Nebraska Empowered Youth
Leadership Camp I & II

Nebraska Empowered Youth Leadership Camp (NEYC) is a leadership camp for youth to more prepare them for life after high school or a transition program. Youth learn how to self advocate, explore careers they may not have otherwise considered, learn job interview etiquette, gain insight to their personal leadership style, and so much more. Youth will also get to partake in outdoor recreational activities. More importantly, they will continue to develop their social skills leading to friendships that could last a lifetime! 

Due to a gift from VR, these sessions are free for campers to attend!

​"I would tell them to go! At first I was really nervous and didn't know anyone. But, now I have best friends, and they all have a disability like me! I had SO MUCH FUN!"

- NEYC Camper

NEYC I

​​June 16 - 19, 2025
(Day Camp)
Mahoney State Park
(Ashland - 20 min from both Omaha & Lincoln)
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NEYC II
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July 21 - 24, 2025
(Overnight Camp)
Fort Robinson State Park 
(Crawford, NE; about 30 miles West of Chadron in the western tip of the Nebraska Panhandle. Transportation is provided. Pick up sites will be at various locations enroute between Omaha and Fort Robinson).
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* While both sessions have the same goals and outcomes, both vary widely in terms of eligibility, program delivery, site locations, and experiences offered. Please read all information below closely.

For BOTH sessions, NEYC is for campers who ... 

• ...are between the ages of 14 - 21
• ...have a disability and/or IEP. 
• ...have NOT received their official high school diploma prior to the start of the session. Campers must either still be in high school or be enrolled in a transition program.
• ...are able to participate in a 45 minute classroom style of sessions and guest speakers.​
• ...are socially independent, requiring minimal to moderate staff supervision (1:4 - 1:8 staff to camper ratio).
• ...APPLY via CampDoc.com. Campers will be approved to participate by our sponsoring partner and notified of acceptance by May 1, however, both sessions have limited space, so apply early!

NEYC I 
additional requirements:

• Be behaviorally & socially independent, requiring minimal to moderate staff supervision (1:4 - 1:8 staff to camper ratio).
• Campers who use a wheelchair or need personal care assistance are welcome to apply.

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NEYC II
​additional requirements:

• Be socially & behaviorally independent, requiring minimal to moderate staff supervision (1:4 - 1:8 staff to camper ratio).
• Must be able to walk on uneven terrain with or without support (the property has plenty of pavement, but some activities will take us off pavement).
• We will be at least 45 minutes from the nearest emergency room, so campers with medical needs should consult with their physician prior to applying. 
• Must be willing to sleep in cabin in a group setting (this is an overnight session). 

Besides there being eligibility requirements as it pertains to physical mobility and emergency room proximity, below are some other differences about the two sessions that you should review before choosing which session is best for you. ​

NEYC I
​Need to Know:

• Type: Day Camp
• Location: At Mahoney State Park, Ashland, halfway between Omaha & Lincoln, approximately 20 mins from both city centers.
• Hours: 9AM - 4PM each day 
• Lessons: Combination of classroom style, guest speakers, and experiential experiences.
• Experiential Experiences: Can include things such as fishing, archery, canoeing, outdoor cooking, birding, fossil digging, outdoor games, campfire, etc.
• Service Learning: Includes one service project (examples: raking leaves, water plants, organize science supplies).
• Partners & Guest Speakers (tentative): Munroe Meyer Institute, Boys Town, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, Camp You Can, Disability Rights Nebraska and more!

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NEYC II
​Need to Know:

• Type: Overnight Camp
• Location: At Fort Robinson State Park - Crawford,  approximately 45 minutes West of Chadron, in the Western tip of the Panhandle. Transportation is provided, there will be various pick-up/drop-off sites between Omaha and Crawford.
• Hours:
  • ​​​Drop-Off - For Omaha Campers, it will be about 8AM on Day 1. After that, we will make stops along the way for other campers. Exact drop-off locations and times will be announced once we we know the geographic location of all campers. 
  • Pick-Up - We plan to leave Fort Robinson around 8 AM Day 4. We will have sites along the route back to Omaha for you to pick up your camper. Depending on how many sites we have, we would be back in Omaha around 8 PM or so. We will communicate via text our ETA to all families. Exact pick-up locations and times will be announced once we know the geographic location of all campers.
• Lessons: Combination of classroom style, experiential experiences, service learning, and guess speakers.
• Experiential Experiences: Can include such things such as jeep rides, horseback riding in the bluffs, swimming, museum tours, campfire, etc. 
• Service Learning: Includes multiple projects (examples: planting trees for forest service, improvement projects within the park, etc).
• Partners & Guest Speakers (tentative): Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, U.S. National Forest Service, Job Corps and more!

Nebraska Empowered Youth Camp is uniquely designed for students ages 14-21 who either have an IEP and/or a disability. These exhilarating events encourages personal development, strengthens independent living skills, builds leadership abilities and promotes self-advocacy, laying a solid foundation for growth in school and achieving future workplace and life success. Utilizing a variety of teaching tools and activities Easterseals Nebraska has created two leaders-in-training events where students take on life’s challenges and realities of living, learning and working with a disability.

The goal of Nebraska Empowered Youth Camp is to provide youth with disabilities with a unique, recreational experience that prepares them for school, work and life inclusion. Students will take interest in learning about their disability, understand the importance of communication and listening skills, challenge one another to explore and share their talents and strengths, understand accommodations in the school and workplace, celebrate and learn about independent living, become excited about opportunities to access the services necessary for job seeking or secondary education and get engaged to return to their communities and advocate for their success and independence.

• Challenge self and others to explore strengths and talents
• Understand accommodations in school and work
• Be empowered to self-advocate for success and independence
• ​Invaluable work skills that you can apply to any job, such as:
  • Application and interview skills 
  • Knowledge of your strengths and weaknesses
  • Ability to work as a team
  • Understanding a job description
  • Following a schedule​
• Develop independent living skills, such as:
  • Healthy Relationships and Communication
  • Money Management and Organization
  • Meal Prep
  • Healthcare navigation
• Teambuilding and Cooperation skills
• New, lifelong friendships
• Have the best week of summer, ever!

Free, thanks to our generous donors!

The application is included within our registration portal, CampDoc. Applications can be completed by clicking here.

Ready to Apply?​

ABOUT OUR CAMP

• Why camp
• Type of Programs
• What Makes Us Great

PAYMENT OPTIONS

• Pick your Price Tiered Model
• Waiver
• Lifespan & Others

CAMPER APPLICATION

• How to Apply
• Instructions

FORMS

• Required forms to attend camp

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