Camp 2024 Slide Show and Videos
2025 Registration opens March 15, 2025
If you are already registered but owe money, you can pay by clicking HERE to pay with your credit card, or mail a check to KindTree, PO Box 40847, Eugene 97404
2024 Early Arrival is Full and Now CLOSED
Cabins are FULL
Go HERE for all the forms,
scholarship application, registration, etc.
Volunteers Needed.
Camp 2024 schedule and menu.
2023 Camp Photos |
2022 Camp Photos and Videos HERE | Video Tour of Camp with Frankie Sharp
The Friends & Family Camp is designed around the needs of those living with autism. Parents and caregivers can bring their loved ones with autism or other intellectual disabilities and relax with them over the weekend, knowing that they are in a safe and nurturing environment. Guests who are independent can attend on their own. Those who are under 18 and those who need daily help must attend with family or caregivers.
The Camp is KindTree’s founding event and the only event of its kind since 1997. It is located a bit south of Florence, Oregon on a peninsula in beautiful Siltcoos Lake. The curriculum is a flexible but reliable balance of structured and non-structured activities, with picture schedules to accommodate autists’ visual and concrete way of thinking.
Scheduled activities include arts and crafts, karaoke, piñata, campfires, late night movies, concerts, talent show, outdoor games, swimming and canoeing on Siltcoos Lake, and more.
It is a time for rejuvenation and solidarity. Autists are accepted and enjoyed for themselves, not forced into a procrustean neuro-normal mold. Autists and neuro-normal people get to know each other. Magic happens.
This is some of the greatest autistic fun there is
From a Talon Percilick Memorial Scholarship recipient:
“Thanks so much to the donors who have made this experience possible for my family. My 12-year-old daughter is newly diagnosed, but has struggled for a long time. Social connections have always been particularly difficult. After years of not connecting with her peers, she had largely stopped trying.
This weekend has been a revelation. Within a few minutes of setting up our camp, my daughter was playing with a group of kids. She has started conversations with adults, and 15 minutes later they’re still happily engaged. Here she is “normal”, she fits in without having to try to meet other people’s expectations. This experience has given me hope for her future happiness, and a vision of what life could be. Saying thank you doesn’t seem like enough, but THANK YOU!” Jenny
Payment for 2024 Camp in full must be received by August 1 to confirm your place. If you are unable to afford this camp, consider applying for a Scholarship, applications on the Registration Page linked above.
The Hilyard Center bus:
Transportation to camp at 5262 Boy Scout Rd, Boy Scout RD, Florence, OR is available through City of Eugene Adaptive Recreation and will meet at the Hilyard Community Center. An accessible bus is available for up to 12 riders. Please register online at www.getrec.org (Click on “Adaptive Rec” and scroll down to “KindTree Retreat Transportation”) or by calling Hilyard, 541-682-5311. Round Trip transportation (#23617) is available for $30, leaving on Friday (leaves Eugene at 2:00pm) and returning on Sunday (returns to the Hilyard Center about 3:30pm). One way transportation is not an option in 2024. Please make sure each person in your party registers separately..
A uniquely structured inclusive camping adventure for individuals and families experiencing autism — all ages, all abilities.
Camp schedule and other info will be coming, but…
Activities will be updated and t-shirts will be offered and fun will be had!
** Contact admin@kindtree.org with questions.
Photo Album 2019 | Video Tour of the Camp Facilities | Friends & Family Camp videos
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Watch this beautiful video below, scroll down to read the comments and reviews.
If the below video does not load, click HERE to see it on YouTube.
Here is what some of the guests and volunteers have to say about camp:
“We have a great tradition every year – an opening and closing circle. People have a chance to see each other and learn names at the opening, and at the closing folks speak about what was their favorite aspect of the Retreat. Many people speak about the sense of family – of community that we feel there. This is what we at KindTree – Autism Rocks hope for. We do everything we can to make it possible for people to feel safe, feel loved, feel at ease. Like we’re all home now. Welcome Home.”
“This was my first Camp and it didn’t disappoint. I could just be me and be with others who just wanted to be themselves. Camp was the best thing all year. Definitely the highlight… Will be coming back again! Without this scholarship I wouldn’t have this option.”
“I really don’t want to leave this camp it’s very good to me, friends, family. You meet lots of nice people just wish it was longer.”
“I had no idea what to expect from this camp and it exceeded expectations. This was an amazing experience and I feel blessed to experience such a beautiful community.”
“We look forward to this retreat all year for our son. He is only 7 but each year he recognizes his friends and this camp. He was so happy we had no melt downs, just wish we had a few more days, goes too fast, then it’s time to go back to the world of stares. Ugh don’t want to go.”
“Its great to network with my fellow spectrumites! The stim room was wonderful and stimmy. Life is good.”
“Thank you so much for the weekend. I do note that the retreat represents my first time doing long-distance driving solo since earning a licence to drive. I hope to return next year!”
“Thank you again for the opportunity to work with you guys out there, i know i speak for me and Amanda when i say that it was an incredible experience and we can’t wait until next year!!”
“Silly i just love sitting back and watching them doing the human car wash it’s too funny and silly.”
“Thanks so, so much for organizing such an amazing event. Everyone I talked to said this was their favorite year. The energy was beautiful there and Sam and I are for sure committed every year to come that we can! The arts and crafts were really fun!”
“It is so nice to have a place where all our children can network that have similar needs and interests. Camping is a lot of work and this allows us to enjoy being with our family and not get so stressed out.”
“I really enjoyed working here. I learned so much and had a wonderful time. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”
“This was great. When I count my blessings, this camp (and the volunteers) rank in the top 5!!! It was so fun this year. All of the hard work was very appreciated.”
“Every activity we participated in was a good time.”
“Thanks SO MUCH to Kind Tree and ALL the volunteers! I wish I could hug each and every one!!”
“I want to thank the volunteers for their hard work in making it fun for us!”
“PS Nathan had an absolutely wonderful time at camp this year! It was absolutely perfect this year according to his staff. How cool is that?”
“I came here just for a short lifeguard gig, and found this camp an amazing place to be and work with wonderful kind people. I would love to come back next year.”
“Gets better every year. I can’t wait to be back!”
“Thoroughly enjoyed the whole 3 days. Please put me on the volunteer list for other activities of Kind Tree.”
“We love that there is no hierarchy / differentiation between organizers, volunteers and guests. TR Kelly rocks! This Retreat makes me so happy I could cry!”
“Thank you for a great weekend – you’re doing a wonderful thing here.”