Easterseals Camp Fairlee
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Easterseals Camp Fairlee stands out as a summer camp that consistently delivers highly positive and memorable experiences, particularly excelling in providing a safe, warm, and fun environment for children with special needs (e.g., autism). It fosters deep, lasting bonds between campers and dedicated counselors, leading to high repeat attendance and lifelong positive recollections.
Key Highlights
- ✓Fosters strong, positive, and lasting relationships between campers and counselors, often described as familial bonds (Review 5).
- ✓Provides a safe, warm, and fun environment, explicitly noted as beneficial for children with special needs (Review 4).
- ✓Consistently high satisfaction leading to repeat attendance and campers planning to return year after year (Review 1, 3, 5).
- ✓Long-standing legacy of caring for children with specific medical needs, indicating specialized expertise and compassion (Review 2).
- ✓Overall consistently positive and enjoyable experiences for all campers (Review 1, 3, 5).
Standout Features
- ⭐Wonderful and dedicated camp director (Review 4).
- ⭐Excellent counselors described as 'great' and 'the best' who form strong, 'like a brother' bonds with campers (Review 3, 4, 5).
- ⭐A 'terrific' and 'safe and warm' overall camp environment (Review 3, 4).
- ⭐Positive social interactions among campers, contributing to an overall great experience (Review 3).
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Parents of children with special needs, particularly those with autism, should strongly consider Camp Fairlee due to its explicitly mentioned safe, warm, and fun environment with supportive staff (Review 4).
- →Families can expect their children to form strong, positive and lasting relationships with counselors, which is a significant highlight of the experience (Review 5).
- →Be aware that minor administrative issues regarding camp dates might occur, but the reviews suggest they can be resolved (Review 1).
- →Expect high camper satisfaction and children wanting to return for multiple years, so planning for repeat attendance is advisable (Review 1, 3, 5).
Things to Consider
- ⚠One camper initially experienced a potential logistical issue with camp date assignment or a perceived cancellation, though the issue was ultimately resolved, and they were able to attend (Review 1).
Price & Value
No specific pricing information is available from the reviews. However, the consistently high praise, multi-year attendance, and expressed desire to return (Reviews 1, 3, 5) strongly suggest excellent value for the experience provided, especially for families seeking specialized care.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Highly recommended for children with special needs, specifically mentioning autism, as it provides a 'safe and warm environment' (Review 4).
- •The camp has a historical precedent of hosting children with specific medical issues (e.g., heart issues, Review 2), suggesting a long-standing capability and commitment to accommodating diverse needs.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No information available from the reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •No information available from the reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •No information available from the reviews.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Consistently described as a 'safe and warm environment' (Review 4).
- •Staff, including the camp director and counselors, are highly praised for their quality and attentiveness, contributing to a secure feeling for parents (Review 3, 4, 5).
⏰When to Avoid
- • No specific situations or times to avoid are mentioned in the reviews.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
3:1 Overnight Summer Camp
Duration: Overnight session (implied week-long)
A traditional camp experience for campers of all ages and abilities to experience adventures.
Includes:
- •Arts & Crafts
- •Music
- •Sports
- •Games
- •Swimming
- •Hiking
- •Canoeing
- •Hayrides
- •Campfires
2:1 Overnight Summer Camp
Duration: Overnight session (implied week-long)
Starting in Summer of 2025, this option provides placement for campers who fall between the qualifications for the 3:1 and 1:1 ratio. Campers are assigned to a counselor in pairs and follow the daily camp schedule. Available in every session except for the 8-day session at the end of August.
Includes:
- •Swimming
- •Singing
- •Arts & Crafts
1:1 Overnight Summer Camp
Duration: Overnight session (implied week-long)
Specialized sessions for campers allowing caregivers to take much-needed time off from caregiving. Participants follow the daily camp schedule. Limited number of spaces available.
Includes:
- •Swimming
- •Singing
- •Arts & Crafts
Daily Adventures
Duration: During the week
Participants reside at Camp Fairlee during the week, but activities involve a daily field trip to nearby points of interest. Postponed until 2022 due to the pandemic (as of content date).
Includes:
- •Field trips to the seashore
- •Field trips to state parks
- •Field trips to zoos
- •Field trips to Washington D.C.
- •Field trips to Annapolis
- •Field trips to Baltimore
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Halloween Respite (3:1 Only)
October 24-26, 2025
Respite weekend program with a Halloween theme, specifically for 3:1 camper to counselor ratio.
Thanksgiving Respite (3:1 Only)
November 21-23, 2025
Respite weekend program with a Thanksgiving theme, specifically for 3:1 camper to counselor ratio.
Holiday Respite (3:1 Only)
December 12-14, 2025
Respite weekend program with a Holiday theme, specifically for 3:1 camper to counselor ratio.
Valentines Respite (3:1 Only)
February 13-15, 2026
Respite weekend program with a Valentine's theme, specifically for 3:1 camper to counselor ratio.
Spring Respite (3:1 Only)
March 13-15, 2026
Respite weekend program with a Spring theme, specifically for 3:1 camper to counselor ratio.
🍎Food Policy
- • Uses an outside vendor with professionally trained and experienced chefs.
- • Can meet special dietary needs such as gluten-free, diabetic, vegetarian, and low sodium diets.
- • Dietary Needs Form available.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Staff are trained as per American Camp Association Standards, requirements by the State of Maryland, and Easterseals policies.
- • Staff training includes: personal care supervision, lifting and transferring, behavior management, abuse, neglect and exploitation, First Aid and CPR.
- • All staff go through criminal background checks with the State of Maryland and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
- • Lifeguards are certified by the American Red Cross.
- • Healthcare professionals available: Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Certified Medication Technicians (CMTs).
- • During summer sessions, there are at least two nurses on site 24/7.
- • A physician is on call year-round for all programs.
- • Camp Fairlee will routinely COVID-19 test the staff and campers during the summer.
- • Camp Fairlee will continue to screen for COVID-19 symptoms.
- • COVID Screener Form must be brought to check-in.
📅Booking Policy
- • All participants must present completed registration and medical forms before admission.
- • First-time participants and their families will be interviewed by staff prior to admission to ensure needs can be met.
- • Individuals with high-risk behaviors should contact Camp Fairlee to make certain appropriate resources are available.
- • Required forms include: Clothing & Equipment List, COVID Screener Form, Dietary Needs Form, Health History & Physical Exam Form, Horseback Riding Registration, Letter of Intent for Funding, Medication Change Form, Scholarship Application, Summer Camp Brochure & Application.
Photos
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Zachary Briddell
2 years agoI enjoy going to Camp Fairle so Much and I had so much fun at the camp. * I wish they would keep me on the camp date that I was supposed to go.* and I thought it was canceled but now I was able to go to Camp Fairle and I did! I had a good week at the camp! I’m planning to go next year!
Deanna Jenks
6 months agoI had the opportunity to camp at Fairlee Manor every summer for 2 weeks for 5 years approximately 1957-1962. Two weeks every summer EasterSeals hosted children with heart issues. This experience was one of the best of my lifetime. I’m now 77 years old and will never forget this wonderful experience.
Ol' Beau
8 months agoMy opinion isn't relevant as I wasn't a guest there. My son's opinion of the place is top notch. He has gone there three times and never had a real complaint. His counselors are great, the environment is terrific and the experience there and with the other campers couldn't have been better. He is already talking about it for next year.
Alex Murray
a year agoWe send our son Aden (who is autistic) there for camp and he LOVES it. The camp director is wonderful and the staff is great. We feel camp Fairlee is a safe and warm environment where Aden can have fun and still feel safe. I recommend this camp to anyone who has a special need son or daughter. Thank you camp Fairlee.
King Slayer
8 months agomy counsler and I had the best time it was his first year their and my third year I would highly recommend this to anyone ... who hasn't gone to a camp I enjoyed every min of it ... my counselor name was Saul he was the best my best friend ... like a brother to me still is I'll never forget that and big Saul will always be a part of me