Frequently Asked Questions

Camp Thorpe was founded in 1927 by Reverend Walter Thorpe as the Vermont Camp for Crippled Children. They were aware that summer camp was an option only for the privileged few; for the most part, summer camps in Vermont were attended by well-to-do children from other states. There were no summer camps for underprivileged or handicapped children.

Thorpe’s concept involved providing a positive camping experience for children challenged with handicapping conditions. The camp’s original philosophy created a support system to offer partial or full ‘camperships’ for families needing financial assistance.

Camp Thorpe’s tradition, created in the natural elements of the Vermont Green Mountains, intends to provide children and adults with fun, adventurous camping experiences regardless of special need or financial status.

Camp Thorpe is a summer camp for children and adults with moderate special needs. We offer experiences for individuals with developmental, intellectual and physical disabilities. Our campers range in age from 12 through older adults.

Our typical camper thrives in a 3-camper-to-one-counselor ratio for a 6 or a 12-day session of camp. Campers should be able to thrive in a rustic camp environment, traverse uneven and hilly grounds (with assistance), and able to participate in adapted summer camp activities.

In order to see if your camper is able to be a successful Camp Thorpe camper, please contact [email protected] or register by clicking the link on our main page once registration is open on January 8th and apply.

 

The ratio of campers to counselors is three campers to one counselor. If campers are not able to thrive in that ratio, we do an option for a limited number of campers each session  to attend with an EXTERNAL 1:1 aide for an extra charge.

CAMP THORPE DOES NOT PROVIDE 1:1 AIDES.

Camp Thorpe accepts campers with a wide variety of special needs who fit into our ratio of 1 counselor to 3 campers. This means campers must be able to function within that ratio medically, physically, emotionally, behaviorally, and dietarily.

Camp Thorpe DOES NOT provide 1:1 aides due to staffing constraints. 

Rare exceptions may be made for campers who wish to attend camp with a private aide at an additional fee. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Session 1-3, 2 week sessions: $1,400 for campers of all ages.

Session 4 1-week session: $700.

To remain affordable to our campers and their families, we offer tuition at approximately half the actual cost per camper ($2875/camper). Tuition includes programming, lodging, meals, special events, and snacks for camp programs.

 

Camp Thorpe offers “Camperships” to campers who require financial assistance. These scholarships cover the full or partial cost of tuition. Please reach out to Kait at [email protected] for more details regarding Campership applications.

For the 2024 season, the session dates are as follows:

Session 1 – June 23 to July 5th ($1,400)
Session 2 – July 7 to July 19 ($1,400)
Session 3 – July 21 to Aug 2 ($1,400)
Session 4 – Aug 4 to Aug 10 ($1,400)

No day is typical at Camp Thorpe but campers can enjoy a variety of activities including cookouts, singing around the campfire, hiking, boating, swimming, fishing, Summer Olympics, and more during their session!

We have a large facility with a pool, tennis court, cabins, wooded trails, large dining hall, multi-purpose room, pond, craft cabin, pavilion, and more!

For a more detailed look at a previous year’s schedule, click here!

A suggested clothing list will be emailed with the acceptance letter. It can also be found here! As some general guidelines:

• All clothing and other personal items must be labeled with the camper’s name.
• Laundry will be done following the first week of the camping session.
• Clothing inventories are completed at check-in.
• Campers are asked to either bring a sleeping bag or one set of sheets, a blanket and pillow.

YES! ALL campers must arrive at their intake with their medications in DOSE PACKING. Campers who arrive without this WILL NOT be able to attend. Reach out to your Pharmacist ASAP after filling out your application to make sure you have them ready for camp. 

More information on Dose Packing can be found Here!

Camp Thorpe has a full-time nurse on camp grounds at all times. We have a fully stocked health center serves the daily needs of each camper. The nurse provides each camper will one-to-one attention in regards to medications and daily monitoring for health concerns. Our staff are CPR/AED certified during orientation week if they are not already certified.

Both campuses of Camp Thorpe are located at 680 Capen Hill Road, Goshen, Vermont on 171 acres in the Green Mountains. Instructions for how to get to Camp can be found Here!

Camp Thorpe is fortunate to have a large dining hall that includes an auditorium and stage in the lower level. Our large outdoor “Ralph and Norma Hathaway Pavilion” allows for cool evening dances and rainy day activities. In addition, campers enjoy a recreation court, a pool, a large playground, pond for fishing and boating, a nature lodge, an arts and crafts building, a health center, and cabins that accommodate three campers and one staff member. Trails through the surrounding woods create opportunities for hiking.

Counselors are teachers, college students, and other qualified individuals who are carefully chosen because of their understanding of the physical and emotional needs of our campers. Counselors are also recruited through a foreign exchange program adding cultural experience for the campers to enjoy. We are proud to have roughly half of our staff be International. All full-time counselors must be at least at least 18 years of age to apply.

All counselors and CITs must be CPR/First Aid/AED certified or will become certified during orientation week.