Blue Ribbon Camp Award Information

National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) bestows upon qualified licensed private special education camps in the United States the distinction of being selected as a NASET Blue Ribbon Camp.

Selection as a NASET Blue Ribbon Camp is the highest honor a private special education camp can achieve through our professional association.  The recognition is awarded to private special education camps that meet rigorous criteria and have demonstrated truly exceptional dedication and commitment to children with special needs.

Annually, NASET completes a screening process of various camps that address the needs of children with disabilities in the United States.  Upon preliminary review, certain select camps will be notified that they appear to meet the criteria as NASET Blue Ribbon Camps.  Upon notification, the camps will need to complete an application form for verification of the information obtained by NASET.

There are the 13 eligibility criteria a private special education camp must meet to be a NASET Blue Ribbon Camp -  To learn more - Click Here

I.  Licensure of Camp: All NASET Blue Ribbon Camps must be approved and/or licensed by their respective State Department of Health.

II.  Licensure/Certification of Professionals:  All NASET Blue Ribbon Camps employ certain special education professionals who are certified or licensed in their respective professions.

III.  Disability Population Served: All NASET Blue Ribbon Camps consist of children and/or adolescents with disabilities and or other disorders.  This includes, but is not limited to, individuals diagnosed with:

Autism

Deaf-Blindness

Developmental Delays

Emotional Disturbance

Health Impairments

Hearing Impairments (Including Deafness)

Learning Disabilities

Mental Retardation

Multiple Disabilities

Orthopedic Impairments

Speech and Language Impairments

Traumatic Brain Injury

Visual Impairments

IV.  Enrollment Size: All NASET Blue Ribbon Camps are dedicated to meeting the individual and unique needs of their campers.

V.  Staff/Student Ratio: All NASET Blue Ribbon Camps have a very small Staff/Camper Ratio. 

VI.  Activities:  All NASET Blue Ribbon Camps provide various types of activities for their children and/or adolescents including, but not limited to:

  • Art Activities (e.g., Arts and Crafts, Ceramics, Dance, Drawing and Painting, Music, Performing Arts, Photography, Video, Pottery, Sculpture, Theatre, Visual Arts)
  • Sports Activities (e.g., Aerobics, Archery, Baseball, Softball, Basketball, Chess, Fishing, Football, Gymnastics, Rowing, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball, Water Sports, Yoga)
  • Adventure Activities (e.g., Backpacking, Canoeing, Farming, Kayaking, Hiking, Rock Climbing, Ropes Course, Survival Skills, Wilderness)
  • Miscellaneous Activities (e.g., Glass Blowing, Talent Show, Model Building, etc.)  

VII.  Social Skills Development: All NASET Blue Ribbon Camps ensure that campers receive opportunities to improve their peer relations, interpersonal communication skills, problem solving abilities, and a variety of other socially related skills.

VIII.  Length of Operations:  All NASET Blue Ribbon Camps have been in existence for at least 5 or more years. 

IX.  Confidence and Self-Esteem Building: All NASET Blue Ribbon Camps seek to stimulate children and/or adolescents’ awareness and interest in their environment and in relationships, while building their confidence, self-esteem and growth towards independence.

X.  Multiculturalism:  All NASET Blue Ribbon Camps seek to provide a multicultural environment. 

XI.  Medical Care:  All NASET Blue Ribbon Camps have a comfortable, well-equipped health center with qualified medical personnel on staff at all times.

XII.  Admissions Procedures:  All NASET Blue Ribbon Camps have a specific admissions procedure that they follow and adhere to in accepting campers for their programs. 

XIII:  Other Relevant Information of Support:  If you believe that there is other information NASET should be aware of that best represents your camp (e.g., honors, awards, etc.), please let us know.




The National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) is a national membership organization dedicated to supporting and assisting teachers and future teachers of special education. It was founded to promote the profession of special education teachers and to provide a national forum for their ideas. NASET seeks to meet a critical need for special education teachers. It develops and promotes professional excellence through the support of teachers who provide services to children with special needs.

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2010 Blue Ribbon Camps Recipients - Click Here