Looking for a camp where kids and teens with Tourette Syndrome or other Tic Disorders can connect, grow, and just be themselves? Below is a list of camps across the U.S. that offer supportive, inclusive environments tailored to the unique needs of youth with tics. Whether it’s building confidence, making new friends, or simply having fun, these camps provide a place where everyone belongs.
Want to add your camp to this page? Send details to elizabeth.barker@tourette.org.
California - Simi Valley
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Audience: Youth ages 7-17 with a primary diagnosis of TS
Date: TBD
Camp George offers a unique opportunity for kids ages 7-17 with TS (and their parents and guardians) to explore the great outdoors, engage in exciting activities, and build lifelong friendships in a safe and inclusive environment. From traditional camp experiences like swimming, hiking, and arts and crafts to specialized programs like archery, horseback riding, and a talent show, there’s something for everyone at camp.
Georgia - Rutledge
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Audience: Youth ages 8-17 with TS or another Tic Disorder
Camp Twitch & Shout will not be held in 2026, but hopes to see everyone in 2027!
Camp Twitch & Shout is a one-week overnight camp for children ages 8-17 who have been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome or another Tic Disorder. The Leader-In-Training program is available to 17-year-olds with tics who are interested in eventually becoming a counselor. Camp is organized and managed by Tourette Information Center and Support (TICS).
Throughout the week campers engage in activities and challenges focused on overcoming obstacles and growing confidence and capabilities. It’s a place where campers can just be regular kids having fun and making memories.
Volunteers are trained to help campers achieve their goals and enjoy many positive experiences. When campers return home and are faced with challenges, our hope is that they will be able to look back at everything they were able to accomplish during camp week and say, “I can find success because I was successful at Camp Twitch & Shout.”
A camper once said, “I wake up every morning thinking that I’m one day closer to camp.” Come be part of the Camp Twitch & Shout family!
Illinois - Ingleside
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Audience: Youth ages 7-16 with a primary diagnosis of TS or another Tic Disorder, OCD, and/or ADD/ADHD
Date: June 21-27, 2026
Registration Opens: January 1, 2026
A one-week residential camp program for children ages 8-16 with Tourette Syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This program is held at YMCA Camp Duncan in Ingleside, Illinois on the Chain of Lakes in Northern Illinois. They provide a fun-filled, positive week of camp where kids can be themselves in a safe and caring community. Transportation is available from O’Hare Airport.
Cost: $820 per camper
Financial aid is available.
Questions: Please contact scott63@prodigy.net or 773-592-0806
Camp Ticapalooza
New York - Painted Post
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Audience: Youth living in New York ages 6-17 with a primary diagnosis of TS
Date: TBD
Camp Ticapalooza is held at Camp Watson Woods, an accredited YMCA Camp in Painted Post, NY on the southern tier of Rochester. This is a wonderful facility that provides the opportunity to introduce campers to both old and new activities. Highlights of the weekend include:
- Wall Climbing
- Archery
- Slip & Slide
- Axe Throwing
- Bouncing Pillow (a camp favorite!)
- A craft barn
- Hiking on nature trails
- Scavenger Hung
- Talent Show (talent not required)
- Campfire with s’mores and karaoke
- Closing ceremony with paper plate awards
- President’s awards
There are two trained counselors familiar with TS for every 5-6 children. Campers will sleep in one of three lodges with full bathrooms in each lodge. The rooms in each lodge have two sets of bunk beds and a common lounge between each lodge for group activities. All seven meals will be served in the camp dining room. The camp provides trained and certified staff who run all activities. There is also a registered nurse on duty all weekend to dispense medications and take care of all health issues. All reports form last year were that the food was “THE BEST EVER!”.
This weekend is offered to all residents of the TAA Greater NY State Chapter from across the state for a fee of $190 per camper. The camp also accepts members of the TAA Hudson Valley Chapter, the TAA NYC Chapter, and the TAA Long Island Chapter.
Partial scholarships are available for anyone who needs them. If you are in need of a scholarship, please email conners@roadrunner.com or call 716-316-9430.
Parents and guardians will enjoy hearing from guest speakers, including physicians, counselors, and other allied health professionals. There is a hotel on the campground for parents and guardians if you’d like to stay nearby.
You can contact the TAA Greater NY State Chapter for more information about Camp Ticapalooza at 716-3616-9430 or conners@roadrunner.com.
New York - Hopewell Junction
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Date: July 20-25, 2026
The deadline to register is June 1, 2026!
Camp Free To Be Me is a one-week sleepaway camp experience for children diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. Campers ages 9 – 17 are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Camp Free To Be Me is part of Camp Kinder Ring and takes place on its premises in Hopewell Junction, NY. The location is just 60 miles from NYC, but we encourage campers from near and far for this ultimate camp experience. Ee have had campers from Kentucky to Maine and counselors (with TS) from as far away as California.
At Camp Free To Be Me, tics are normal and accepted. Campers may walk in as strangers, but they leave with lifelong friendships and a deeper appreciation of themselves. They meet kids and counselors who can relate and understand. We challenge the campers to try new things whether it be the ropes course and zipline, swimming and boating, gymnastics, yoga, basketball, arts and crafts, mountain biking, or GaGa to name a few of the daily activities. All this fun, great food and fun for $400 for the week!! All campers leave proud of their accomplishments. We have campers that feel that this week of camp is the BEST WEEK OF THE YEAR!
Camp Free To Be Me is a therapeutic environment. The staff understands the challenges and welcomes them warmly and with enthusiasm, The Program Director, Tonya Pulver, is a School Psychologist with 9 years of experience with this camp program. For further information please contact Tonya at 518-965-2974 or visit our website at campkr.com/program-description/
You can also check out Camp Free To Be Me on Facebook.
Pennsylvania - Quarryville
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Audience: Youth living in Texas ages of 6-18 with a primary diagnosis of TS
Date: May 15-17, 2026
Camp du Ballon Rouge (dBR), founded in 2003, is a magical time and place, providing a nurturing yet empowering space for Texas children ages 6-18 with a primary diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome to experience events and activities that can change the quality and outcome of their life – with no tuition cost to the family.
Mission: To enrich the lives of Texas children and teens diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome through a unique outdoor experience that offers acceptance, provides hope, promotes discovery, and creates the opportunity to establish relationships with others impacted by TS.
Many camp participants exhibit other co-occurring conditions of TS, such as OCD and ADD/ADHD. The camp is able to accommodate the needs of most campers, but the weekend outing has some limitations in accepting children whose needs are beyond the scope of its resources. Campers must be able to handle daily routines such as dressing and personal hygiene. Campers are assigned to cabins based on their age and sex. They experience activities both as a cabin and as a group. The weekend may include activities such as fishing, horseback riding, canoeing, arts and crafts, ropes challenge course, swimming, archery, and team sports. The environment is fun, safe, and positive, and campers, while challenged to reach their individual potential, are not required to participate.
The 21st annual camp was held April 24-27, 2025 and welcomed scores of happy children to Camp Olympia Retreats, along with a Tourette Texas volunteer support staff of nearly 30 highly t rained individuals, including doctors, nurses, counselors, school psychologists, and others. Dates for the 2026 Camp dBR will be available after mid-January, 2026.
Texas - Trinity
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Audience: Youth living in Texas ages of 6-18 with a primary diagnosis of TS
Date: April 23-April 26, 2026
Camp du Ballon Rouge (dBR), founded in 2003, is a magical time and place, providing a nurturing yet empowering space for Texas children ages 6-18 with a primary diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome to experience events and activities that can change the quality and outcome of their life – with no tuition cost to the family.
Mission: To enrich the lives of Texas children and teens diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome through a unique outdoor experience that offers acceptance, provides hope, promotes discovery, and creates the opportunity to establish relationships with others impacted by TS.
Many camp participants exhibit other co-occurring conditions of TS, such as OCD and ADD/ADHD. The camp is able to accommodate the needs of most campers, but the weekend outing has some limitations in accepting children whose needs are beyond the scope of its resources. Campers must be able to handle daily routines such as dressing and personal hygiene. Campers are assigned to cabins based on their age and sex. They experience activities both as a cabin and as a group. The weekend may include activities such as fishing, horseback riding, canoeing, arts and crafts, ropes challenge course, swimming, archery, and team sports. The environment is fun, safe, and positive, and campers, while challenged to reach their individual potential, are not required to participate.
The 21st annual camp was held April 24-27, 2025 and welcomed scores of happy children to Camp Olympia Retreats, along with a Tourette Texas volunteer support staff of nearly 30 highly t rained individuals, including doctors, nurses, counselors, school psychologists, and others. Dates for the 2026 Camp dBR will be available after mid-January, 2026.
