Summer Programs

Many children with learning difficulties can do well in almost any summer program. Without the stress of classroom demands, these children can enjoy recreational activities and build important self esteem and social skills as they interact with their peers.

Other children, however, need a special setting for summer because their behavior, attention or learning issues make it difficult for them to manage in a typical camp environment. Although the break from school is often a welcome relief, it also means the loss of structure and social contacts for these children and increased supervision and stress for their parents.

Fortunately, there are an increasing number of summer programs designed for children and adolescents with learning disabilities and accompanying behavioral issues.

CAMPS

Resources for Children with Special Needs, a New York City based non-profit organization, sponsors an annual Camp Fair each winter and publishes an annual Camp Directory, both of which include both local day programs as well as more distant residential options. Although the Directory and the Camp Fair both include camps for children with learning and attention issues, like all of the programs and materials from Resources for Children, there are also numerous programs for children with physical and emotional illnesses and disabilities.

Camp Kehilla and Kehilla Kayyf are programs of the Jewish Community Center in Roslyn, Long Island, designed for “high-functioning children and teens with minimal learning disabilities, speech and language delays” and other issues. The day camp program, for younger campers, is located at the Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds in Huntington. The sleep-away program for pre-teens and teens is located in Poyntelle, Pennsylvania.

We have heard good things about Camp Northwood, a private sleep-away camp located in Remsen, New York.

And we have had first-hand experience and can recommend Summit Camp, whose Director, Regina Skyer, is a former social worker who is presently an attorney specializing in educational advocacy.

You might also want to check out Camp Ramapo which has both summer and school year programs.

The NYU Child Study Center’s Summer Day Program for children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is located in Riverdale, New York and offers both camping activities and support and remediation services.

ACADEMIC SUMMER PROGRAMS

Winston Preparatory School, an excellent day school for secondary students with learning differences with locations in Manhattan and Norwalk, Connecticut offers summer programs in both locations featuring academic support and recreational activities.

Other schools with academic summer programs include:
The Kildonan School in Amenia, NY which has a summer program for students with dyslexia;

The Landmark School, in Massachusetts;

And, for high school and college students with attention and learning issues, Landmark College in Vermont offers several summer options.

One note on most of the programs we list --they are expensive and are not within the budgets of many families. We are always looking for your suggestions about good, affordable summer camps and programs. Please let us hear from you with your experiences.

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