While at a camp or respite session at Rising Treetops, clients enjoy daily activities including arts & crafts, music, drama, iPad-based learning, swimming, sports, cooking and gardening/nature. All of our respite services and Summer Camp programs are designed to engage our clients and improve their skills. Clients have fun, inspire each other, have new experiences, make new friendships and experience a heightened sense of independence.
Building Confidence and Independence
Rising Treetops’ 2025 Summer Camp will open in mid-June 2025 with 7 sessions that provide a variety of options for individuals with special needs. Summer camp sessions are designed primarily for children and adults ages 8 and up who possess at least minimal levels of expressive and receptive communication skills, and exhibit behavior that is appropriate for group living. Campers stay in barrier-free cabins with age-appropriate groups. Care and supervision are provided 24/7 by a caring and trained staff that live on site. Campers will have access to a full program of therapeutic recreational activities. In addition, a day camp is also provided to children and adults with special needs, and is available from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on days the overnight camp is in session. The 2025 Summer Camp schedule and registration for the 2025 Summer camp will be available in December 2024.
Our 2025 Summer Camp schedule will include:
- One 8-day session for adults.
- Three 12-day general sessions for all ages and special needs.
- Two 5-day sessions for those applying for autism camp sessions.
- One 6-day “Summer Send-off” open to all ages and special needs.
Families who are caring for someone with special needs in their own home need periodic breaks. They can get one while the individual with special needs enjoys a seven or five day respite session at Rising Treetops. Respites are scheduled from late September through early June. See our Calendar for details.
In addition to our planned overnight respite program, we also provide emergency respite care for individuals with special needs including autism and physical and intellectual disabilities. Emergency respite services are available ONLY between October 1 and May 31 each year. It is not available from June 1 to September 30.
Rising Treetops at Oakhurst’s emergency respite service, started in 2012, has provided dozens of people with disabilities in New York and New Jersey a temporary safe haven, often when there was no other place for them to go.
Emergency respite is designed to provide care for people with special needs on days outside of our planned respite sessions, often with urgent same-day needs, to care for clients when a caregiver has medical issues or passes away, and during a transition period after leaving the care of family members while waiting for new permanent housing.
After-school care for school-age children is available during the school year on a fee-for-service basis. This day respite program is also available to young adults in day programs and is open from 2:00 until 6:00 p.m. We can provide limited one-way transportation from nearby schools or programs to Rising Treetops at Oakhurst, and are also available on school break weeks (not federal holidays) during the school year.
Please call 732-531-0215 for more information. For new clients, an Application for Service will need to be completed, as will an in-person interview.
Rising Treetops at Oakhurst is a great destination for your next group trip, staff development training, or group workshop. We can accommodate day-use and overnight needs. All rental groups must be non-profit organizations. Rentals to for-profit organizations or individuals is not permitted.
Depending on the season and scheduling, groups who rent our facility may have access to our nature walks, grassy lawns, children’s ball field, campfire site, heated pool with a retractable roof, and more! User groups also may use our gymnasium, recreation hall with stage and film/video projection, large dining room, and activities classrooms including arts/crafts, cooking, iPad-based media arts, music and drama.
Sleeping arrangements and food requirements can be tailored to a group’s specific needs. Rates vary according to group requirements. Assistance with transportation may be available. Day-use can be for up to 150 people and overnight accommodations can be provided for up to 108 individuals.