Rising Treetops at Oakhurst (formerly Camp Oakhurst)

Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for children and adults with special needs, including autism and physical and intellectual disabilities, and provide respite for their families through a year-round camp experience, based in Monmouth County, NJ. Our vision is to be a preeminent resource to provide safe, accepting, and accessible services that allow its clients to gain confidence, reach their potential, and build a community of friends while enjoying all that our camp has to offer. Originally incorporated in 1906 as The Crippled Children’s East Side Free School in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the organization created a Summer Home in Oakhurst, New Jersey in the same year for the children who attended the school. Rising Treetops at Oakhurst in its earliest incarnation provided children with an opportunity to spend a few weeks enjoying fresh air. In the early 20th century, Camp Oakhurst started with only 48 camper families.

After the school was absorbed into the New York City school system, in the fall of 1946 the organization, renamed New York Service for the Orthopedically Handicapped, evolved into an independent summer camp for children and adults with disabilities. The 1950s saw major renovations to Rising Treetops at Oakhurst, including the building of its first swimming pool. The agency was then renamed New York Service for the Handicapped in 1969. In 1986 the agency opened its year-round overnight respite program, and began to winterize all the buildings in Oakhurst. In 1992 the agency embarked on a multi-million-dollar rebuilding program for the camp, including a new gymnasium and swimming pool with a retractable roof. Since 2010 the agency has added respites and summer camp sessions for children and adults diagnosed with autism. In 2012 we began providing emergency respite services and in 2015 we formally added a day respite program for local school-age children. Both before and after the pandemic, Rising Treetops at Oakhurst has been and will be open all year, serving children and adults with special needs through our summer sleep away camp, year-round overnight respite (planned and emergency) and day respite care programs.

As of March 20, 2020, we suspended all services except a limited long-term emergency respite program due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Services were suspended through June 2021, with a limited summer camp program beginning June 21,2021 and ending September 4, 2021.  Visit www.risingtreetops.org for updates and information.

Prior to March 20, 2020, and after the pandemic is over, Rising Treetops at Oakhurst has and will provide summer sleep-away camp and out-of-home year-round overnight respite for children and adults with special needs, both on a planned and emergency basis. In addition, once the pandemic is over, we will provide a summer day camp and after school services throughout the year for local Monmouth County children and adults with special needs. Visit www.risingtreetops.org for updates and information.