Buddies Intensive Camper Program
For adolescents with special needs, ages 12-15
$680/week
Important Notice! In an effort to keep the integrity and effectiveness of our special programs such as Special Needs Campers (40), Buddies Intensive (8), Junior Camp Counselors (12), and Yak Apprentice (12) there will be a cap for participants each week, noted in parentheses. Once the cap is reached, a wait list will be generated. Please don’t wait to register because these programs fill up fast!
Registration Opens April 17th at Noon
Buddies Intensive Camper Program
For adolescents with special needs, ages 12-15
$680/week
Important Notice! In an effort to keep the integrity and effectiveness of our special programs such as Special Needs Campers (40), Buddies Intensive (8), Junior Camp Counselors (12), and Yak Apprentice (12) there will be a cap for participants each week, noted in parentheses. Once the cap is reached, a wait list will be generated. Please don’t wait to register because these programs fill up fast!
Registration Opens April 17th at Noon
Teaching the Language of Friendship
Camp Yakety Yak is an inclusive social skills day camp supporting friendship development for children with special needs, ages 5-15, & social skills
in the workplace instruction for young adults ages 16-22.
CYY 2026 Location:
Coming Soon!
Our 2026 Tentative Camp Dates
July 6-31, 2026
Registration Opens February 6th, 2025
Good Things Happening at Camp Yakety Yak
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Camp Yakety Yak is Unlike Any Other Camp in the State of Oregon!
Camp Yakety Yak (CYY) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to help children and young adult experiencing physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities (e.g., Autism, ADHD) grow socially and emotionally by improving their communication skills. The camp's educational mission is two-fold:
1) provide instruction in social & emotional skills to children with special needs & their siblings to support friendship development in a day camp setting;
2) provide an opportunity for future professionals in educational and therapeutic fields to gain knowledge and hands-on experience in working with children with special needs.
Eighty percent of our staff members are students from local universities and high schools who receive 10-30 hours of training and ongoing supervision by our professional faculty.
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We offer a high camper to staff/volunteer ratio and provide 1:1 support to campers that have higher needs.
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Intensive practice in social skills (5 hours a day, 5 days a week) with an emphasis on school, home, and community success.
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Multi-disciplinary team of professional supervisors and consultants from general & special education, speech pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, and nursing
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Highly trained collegiate staff with university partnerships for speech pathology and occupational therapy. We are a "teaching camp" similar to a "teaching hospital." Mature teen volunteers round out our staff and bring the fun element.
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Service to the whole family in our "Reverse Inclusion" model featuring support of neurotypical siblings who attend right along with their siblings and friends with special needs
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Weekly "Caregiver Connection" Parent Support Group Meetings facilitated by CYY Parent Advisory Board Members, with an active Facebook page fostering parent connection throughout the year!