Summer 2026 CampsLights, camera, confidence. From home.
A free week of acting, singing, improv, and theater fun, designed for teens and adults with special needs. With trained Performing Hearts teachers and the warm Friendship Circle Online energy.
Register for Theater Camp →
New here? Here's what Friendship Circle Online is.
Friendship Circle Online (FCO) is a virtual community built for teens and adults with special needs. We meet on Zoom for daily and weekly programs that feel like a real friendship circle, music, crafts, conversation, life skills, Jewish moments, and the warm energy that makes people want to come back.
Learn more about Friendship Circle Online →
What the week looks like
Five afternoons of theater fun, no experience needed. Just show up and play.
Acting + improv
Theater games and exercises that build confidence without pressure.
Singing + music
Group sing-alongs, rhythm work, and finding your stage voice.
Movement + scenes
Light choreography, scene work, and creative theater play.
From your home
Comfortable space, familiar setup, full participation on Zoom.
Built for belonging, not just inclusion.
This isn't a typical theater camp adapted for special needs. It's built specifically for teens and adults with disabilities, by teachers who do this every week. No drop-offs, no awkward catch-up, no kid feeling like they're slowing the room down.
Performing Hearts is a performing arts program for people with disabilities, and their faculty know how to create a stage where everyone shines. Confidence builds itself when nobody's watching to judge.
Why families pick FCO
A program built for teens and adults with special needs, run by people who do this every week of the year.
Inclusive by design
Not a typical camp adapted for special needs. Built for special needs from the first session, five years ago.
From home, on their terms
No transport, no sensory overload, no awkward drop-offs. Comfortable space, familiar setup, full participation.
Real friendship
Small groups, returning faces, trained facilitators. Participants leave with friends, not just a certificate.
Common questions
Who is this for?
Teens and adults with special needs, including autism, Down syndrome, and other developmental and intellectual disabilities. Participants typically range from age 13 through adulthood.
What do we need at home?
A computer, tablet, or phone with Zoom, and an internet connection. That's it. Bring yourself.
What if my child is shy or new to virtual programs?
Totally normal. The first day is built around easing in. Cameras-on is encouraged but not required. Many participants warm up by day two.
Do parents need to stay on?
Up to you. Some parents stay nearby for support, others use it as their break. Our facilitators are experienced running the room.
Why is this free?
This camp is fully sponsored by FCO supporters and partner orgs this summer. We want cost to never be the reason a kid misses out.
What if my child can only do part of the week?
Register anyway, come for what you can. We'd rather have someone for two days than miss them entirely.
Questions? Talk to a real person.
Batya runs FCO and answers every email personally. Reach out at onlineadmin@friendshipcircle.com with any question, big or small.
Register for Theater Camp →