The John J. Nerden RTC Camp is a seven week day camp for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

To mission of the camp is to provide recreational programs and leisure-time activities for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The camp offers:

Swimming, Arts and Crafts, Music, Sports, Dances, Friendships, Special Events and Lots of memories!   

Camp is open to children and adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities from the central Connecticut area.  We presently have enrolled approximately 125 individuals ranging in age from pre-school to adults. Transportation arrangements are currently in place for clients from Meriden and Wallingford; others can be investigated upon request.  

The John J Nerden Regional Training Center Camp is located on 15 acres of prime land in the town of Middlefield. The land was donated in 1965.  The Board of Directors of the training center started work  immediately on planning a Day Camp program for the summer of 1966. Applications were made to the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation for a grant to help establish the new camp, and were fortunate to receive one of the two grants allocated to the State of Connecticut in the amount of $3,000. The Foundation also assisted tremendously in the supplying of  information, advice, guidance and in sending of two key staff members to a one week seminar at Southern Illinois University.

On June 20, 1966 the camp site was a lovely hayfield. On July 6, 1966 the camp opened with a full program of outdoor sports, arts and crafts, nature study, etc. There were two buildings, one 30’x60’ closed building and one 24’ x 60’ pavilion type shelter. Our own pool was installed the second week of the program, so that all of the activities were then combined around the main building. We had a total enrollment of 144 campers ranging in age from 4 years to 31 years. They came from the areas covered by the local Associations. Daily attendance ran from 75 to 116 campers . Campers were supervised by a paid staff of 10, most of whom were college educated and  professionals in their fields.