3-Day Spellers Family Camp

Your whole family and/or extra supporters are encouraged to attend camp! Parents, siblings, communication partners, aides, extended family members, etc. are all welcome! It’s up to you to secure lodging and meals for all your group members.

A wide range of ages enjoy Spellers Family Camp. We are passionate about honoring age and presuming competence based on the age of our students. We design activities and cultivate connections with age in mind. Typically about ⅓ of campers are ages 5-11, ⅓ are 12-17, and ⅓ are 18+. Note, many camps are open to all ages; some camps may have age guidelines and are designed with a specific age range in mind (e.g. 13+).

Volunteers receive free training, meals, and lodging with our team. It’s a rewarding opportunity to learn, connect, and experience the joys of camp while supporting Autism families. Volunteers must be 18+ or be accompanied by a guardian. Please direct potential volunteers to our Volunteer Application.

We have put a diverse team together to support you on your vacation! Our team’s specialties include text-based communication practice, regulation practice, occupational therapy, music therapy, play therapy, massage therapy, reiki, and more!

Yes, there will be other groups on the camp property, such as choir groups, school groups, corporate groups, outdoor survival groups, etc., as well as Idyllwild Pines Camp & Conference Center staff. We will have reserved spaces for our group activities, and other groups will have their own areas reserved. Idyllwild Pines Camp & Conference Center goes a step beyond by educating their staff and informing other groups about Autism and our group, in an effort to create an inclusive, safe, more understanding, and friendly camp environment for all. The director of the camp has a daughter who a speller, so the culture is extra welcoming and understanding.

There is a registered nurse (who is also a mom of a speller) who attends as many camps as she can with the intention of being available to assist with any medical issues. Additionally, the local fire department has ambulance access and is located within five minutes of camp.

Camp registration for all camps opens early in the year. Join our Camp Information Mailing List to receive notifications about when registration opens and any spots that become available due to cancellations. You may also wish to learn about our other types of camps we offer. Here is the typical Registration Process:

Whether you’ve been to camp before or not, every family has an equal opportunity to register, and spots are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure fairness, we do not reserve any listed spots for anyone—no matter how much we adore them! The best way to secure a spot and your preferred cabin is to be prepared: research the cabin options, have a payment plan ready, and register as soon as registration opens.

There are many funding agencies, each with different policies. To simplify our registration process, we require everyone, regardless of any funding sources, to pay the $200 Deposit directly via credit card, Venmo (recommended), or PayPal. This is a non-refundable, out-of-pocket payment. The deposit will be applied toward meals/lodging costs. (Many funding companies do not cover meals for additional family members.) Any remaining amount will be credited to the Programming Fee. Full camp payment (minus the deposit) can be paid through a guaranteed funding source (e.g. Self Determination).

Families have had great success receiving funding through California Regional Centers Self Determination. We are not a vendor of the California Regional Center, however we are vendored with Self Determination funding agencies. Self Determination typically covers the cost of the Regional Center client (2025 cost: $2300 + $120 for meals + variable housing rate for the camper) but other family member costs typically have to be paid out of pocket (2025 cost: $120/person for meals). It may be important for them to know that our camp is inclusive with family members of all abilities participating in activities. Some families have had success using CA Regional Center funds under Social Recreation. Every Regional Center is different. We recommend contacting your service coordinator for details. We also have had some success accepting Class Wallet and ESA funds for Arizona Families, if applicable. Direct your billing questions to Kerilyn@AutisticallyInclined.com. Info and Language for California Regional Centers: We do not teach spelling methodologies at camp. Staff: Our staff have a variety of expertise, including SLPs, OTs, Music Therapists, Assistive Technology Specialists, Massage Therapists, etc. Inclusion: Our camp provides inclusive camp activities and experiences for text-based AAC users and their families. There is nothing experimental about connecting with friends at camp and receiving professional support from a wide variety of practitioners. If research is required for "self-determination" funding please start with this research: www.acacamps.org/news/press-release/breakthrough-study-outlines-benefits-camp-experience. Communication Requirements: All families must have some level of experience with high-tech or low-tech, text-based AAC, since we do not teach communication methods at this camp.​ Rates: All Camps: $2300 + Meals (7): $120/person + Lodging: $85-$110/night Deposit: A $200 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot. This is an out-of-pocket payment. Registration Requirement: Complete the intake form and waiver the same day as paying the deposit. A link to the forms will be emailed after your deposit is processed. Invoice Details: An invoice will be sent within 5 business days of completion of your participant intake form. Direct Payments: Full payment is due within 5 business days of receiving the invoice. Guaranteed External Funding (e.g., Self-Determination): The full payment is due as soon as possible or within 30 days of camp commencement (for FMS companies with this policy). If payment is not received within this time frame, the family will be held responsible for completing the payment. Refund Policy: No refunds will be issued unless your spot is filled by another participant. If your spot is filled and the program is paid in full, a refund minus the $200 nonrefundable deposit will be issued. Exceptions: As with any typical business, our expenses are dependent upon each of the spots being filled at camp. If your agency expects differently, please email us your guidelines for our review. If you need a specific refund policy in order to receive funding, please let us know what you need. We are happy to help. Billing: Kerilyn@AutisticallyInclined.com Logistics: Jake@AutisticallyInclined.com

Because you are securing a limited spot at camp, we can't provide a refund, unless your spot is filled. A refund minus a $200 deposit can be issued if the spot you cancel gets booked by another family and is paid in full. The more advance notice you give us, the higher the chance is for your spot to be filled.

We ask that you do your best to anticipate how many in your group will be attending. However, we know that life happens! If you need to add or remove a member after registration, you may contact us prior to camp so we may adjust meals and participant numbers accordingly. Removing a family member may result in a small processing fee to cover any fees incurred on our end.

No, unfortunately because cabin options are limited and we book all the available cabins with families, we are unable to change the cabin you reserved. If you would like to cancel the cabin you reserved and stay off-site, please contact us to explore your options.

Yes! Cabins are usually available the night before camp begins and the night after it ends, at the same nightly rate. During the registration process, you’ll have the chance to indicate your interest in extra nights. If plans change, and you need to add or remove an extra night, simply let us know at least three weeks before camp starts.