modified and structured to meet the unique needs of the disability community.  They are designed to engage campers in a variety of leisure activities, develop new leisure interests, socialize with peers, have fun and build independence skills.  

TRS preschool camp is a structured play program for preschool children with and without developmental delays and/or disabilities. More information.
 

Who We Serve

All camp sites are open to residents of Fairfax County, the City of Falls Church and the City of Fairfax with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, physical disabilities, emotional disabilities, learning disabilities and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorders.
 

Ages

Camp serves youth and teens/young adults…

  • Ages 2 to 5, who have not completed kindergarten. Preschool camp.
  • Ages 5 to 12 (5-year-olds must have completed kindergarten).
  • Ages 12 to 22 (22-year-olds who have not yet graduated). This year, we are allowing caregivers of 12-year-olds to choose whether they think Elementary or Teen camp would be a better fit for their camper. Please note you can only choose one age group or the other, not both camps.

Dates & Hours

Elementary & Teen Camp runs for six weeks during the summer:

Week 1: June 29 - July 2 (No camp July 3) 
Week 2: July 6 - 10 
Week 3: July 13 - 17 
Week 4: July 20 - 24
Week 5: July 27 - 31 
Week 6: Aug. 3 - 6 (No camp Aug. 7)

Camp Hours: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Monday - Friday

Locations

Camp will be offered at three middle school locations this year:

  • Frost MS
  • Irving MS
  • Hughes MS

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Registration opens at 12:01 a.m. on the following dates: 

Elementary Camp (ages 5 to 12): Wednesday, March 11

Teen Camp (ages 12 to 22): Wednesday, March 18

 

How to Register & Registration Process:

To register, please login into TRACERS or, if you are new to TRS, create a customer account.

  1. Parent/Caregiver fills out and submits registration and partial payment via TRACERS.
  2. The TRS Team reviews and assesses each registration to confirm eligibility and ratio needs.
  3. The TRS Team reviews site/room capacity to determine enrollment capability.
  4. Customer receives an email confirmation with the status of the child's enrollment (enrolled or waitlisted), for each of their requested week of camps.

 

Registration WindowDecision Email ByNotes
Wed. March 11 – Tue. Mar. 17Mon. March 23Elementary Registration Opens
Wed. March 18 – Tue. March 24Mon. March 30Teen Registration Opens
Wed. March 25 – Tue. March 31Mon. April 6Preschool Registration Opens
Wed. April 1 – Tue. April 7Mon. April 13All Programs
Wed. April 8 – Tue. April 14Mon. April 20All Programs
Wed. April 15 – Tue. April 21Mon. April 27All Programs
Wed. April 22 – Tue. April 28Mon. May 4All Programs
Wed. April 29 – Tue. May 5Mon. May 11All Programs
May 6 and AfterWithin 5 Business DaysAll Programs

Submission of a form is not confirmation of enrollment for camp. You will receive a registration status email by the Monday after your registration window closes.

Fee scale for TRS Summer Camps (beginning Summer 2025) will include adjusted income brackets and associated camp fees to be more in line with other Neighborhood and Community Services' camp program fee scales.

$132,500 and above: $172/week

$119,250 - $132,499: $143/week

$106,000 - $119,249: $116/week

$92,750 - $105,999: $87/week

$79,500 - $92,749: $59/week

$66,250 - $79,499: $32/week

$53,000 - $66,249: $19/week

$52,999 and below: $10/week

Ratios

Camp sites are structured to provide support to campers of varying abilities and disabilities, as each site will have a variety of staff to participant ratios available to meet the different needs of campers. At each site, ratio options are:

  • 1:2 (one staff for every two participants)
  • 1:3/4 (one staff for every three to four participants)
  • 1:5 (one staff for every five participants)

*Note: participants who require constant 1:1 support may need more support than this camp structure can provide. If you are unsure if your child will be successful in the program, please call the main TRS office at 703-324-5532, TTY 711, to discuss eligibility. PLEASE NOTE: space for camp is limited and enrollment is subject to availability.

 

Accommodations

Our goal is to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where every camper can thrive. We provide various forms of support that are targeted to meet your camper's individual needs. These can include, but are not limited to, redirection, hand-under-hand assistance during activities, schedule cues, assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), administration of medication and some medical procedures.

 

Medications and Personal Care

Camp staff are trained to provide personal care support and administer medications.

Medical Procedures

Camp staff can be trained to administer select medical procedures to campers. Parents and Caregivers will be asked to assist in training staff of the child’s procedure.

Paperwork

A physician’s authorization for each medication and/or procedure that your child may need during camp hours is required prior to your child starting camp.

  • Campers will not be able to attend a camp day until all forms are submitted.
     
  • Additional medical and medication forms will be sent to customers after your application is processed.

We offer transportation to and/or from camp provided through a contract with Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). If you choose to utilize this transportation option, the camper’s summer site will be determined by TRS based on the participant’s pick-up address. If you choose to provide your own transportation, you will have the ability to select the camper’s summer camp location. 

*Transportation is not provided for Preschool Camp.

There are a few things to note if you anticipate your child may be participating in FCPS’s Extended School Year Program (ESY) this summer. Please let TRS staff know ASAP if your child plans to attend ESY so that we can make proper arrangements!

Elementary ESY overlaps with weeks 2 - 5 of TRS Elementary Summer Camp (July 6 - 31). Because the hours are not a full day, a child will have the option to be bused to a TRS location after their ESY day ends. Please note that the hours for Elementary ESY vary by location, so make sure the hours work for your child to be able to get a quality day at camp before choosing that as an option. 

Middle and Highschool ESY overlaps with weeks 2 - 5 of TRS Teen/Young Adult Summer Camp. Because the hours are a full day, a child will not be able to participate in both TRS camp and ESY for those weeks.

Center-Based ESY: Due to center-based ESY hours, students are able to attend TRS camp after ESY. 

More Information

Call 703-324-5532, TTY 711, or email staff.

Visit Therapeutic Recreation Services for more information.


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