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Greater Richmond ARC’s Camp Baker is a full-service, handicap-equipped retreat facility located on 22 wooded acres near the Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County, Virginia.

Camp Baker’s long history of serving children with special needs can be traced to 1929 when the camp was first established as a respite for undernourished children. In 1957, ownership of the W. W. Baker Summer Camp for Children was transferred over to Chesterfield County under the care of the Richmond Area ARC and renamed Camp Baker to serve children with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. Over the past fifty years, the rustic camp has undergone many upgrades and renovations, including the 2003 construction of a year-round, fully accessible 62-bed air conditioned lodge to better suit the needs of campers.

Who We Serve

Camp Baker supports children from age six through adulthood with mental retardation and similar developmental disabilities so they can:

Develop friendships and build self-esteem during training, therapeutic recreation and social activities

Achieve higher levels of independence while mastering new skills for community living

Make choices and decisions that are based on individual preferences, strengths and needs

Live with caregivers

Campers receive care and supervision in a safe, nurturing environment. Beyond assistance with personal hygiene, meals, toileting and medication management, campers participate in therapeutic, recreational and social activities both at the camp and in the community. A 1:3 staff-to-camper ratio is maintained.

Camp Baker’s programs are designed to help to decrease the stress of caregivers so that they are better able to cope with the demands of caring for school-aged children and adults with disabilities.

Camp Baker also serves siblings, parents and other caregivers who often need a break from caring for their loved one with special needs.

Services

Summer Camp

Eight one-week overnight summer camp sessions for children six years of age through adult (day options are also available). Nursing staff provides 24-hour on-site medical services during summer camp.

Activities include:

Swimming at the Camp Baker pool

Hiking Camp Baker’s nature trails

Horseback riding and canoeing

Tent camping

Dancing with friends

Arts & crafts, music and sports

Weekend Respite

48-hour stay (Friday – Sunday) at Camp Baker for children from age six through adult who need a break from their caregivers. Campers receive help with meals, daily living needs, medication and recreational activities.

Emergency Respite

24-hour emergency respite services are available by calling (804) 748-4789 ext. 318 during normal business hours M – F or (804) 350-6690 nights and weekends. We ask that you give us up to four hours notice so that we may schedule appropriate staff.

Camp Baker Adult Day Support

Weekdays for adults who require a high degree of staff support. Training focuses on daily living, socialization, recreation, volunteering and pre-vocational skills when in the community or at Camp Baker. See also Adult Day Support & After School Services.

Camp Baker After School and Day Support Services

Camp Baker offers daily, structured and staff-intensive program for school-aged students with developmental disabilities. Participants engage in age-appropriate community and facility activities and receive homework assistance.

Hours: ARC offers flexible after-school hours to meet your family’s schedule:

School days until 6:00 p.m.

Early release days until 6:00 p.m.

School holidays

Camp Baker is licensed by the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, is accredited by the American Camping Association and is a Medicaid Community-Based Waiver provider.

For more information, please contact CampBaker@RichmondARC.org