Each summer (and at a special adult camp in March!) approximately 250 youth and teens and adults with Williams syndrome enjoy camp weeks designed especially for them, at WSA sponsored camps. The camps are busy, happy and enriching places with many activities and specialized programs.  Scroll down for specific camp links and the scholarship application.

Camp Blue Skies: March 6 - 10, 2024

Ages 21 and older
Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, GA

5-day/4-night overnight camp for adults (21+) with Williams syndrome provides the opportunity to make friends, acquire new skills, and experience the traditional aspects of camp culture – field games, arts and crafts, fishing, canoeing, hiking, team building, along with music programming – in the safe and friendly environment of Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, GA. Please visit our event page for more information.

Whispering Trails Therapeutic Camp Experience: July 28 - August 1, 2024

Ages 6-12
Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, GA

Therapy Camp is a 5 day/4 night program designed for individuals with WS ages 6-12. Campers attend camp with one parent or caregiver and stay together in cabins with other campers & their parents. 

During the day, campers and their parents will participate in sessions led by trained therapists and certified staff. Campers and parents can also join educational sessions and summer camp activities like archery, biking, boats, rock wall, swimming and more. In the evenings, campers will perform for their peers on the big stage or help cheer their friends on! And of course, there will be campfires, s’mores, and a camp-wide dance party!!

For graduating campers we will again offer an extended camp program. 12 year old campers will be invited to participate in the remaining day and a half of Teen Camp programming and watch the Teen Camp final show. Extended Camp will end on August 2. 

Registration opens late March, 2024. Registration closes: July 17, 2024.

Whispering Trails Teen Camp Experience: July 28 - August 2, 2024

Ages 13-20
Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, GA

Teen Camp is a 6 day/5 night program designed for individuals with WS ages 13-20.  Campers attend camp independently and stay together in cabins with other campers & counselors. 

Campers will choose to participate in a variety of Workshops, such as Band, Chorus, Dance, Drama, Musical Theater, Songwriting, Improvisation, and Composition. Together with their cabins, campers will join summer camp activities like recreation, art, archery, biking, boats, rock wall, swimming, and more. In the evenings, campers will perform for their peers on the big stage or help cheer their friends on! And of course, there will be campfires, s’mores, and a camp-wide dance party!! The end of the week culminates in a show created and performed by our campers! This is their opportunity to share and show off what they have been working on all week!

Registration opens late March, 2024. Registration closes: July 17, 2024.

We can’t wait to see you at camp! 

If you have any questions, please direct them to: summercamp@williams-syndrome.org

SCHOLARSHIPS

Due to the generous support of committed members of the WSA community, we will have scholarships funds available for our 2024 Whispering Trails Therapeutic and Teen Enrichment Summer Camps. The maximum award to offset the cost of camp is up to $750 per awardee. In order to apply for 2024 camp funding, you must:

  • Experience Williams syndrome & be between the ages of 6 and 20
    • Ages 6-12 will need to be able to attend with a caregiver (no cost for the caregiver)
    • Ages 13-20 will need to be able attend independently
  • Be a current WSA member (membership is complimentary) Join or renew your membership now
  • Have financial need*

*For purposes of these scholarships, financial need means being under 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For example, Federal Poverty Guidelines for a family of 4 is an income of $31,200/year. Therefore, 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline for a family of 4 in the 48 contiguous states is an annual income of less than $62,400. If your family meets this criteria, please feel free to apply! Documentation of financial need is not required for application submission but may be requested during the WSA's annual audit. 

2024 Whispering Trails Scholarship applications will be accepted April 1 - May 31, 2024. Scholarships will be announced and awarded by June 14, 2024. To apply for a 2024 Whispering Trails Summer Camp scholarship, use the applicable button above to register for camp. The link to apply for a scholarship will be provided during the registration process.

WORK OR VOLUNTEER AT ONE OF OUR CAMPS

The Williams Syndrome Association only accepts applications to work at our camps. For volunteering and working at the non-WSA camps, visit their websites directly.

For 2024, we are hiring for the following paid positions:

Licensed/Certified Professionals: lead small group therapy sessions, co-treat with fellow therapists and/or music therapy students, push-in to recreational activities, as appropriate, and offer parents professional expertise through parent sessions or “office hours”.  We are interested in hiring individuals with one of the following licenses and/or certifications: Adaptive Physical Educator, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Intervention Specialist, Music Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Recreational Therapist, or Speech Therapist. Experience working with individuals with Williams Syndrome is preferred, but all applicants will be considered. 

Activity Facilitators: design and facilitate weeklong workshops in their area of expertise. Activity areas often include art, dance, musical theater, recreation, and drama/acting.  Prior experience in facilitating class style programming and leading programming for individuals with special needs is highly valued but all experience levels will be considered. 

Music Facilitators: support music programming, collaborating with campers in Songwriting, Improvisation, Composition, and Band workshops. They should be comfortable with campfire-style music making, play one or more instruments (e.g. piano, guitar, etc.) and enjoy singing in groups. Ideal candidates will have a background in improvised or social music making. Prior experience in music teaching and/or leading programming for individuals with special needs is highly valued, but all experience levels will be considered.

Senior Counselors: have experience at our camp programs, or at comparable overnight summer camps. These counselors are responsible for the management of their cabin and their individual campers’ needs. They should be able to implement a successful cabin structure including, but not limited to, creating and facilitating morning and evening camper routines, ensuring camper care sheets are completed, assigning other counselor duties, and facilitating cabin family activities such as; highs/lows, cabin chants, etc. 

Want to come to camp as a volunteer?

We are seeking volunteer counselors for both Camp Programs! Counselors are the heart of camp and support campers and specialized programming. If you are interested in volunteering at camp, please apply below!

Teen Camp Counselors will live in cabins with campers and support the Senior Counselor in ensuring campers’ needs are met. They will also attend and support camp programming throughout the day. 

Therapy Camp Counselors, previously known as Program Assistants, will be assigned to accompany a small group of campers through various therapeutic experiences. Each night, they’ll support evening programming and then stay together in a cabin (not with campers and families).

Counselors in Training: The Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program is growing this year, but it does still have limited spots. In order to apply to be a Counselor in Training, you must: 

  • Be diagnosed with Williams syndrome and have previously attended Whispering Trails Camp Programs 
  • Be at least 23 years old and graduated from camp 2 or more years ago
  • Be able to independently manage your personal care and follow a daily schedule 
  • Have previous volunteer or job experience 

Jr. Counselors: We encourage teenage siblings and close friends/family of individuals with Williams Syndrome to apply to volunteer at camp! Jr. Counselors should be between 14 and 17 years old.

Ready to join us in supporting our campers this summer? Click the button below to apply! 

ACM Lifting Lives Camp

Ages 18 and older

June each year at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Find more information, review the site linked below. Please direct any other questions about the camp to wsmusiccamp@vanderbilt.edu.