Support Camp
Celebrate Joy, Growth, and Inclusion! Every summer at Camp Yakety Yak, youth and young adults experiencing disabilities discover joy, confidence, and belonging. They are supported by professionals and volunteers who understand them, believe in them, and celebrate them exactly as they are. Families often tell us that camp is the first place their youth can truly be themselves.
Camp Yakety Yak is more than a summer program—it’s a community built with purpose, intention, and heart. Here, neurodivergent youth learn, grow, regulate, connect, and have fun without judgment or shame.
Why Your Support Matters
Youth experiencing disabilities are often excluded from traditional camps and enrichment programs, which lack access, accommodations, and trained staff. Camp Yakety Yak is one of the only programs in the Pacific Northwest designed specifically for these youth, offering a model that truly works:
• Professional, specialized staff: Each summer, 26 specialists—including Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Special Education Teachers, Nurses, and Physical Therapists—train and supervise 35 support staff, 30 university students, and 172 high school volunteers, building the next generation of inclusive educators and community leaders.
• True 1:1 support: Every youth who needs individual attention receives it. With a staffing ratio of 1 adult for every 1.5 youth, participants have the freedom to explore, take breaks, self-regulate, and fully engage—something not available in typical school or camp settings.
This relationship-centered, high-quality support is why youth thrive at Camp Yakety Yak and families return year after year
Your support helps us:
• Hire clinicians and professionals who make our model possible
• Provide one-to-one support to every youth that needs it through our graduate student and volunteer
program
• NEW fully accessible camp location
• Launch Explorers 3, a program for ages 16-18
• Expand programming with more art, music, science, and building projects
The difference between what families can afford and what it costs to provide camp 2026 is $115,000, a gap we rely on philanthropy to close.
Give Today
You are an essential part of the Camp Yakety Yak community. Your support helps ensure that Camp Yakety Yak remains a place where every youth can belong, shine, and be celebrated.
Ways to Give
Donate Online
Make a secure online donation through our website: donate
Give by Check
Please make checks payable to Camp Yakety Yak and mail to:
Camp Yakety Yak
P.O. Box 161
West Linn, OR 97068
Give Monthly
Monthly giving is one of the easiest and most impactful ways to support Camp Yakety Yak. Automatic recurring gifts from your checking or credit card account are tax-deductible and provide consistent support as the needs of youth with disabilities grow and change. Monthly giving often allows donors to give more over time than a one-time gift:
• For the cost of a coffee — $5/month — you give $60 annually to camp
• $83/month makes you a $1,000 Major Donor
Sign up for a recurring gift here donate
Payroll Giving & Corporate Matching
Many employers offer ways to support Camp Yakety Yak through:
• Payroll giving
• Corporate matching gifts
• Grants or sponsorships through employee nomination programs
Check with your employer to see what opportunities are available and maximize the impact of your gift.
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)
If your family has a Donor-Advised Fund or foundation, you may recommend a grant to Camp Yakety Yak. We are happy to assist with any information needed to complete your recommendation.
Gifts of Appreciated Securities
Camp Yakety Yak gratefully accepts gifts of appreciated stocks, funds and bonds. These gifts are put directly to work supporting our campers and programs and may offer tax advantages. Please consult your tax professional for details.
Planned Gifts
Create a lasting legacy by naming Camp Yakety Yak as a beneficiary of:
• An IRA or retirement account
• A life insurance policy
• Your will or estate plan
Planned gifts help ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of Camp Yakety Yak.
Named Scholarships or Funds
Camp Yakety Yak partners with the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation and the Oregon Community Foundation to create endowed funds. These funds may be designated for:
• Annual camper scholarships
• General operating support
Endowed gifts provide enduring support for future generations of campers.
Donate from Your IRA
If you are age 70½ or older, you may be eligible to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA.
• QCDs can reduce your taxable income
• Gifts may satisfy required minimum distributions (RMDs) for those age 73 and over. This is a meaningful and tax-efficient way to support Camp Yakety Yak.
Contact :
Monica Smiley
Executive Director
Your generosity keeps camp strong. You help build a world where inclusion isn’t an exception—it’s the expectation. Thank you for supporting the joy, growth, and inclusion that define Camp Yakety Yak.