ADD Student

The other day a reader asked me about summer camps for kids with ADHD. She had a specific one in mind – SOAR in North Carolina – and wondered what I knew about it.

I have heard of SOAR but have no experience with it. If anyone does, I’m sure she would appreciate you leaving your thoughts in the comments.

In general, summer camps that are designed for ADHD kids can be very beneficial for them. They get to meet lots of kids like themselves (who have ADHD) and they often find that there is an almost instant bond. When you feel out of place most of your life, meeting so many people just like you can have a very positive effect on your self esteem.

In addition, a camp that’s structured for kids with ADHD can provide them with learning experiences and tools that they can use to manage their ADHD and their lives more easily. Learning to work as a team or in a group situation is common to almost all camps, as well as learning to take care of yourself.

If you’re considering a summer camp for your ADHD child, there are a number of things you need to take into account:

Your child and his/her temperament – is your child anxious or easily upset or frightened? Do they have behavioral problems? Such children may not be ready for camp and might not be accepted. It’s not unusual for camps to pre-screen children before accepting them into their program.

What about the camp itself? What is the staff like and what sort of training do they have specific to ADHD? Do they seem friendly and open or more like drill instructors?

What is the ratio of adults to campers? A ratio of one counselor for every 10 campers is typical for regular camps, but for an ADHD specific camp, you should look for lower ratios like 2 or 3 counselors for every 7-10 campers.

Many ADHD camps offer some academic instruction over the summer in addition to camp activities. That’s something that you might want to look into when you’re considering camps.

You should also take a look at the camp’s medical staff and policies. Are you going to keep your child on ADHD medication for the summer? Does the camp require that? How will meds be given and who will do it?

Once you decide on a camp, be sure to prepare your child for it. It’s a good idea to let them help with the process of choosing a camp so that they feel a part of this and not as though they’re being sent away to get rid of them.

Be sure to let the counselors know anything special about your child when you get there – things like ways to calm them down or problems they have will be useful.

There are a lot of resources out there for summer ADHD camps. Here are a few:

ADDitude Magazine
About ADHD
My Summer Camps
Kids Camps