How to Choose Summer Camps For Children With LD/ADD

from the LDA of Michigan, April 2003

If you are a parent of a child with learning disabilities then you probably know summer camp can be one of two things: either a total success, or an unmitigated disaster. Children with LD/ADD are often uncoordinated, or have perceptual or behavioral problems. If camp counselors don't know how to handle these difficulties then camp won't be a pleasant experience for your child.

Since you are the consumer, you have the right to ask any and all the questions you wish, in order to better understand the camp program. Some questions to ask might be:

• What is the minimum age for senior counselors and junior counselors?

• What is the ratio of campers to senior counselors in the cabin?

• What is the background of the camp director, program director and section director?

• Who handles the cabin on the counselor's day off?

• What is the program orientation (do campers go to activities with their counselor and cabin mates, individually, or both?

You may want to ask the staff:

• How much activity choice is there?

• What happens when a child does not want to participate in an activity or is poor at an activity?

• How much flexibility is there concerning; the level of activity at which a child participates?

• How sophisticated are the activities?

More important considerations:

• What forms of discipline are used?

• How strict is the camp?

• How many rules are there?

• How does the staff handle teasing, scapegoating and rejection.

• Are children ever moved from one group to another?

• Are parents contacted if there is a concern about the child?

• On what basis would the decision be made to terminate a child's stay at day camp? Would any money be refunded? How much?

• What are the attributes of children who adjusted most and least easily to the camp?

• What are the campers like, typically?

• What are the goals of the camp for its campers?

Some final questions to ponder:

• Is there any feedback provided at the end of the camp concerning how a child has done, his/her gains, friends made, coping skills, etc.?

• Is this report verbal or in writing?

• What are the camps rules regarding visiting, telephoning, etc.?

• What can you as a parent share with the camp that will be helpful in making the experience a positive one for all concerned?

Camp Resource Guide

The Camp-O-Rama Guide 2004 (PDF) contains a listing of Michigan camps for persons with special needs.  Updated each March, this list is provided as a resource to help you select a camp best suited to your child's own personal needs.