Our Story
Camp Sunshine has been located in Ridgewood, NJ, since 1960, when a group of parents banded together to create a “Place in the Sun” where their campers could enjoy each summer to the fullest. Summertime is a joyful season, a time for swimming, crafting, playing, and exploring new activities. For those with developmental disabilities, it can be challenging to find an inclusive and safe space to experience all the opportunities summer has to offer.
Camp Sunshine provides its campers with this opportunity and affords them the necessary supervision. Even though they may have orthotics or wheelchairs, Camp Sunshine eliminates the barriers of the everyday world. Bridging these gaps has great rewards in building self-esteem, emotional growth, and social relationships. The permanent facility serves disabled children and young adults from Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Morris, and Sussex Counties. At Camp Sunshine, you will find no obstacles to overcome. Everything is adapted to suit the needs of our campers.
Camp Sunshine
The Camp Sunshine opens each summer for 8 weeks (Mon. – Fri., 9:00 A.M.-3:30 P.M.) It is unique among its peers because of its corps of volunteers who provide one-on-one care to our campers. Each volunteer has the opportunity to assist one camper in various camp activities throughout the day
Campers participate in daily Arts & Crafts and sports activities, go swimming twice during each day in our adapted, onsite, heated swimming pool, and special events such as EMS Day, Unique Creatures, and Dolly the Clown. Our staff and volunteers ensure that our campers get the fullest enjoyment from the opportunities offered at Camp Sunshine.
Camp Snowflake 
Camp Snowflake, founded in 1970, is a similar program to Camp Sunshine, with its reliance on one-to-one attention and its adapted activities. Snowflake meets once per week, on Saturday afternoons from 12:30 P.M. to 4:00 P.M., from September through April, except for holidays. Camp Snowflake serves as a recreational and social meeting place for our campers during the school year.
Activities include arts & crafts activities, adapted games, and special events such as pizza days, Holiday parties, and Olympics Day.