For the second year in a row, the Rhode Island Parent Information Network (RIPIN) is offering summer camp scholarships to help children and youth with special needs attend camps and recreational programs this summer.

“For a lot of parents of children with special needs, the cost of a summer camp or recreational program puts those activities out of reach,” said RIPIN executive director Sam Salganik. “We had a lot of success in our first year offering scholarships, so again in 2022 we’re going to help families get their kids enrolled into fun and enriching experiences this summer—especially families from communities that don’t typically have access to these kinds of opportunities.”

In 2021, the first year of the scholarship, RIPIN awarded more than $17,000 that helped 72 children attend 25 different summer camps or recreational programs.

RIPIN Summer Camp Scholarships can be used for camp tuition, fees, or deposits; to cover the cost of additional accommodations that may be necessary for a child to attend camp; or for other related expenses. RIPIN Summer Camp Scholarships can also be combined with other camp scholarships or financial aid.

To be eligible for a scholarship, a child must have a diagnosed disability or special need and must have at least one parent or legal guardian who is a Rhode Island resident. Parents and guardians of children and youth up to age 22 may apply for the scholarship. Families considering applying for a RIPIN Summer Camp Scholarship are encouraged to have already applied to or identified a camp or recreational program for their child. The RIPIN staff will  help families find area camps that might be a good fit for their child’s needs and can also help families connect to additional supports for children and youth with special needs.

Parents can contact the RIPIN Call Center at 401-270-0101, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m.  to 5:00 p.m. Applications for a 2022 RIPIN Summer Camp Scholarship are open now through April 29th. For more information or to apply for a scholarship, visit www.ripin.org/summercamp or email camperships@ripin.org.