Family Camp at Idyllwild Pines

Family Camp at Idyllwild Pines offers a 3-Day Family Camp that includes activities such as boomer ball, the hill-slide, the big swing, hiking, campfires, and music. The program emphasizes shared experiences that include friendship among participants. Families stay in cabins that have a refrigerator, microwave, coffee pot, and heat, with queen bed bedding provided and single or twin bed bedding available if needed for those flying to camp.

• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: 3-Day Family Camp sessions
• Price: Programming: $2499/Autistic Individual. Meals (7): $125/Person. Lodging: From $90–$180/Night. May 1–3 Small Camp Deposit Price $200.00. May 8–10 Big Camp Deposit Price $200.00. August 7–9 Big Camp Deposit Price $200.00. August 14–16 Small Camp Deposit Price $200.00. August 21–23 Songwriting Camp Deposit Price $200.00. October 2–4 Big Camp Deposit Price $200.00. October 9–11 Small Camp Deposit Price $200.00. October 16–18 Small Camp Deposit Price $200.00.

Family Camp at Idyllwild Pines is a camp experience for neurodivergent humans who use text-based multimodal communication and their families, including non- or unreliable speakers who are currently learning or fluent with text-based AAC tools. The program does not teach AAC methods or offer therapeutic services at camp and focuses on providing a camp environment for those with limited speech or alternative forms of communication. All ages are welcome to all camps, and autistic individuals are required to attend with a responsible caregiver, while caregivers and additional group members attend for free except for meals and lodging.

Big Camps typically include about 15 families and Small Camps about 10 families, with all communication levels welcome at both, and a Songwriting Camp for about 10 families is available for open-ended text-based communicators who write a song with Brian Laidlaw. Typically about one-third of autistic individuals at camp are ages 5–11, one-third are 12–17, and one-third are 18 and older. Families may stay on-site in community housing or in specific cabins, including VIP Cabins (#9, #33, or #45) and Specialty Cabins (#41 & #46, #20, #8 & #47, #95), or they may book their own lodging off-site, and single or twin beds require bedding, which can be provided if families are flying to camp.

The mission of Family Camp at Idyllwild Pines includes experiencing a safe and inclusive camp environment, participating in the world in a bigger way, building confidence and bravery when trying new things, and being supported by a compassionate community. The mission also includes persevering through challenges with emotional and motor support from a highly trained team, enjoying family-focused activities adapted for text-based communicators, enriching connections among siblings, family, and new friends, and regulating with nature at the camp. The director of the camp has a daughter who is a text-based communicator, and the director identifies as Julie Sando, described as a playful guide.

A registered nurse, who is also an Autism mom, attends as many camps as possible with the intention of being available to assist with medical issues. Volunteers receive free training, meals, and lodging with the team, must be 18 or older or be accompanied by a guardian, and there will likely be other groups on the camp property, such as choir, school, corporate, and outdoor survival groups, along with camp staff. The local fire department has ambulance access and is located within five minutes of camp.

Family Camp at Idyllwild Pines has been running since at least 2022, with families and team members from the first camp referenced from that year. Community involvement includes support from Idyllwild Pines through discounts on meals and lodging and funding support from Teva, with Teva Community in Prescott, AZ, helping lower the cost of camp.

Last updated June 14, 2026.