Ben James Summer Camp

Registration:

Ben James Summer Camp Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis and will be determined by the timestamp of your application.

All applications submitted before the listed date/time will be considered invalid. Any application submitted outside of the age bracket date/time will be considered invalid.

• For example: Application for camper age 13 submitted on April 2nd 2024 will be considered invalid.
• For example: Application submitted for age 5 on April 2nd 2024 at 11:59am will be considered invalid.

Registration Dates: 

• 5-12 years old – April 2nd 2024 12:00PM (noon)
• 13-17 years old – April 3rd 2024 12:00PM (noon)
• 18+ years old – April 4th 2024 12:00PM (noon)

How to access Registration Link: 

Come back to this webpage on your designated registration date/time. A link will become visible at 12:00PM (noon).

Please note: there is often a technical delay between when we post the link and when they become visible to the public. If the link does not appear right away, please just keep refreshing until it does.

Registration Links: 

Please Note: all of our camps are currently full with a lengthy waitlist. We have closed our camp applications for the 2024 season. See you in 2025!

5-12 years old: Full!

13-17 years old: Full!

18+ years old: Full!

Ages:

Ages 5+

Ben James Summer Camp does not have a maximum camper age to attend. Our 18+ age group is open to individuals of all ages who would like to attend summer camp.

Locations:

Halifax – Spryfield Lion’s Rink and Recreation Centre
Dartmouth – Port Wallis United Church

Provincial Locations – Autism Nova Scotia is proud of offer summer camps in all of our provincial chapter locations. For more information on summer camps across the province please visit out ‘Regional Summer Camp‘ webpage or contact your local Autism Nova Scotia Chapter Coordinator.

Fee:

Camper Fee: $400/week

The camper fee includes all outings, activities, and 1:1 support.

Description:

In 2020, Ben James Autism Summer Camp began offering sessions for adults aged 21 and older. To accommodate the greater numbers of autistic children, youth and adults seeking a summer camp experience, the camp moved from a two-week program to one week of full-days. The camp has received recognition over its 20 years, including numerous media features and in 2020 it was awarded the Invisible Champion Award from the Bhayana Foundation for developing and offering a “pandemic-safe” version of the summer day camp model that was then used by other camps across Nova Scotia.

During each week of camp, campers have inclusive recreational and social opportunities that they may not otherwise have access to throughout summer months. Campers’ experiences are individualized and staff and volunteers work with each camper to determine what they want ‘camp’ to look like for them. This allows campers a sense of empowerment – as one camper put it, “I love that they say yes to all of my ideas!”

Autism Nova Scotia wishes to thank the following supporters of Ben James Autism Summer Camp: The Craig Foundation, Windsor Foundation, Government of Canada (Canada Summer Jobs), Province of Nova Scotia (SKILL), Mackie Moving Systems