2026 SUMMER CAMPs
for deaf/hoh high school students
Note: If you are entering your Senior year (summer between Junior and Senior year) and you are interested in attending, it is likely your camp (must be career-focused) registration cost will be covered by the DHS-VR (Department of Human Services, Vocational Rehabilitation) office. Transportation to/from the camp will be at your own expenses however financial assistance for this can also be requested. For information and questions regarding financial assistance, contact your home DRS counselor.
Camp Launch
Ages/Grade Levels: Between the ages of 14 - 22 for eligibility
When: Arrival on Sunday, July 5, at 6 PM. Camp ends Friday, July 10 at 2 PM. *If campers need to arrive Thursday evening due to travel, please email [email protected] after completing your registration.
Where: SIUE Campus
Camp Fee: Free!
Contact: Amy Miller, 618-531-3726, [email protected]
Website: https://www.siue.edu/access/deaf-services/CampLaunch
The “SIUE Camp Launch” summer camp is designed to allow attendees to engage in a wide variety of activities geared toward transitioning from high school to college and employment. Over the course of the experience, participants will learn fundamentals of self-advocacy, understanding the law (ADAAA) as it applies to persons with disabilities, job exploration and counseling, work-based learning experience, and explore postsecondary pathways to higher education.
DISCOVER COLLEGE AND CAREERS
Program date: June 22 - 28, 2026
Program fee: $750
Students will receive $1,000 scholarship when enrolled at Gallaudet University for college.
Website: https://gallaudet.edu/youth-programs/discover-college-and-careers/
For students who are entering 10th, 11th or 12th grade; Students should come ready to work on developing their transition plans, identifying their interests and skills through career assessments, and exploring potential careers with Gallaudet’s five schools. Students will also experience the vibrant Gallaudet student life Washington, D.C.!
Additional camps (Financial Wizards, GenCyber, Got Skills?, Immerse Into ASL, Camp Listo: Medramos!, and Bison Filmmakers) also available, please see website for more information.
Explore Your Future (EYF)
Session I: July 11-15, 2026
Session II: July 18-22, 2026
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Fee: $900
Website: https://www.rit.edu/ntid/EYF
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 585-475-6700 * 585-286-4555 (VP) * 585-448-9651 (Text/FaceTime)
For students entering 11th or 12th grade; EYF is a six-day career awareness program where students experience college life, enjoy hands-on activities, and get a taste of real-world careers in the fields of business, computing, engineering, health sciences, science and art. A one-day parent/guardian workshop is also provided on the last day. Students who attend EYF who enroll at RIT/NTID for college will receive a $1,000 scholarship and an application fee waiver to apply to NTID/RIT.
Health Care Career Exploration Camp (HCCE)
July 18-22, 2026
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Fee: $900
Application Deadline: May 30, 2026
Website: https://www.rit.edu/ntid/camps/healthcareers
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 585-475-7695 * 585-286-4555 (VP) * 585-448-9651 (Text/FaceTime)
For students entering 10th, 11th or 12th grade who are interested in a career in the health care field. Learn about various careers in health care; enjoy field trips to area medical facilities; be a part of hands-on demonstrations in biology, exercise science, laboratory science, microbiology, nursing, nutrition; become CPR certified; and more.
Illinois STEM week
Dates: TBA
Illinois State University
Deadline: Mid-May
Website: https://www.rit.edu/ntid/pre-ets
Email: Yvette Chirenje (Assistant Director for Outreach and Special Projects), [email protected]
Phone: 585-475-6639
The Pre-Employment Transition Services week provides opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing college-bound students from different states to gain experience and explore their career interests in STEM fields. These programs are available to all eligible deaf and hard-of-hearing high school students with approval and paid for by their state Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.
YOUTH LEADERSHIP CAMP (YLC)
June 28 - July 22, 2026
Camp Taloali, Stayton, Oregon
Fee: $4,250 / $4,750
Website: https://youth.nad.org/ylc/ylc-camper-information-2/
Email: [email protected]
The camp provides leaders the ability to develop their scholarship, leadership, and citizenship (SLC) qualities in nature environment. Leaders learn about self-identity, confidence, and self-esteem. The YLC program is designed to provide deaf high school students with the training and educational opportunities necessary to transition to opportunities in higher education, meaningful employment, and leadership development. Interactive activities offer leaders the opportunity to understand the emphasis on ‘learning by doing,’ adopting the old Chinese proverb: “Tell me, and I’ll forget. Show me, and I’ll remember. Involve me, and I’ll learn.”
CAMP LIONS, DEAF/HARD OF HEARING YOUTH WEEK
Dates- see below
Website: https://lionsofillinoisfoundation.org/camp-lions/youth-camps/
Phone: (815) 756-5633
This camp will not be covered by DRS. This camp’s mission is for the overall growth of the individual camper, ages 7 – 17, in self-confidence, knowledge, independence, leadership, and creativity through a recreational experience geared to individual abilities, from the beginning camper to the returning veteran. Campers will enjoy swimming, canoeing, team sports, archery, fishing, horseback riding, cookouts, crafts, artwork and nature programs.
June 7 - 13, Camp Lions - Youth Week:
Youth Camp for Low Vision/Blind and/or HoH/Deaf
Camp Red Leaf Village, 26710 W Nippersink Rd, Ingleside, IL 60041
July 5 - 11, Camp Lions - Youth Week:
Youth Camp for Hard of Hearing/Deaf and Low Vision/Blind
Camp DuBois, 2651 Quarry Road DuBois, IL 62831
July 12 - 18, Camp Lions - HoH/Deaf Youth Week:
Youth Camp for Hard of Hearing/Deaf and Low Vision/Blind
East Bay Camp, 24248 Ron Smith Memorial Highway, Hudson, IL, 61748
July 19 - 25, Camp Lions - LV/Blind Youth Week:
Youth 7-17 years of age – Youth Camp for Low Vision/Blind
East Bay Camp, 24248 Ron Smith Memorial Highway, Hudson, IL, 61748
CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT
Chicago Park District provides many recreational activities for Deaf/Hard of Hearing children. Check their website for up-to-date information at https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/special-recreation-programs.
Disclaimer: These are to name some of the camps available to Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. This sheet is merely a summary of several camps. Further research can be conducted online for additional camps.
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