2e-Friendly Summer Camp Listing

Summer can be a time for kids to explore new interests, pursue old ones, make new friends, or learn new skills. And, of course, it’s a time to just have some fun. Here are some ideas to help you plan a summer for your child that combines some or all of these things. It’s our annual list of 2e-friendly camps and programs.

Please note that this is not a comprehensive list, nor is it a list of camps or programs that 2e Newsletter endorses. It’s just a little help in getting you started on your search.

Aspire Adventure Summer Camp, Westwood, MA, June – August; children ages 5-13

Aspire, a MassGeneral Hospital Program, specializes in helping children, teens and adults on the autism spectrum achieve success. Aspire’s Adventure Summer Camp is a 6-week program for children, with Asperger profiles, ages 5-13 years.  Campers participate in a weekly schedule full of typical fun camp activities, such as boating, swimming, archery, music and art. Aspire’s core curriculum focuses on teaching skills in the areas of self-awareness, stress management and social competency. Our staff focus on each camper’s strengths to create a safe and comfortable environment in which they can learn, grow, make social connections, feel successful and have fun. In collaboration with caregivers, campers identify personal goals and receive daily feedback about their progress.  Camp is located at Hale Reservation in Westwood, Massachusetts. This is the perfect backdrop to facilitate a summer full of adventures and foster meaningful friendships that continue to develop beyond camp. See: https://www.massgeneral.org/children/aspire/child

Camp Summit for the Gifted, Talented, and Creative, Marin Headlands, CA, June

According to the psychologists from the Summit Center who developed this week-long residential program, its purpose is to allow gifted, talented, and creative kids from 9-14 to have fun while enjoying stimulating and challenging experiences in a beautiful environment. Activities include self-exploration workshops, creative and expressive arts, outdoor ecology studies, strategy games, simulations, and hands-on design projects along with more typical camp activities. A new leadership program is available for 15 to 16-year-olds. While not exclusively designed for twice-exceptional children, they are welcome. (Parents are encouraged to raise 2e issues in advance to ensure that the camp is a good fit for their child.) See: http://www.campsummitforthegifted.com.

Druidawn Online Summer Workshops

Over the past three decades+, the Druidawn team has helped thousands of students to find a love of writing and has created supportive communities for advanced writers and creative minds. Throughout the week, participants work on fantasy-world-building techniques, take part in the Druidawn publishing project, and do arts and crafts. In addition, they learn how to solve problems and work together as a team as they quest in an imaginary fantasy setting with safety swords and play-acting. See: https://www.druidawn.org/summer-workshops/

The Quad Summer Camp, New York City, July – August

This summer day camp is conducted by the Quad, an educational and recreational center for twiceexceptional children in Manhattan. It accepts children from 4-12 years of age and places them in groups of no more than 8 for the youngest and 10 for the rest. Groups are led by one core teacher (either a special educator or future psychologist) plus two trained interns. The focus is on developing talents, pursuing interests, and working on skill building. Camp takes place at the new Spruce Street School in Beekman Tower in Lower Manhattan. See: https://www.thequadmanhattan.com/summer.

Satori, Cheney, WA (on the main campus of Eastern Washington University), July

This week-long residential program is for academically and intellectually talented students 12 to 18 years of age. A day-camp option is also available. The stated goal of the camp is to offer campers a taste of college with others who share their enthusiasm for learning in an academic and social environment. See: https://inside.ewu.edu/satoricamp/

SOAR (Success Oriented Achievement Realized): Multiple locations and dates

SOAR is a seasonal accredited educational academy, GAP year program, study abroad program, and outdoor adventure camp designed especially for youth and adolescence with ADHD and/or Learning Disabilities (LD). For over 45 years, SOAR outdoor adventure summer camps have helped youth with ADHD and learning disabilities develop self confidence, social skills and life skills. SOAR camps are currently located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the Florida Keys, Wyoming, the coast of California, and Belize. See: https://soarnc.org/.

Summer on the Brain, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, various dates in June – July

The University of Iowa’s Belin-Blank Center offers various summer residential and day programs aimed at three age levels: grades 2-6, grades 6-8, and grades 9-11. A limited number of scholarships are available for twice-exceptional students to attend these summer programs. See: https://belinblank.education.uiowa.edu/students/default.aspx#summer

Yunasa, in Sedalia, Colorado, June; in Fenton, Michigan, July

This week-long residential camp brings together highly gifted young people between the ages of 10 and 14 and experts in the social and emotional development of highly able people. While enjoying the traditional activities of a sleep-away camp, participants also have the opportunity to explore the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social, and physical aspects of their lives. See: https://educationaladvancement.org/programs/yunasa/, and note the early application date.

Resources

• 14 Summer Programs for Gifted Students, https://educationaladvancement.org/blog-summer-programs-for-gifted-students/
• ADDitude magazine’s annual guide to camps & schools for children with learning differences: https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-camp-and-school-guide/
• Beating the “Summer Slide,” https://childmind.org/article/how-to-keep-kids-reading-this-summer/
• Davidson Institute’s Summer Camps & Programs for Gifted Students: Resource Guide: https://www.davidsongifted.org/resource-library/gifted-resources-guides/gifted-summer-programs-guide/
• Finding the Right Summer Program for Your Gifted Child, https://childmind.org/article/strategies-for-a-successful-summer-break/
• Helping Anxious Kids Enjoy Summer Camp, https://childmind.org/article/13-tips-for-helping-anxious-kids-enjoy-summer-camp/
• Hoagie’s Gifted listing of summer camps and other programs for gifted children: http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/summer.htm
• Gifted Summer Programs: Listed by Topics of Interest, https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/gifted-summer-programs-listed-by-topics-of-interest/
• Learning Disabilities Association of America’s summer activities for children with learning disabilities: https://ldaamerica.org/summer-activities-for-children-with-learning-disabilities/
• REEL2e’s 2023 Summer Camp Roundup: https://www.reel2e.org/post/2023-summer-camp-roundup
• Tips for Choosing a Summer Camp for Your LD Child, http://www.ldonline.org/article/6124
• VeryWellMind Summer Camps for Kids with AD/HD: https://www.verywellmind.com/summer-camps-for-kids-with-adhd-20534

Permission Statement

This article is reprinted with permission from the 2e Newsletter and the author.

This article is provided as a service of the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to supporting profoundly gifted young people 18 and under. To learn more about the Davidson Institute’s programs, please visit www.DavidsonGifted.org.