Friends' Discovery Camp (FDC) is a magical setting where friends with disabilities and their typically developing peers make impactful memories, valuing each other while having outrageous fun together. With the support of specially trained Buddies from UTC, our camp counselors are able to provide an inclusive, accessible environment where all campers can play, create, and grow friendships.
CDM sets the standard for developmentally appropriate practice, and we want your child to have a best-fit experience. Here are some signs that FDC is a fit for your child:
- Your child is curious and interested in others
- If typically developing, your child has patience and empathy for others, and possible experience with differently abled peers
- Your child is adaptable to new environments, able to express themselves verbally or in another modality, and able to respond to verbal instruction and redirection
- Your child wants to spend their Summer making new friends, collaborating with peers, and making unforgettable memories in the Museum!
The theme for 2025's FDCs are "Camp Friendship." We'll spend 5 days immersed in traditional camp crafts, teamwork games, and engaging classroom activities, with daily Museum exploration. With all that fun and friendship, the week will fly by and we'll wrap up our magnificent memories with an end-of-camp celebration on Friday at 12:30 p.m. We hope all caregivers will plan to join us to view photos from our week and celebrate our friendships!
$250/week for members and non-members
- 4 hours of facilitated engagement in the Museum and in classrooms
- Social skill-building in a nurturing environment thanks to high adult-to-kid ratio
- Group nut-free lunch (sent from home) with their fellow campers and a daily snack.
- Fun, fun, and more fun through games, activities, crafts, and more each day!
- A backpack with a change of clothes - things can get messy and we want you to be comfortable all day!
- A nut-free lunch from home and a refillable water bottle (we are unable to heat up or refrigerate camper lunches).
- Camp registration forms if you do not submit them in advance.
We want all children to have an accessible camp experience in a safe environment where their needs are met. If you have any questions about the suitability and/or accessibility of FDC, please contact Lizzie Cheatham, School and Community Access Manager, at (423) 648-6047 or echeatham@cdmfun.org.
Registration questions? Please contact the Reservations Department at (423) 648-6040.
Camp questions? Please contact the Camp Director at (423) 648-6047.
