Greater Richmond ARC’s Camp Baker is a full-service, handicap-equipped retreat facility located on 22 wooded acres near the Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County, Virginia.



Camp Baker’s long history of serving children with special needs can be traced to 1929 when the camp was first established as a respite for undernourished children. In 1957, ownership of the W. W. Baker Summer Camp for Children was transferred over to Chesterfield County under the care of the Richmond Area ARC and renamed Camp Baker to serve children with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. Over the past fifty years, the rustic camp has undergone many upgrades and renovations, including the 2003 construction of a year-round, fully accessible 62-bed air conditioned lodge to better suit the needs of campers.

Who We Serve

Camp Baker supports children from age six through adulthood with mental retardation and similar developmental disabilities so they can:

Develop friendships and build self-esteem during training, therapeutic recreation and social activities

Achieve higher levels of independence while mastering new skills for community living

Make choices and decisions that are based on individual preferences, strengths and needs

Live with caregivers

Campers receive care and supervision in a safe, nurturing environment. Beyond assistance with personal hygiene, meals, toileting and medication management, campers participate in therapeutic, recreational and social activities both at the camp and in the community. A 1:3 staff-to-camper ratio is maintained.

Camp Baker’s programs are designed to help to decrease the stress of caregivers so that they are better able to cope with the demands of caring for school-aged children and adults with disabilities.



Camp Baker also serves siblings, parents and other caregivers who often need a break from caring for their loved one with special needs.