Palo Alto, California

“Both of these schools run fun summer camps for dyslexic students.” - A.K.

Sunnyvale, California

This camp provides a supportive, collaborative environment where individuals can connect with others facing similar challenges, gain new perspectives, and grow together. Camps are offered on a variety of topics including building social skills through fantasy and games, cognitive flexibility & perfectionism, and mindfulness through art.

Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, and more

"One of Beyond the Box's summer camps was our introduction to writing with Royd and Shu-Hsien. He's taken several classes with them since then." - S.T.

Belmont, California

“Both of these schools run fun summer camps for dyslexic students.” - A.K.

CHC: S.P.O.T. Summer (Palo Alto)

Palo Alto, California

S.P.O.T. gives your child the gifts of feeling understood, making friends, and having fun, while developing skills to help prepare them for their best school year yet! Led by a speech language pathologist and occupational therapist, your child will develop social, emotional, sensory regulation, and communication skills through art, science, nature, and wonder. (Ages 5-9)

Palo Alto

Sand Hill Summer is designed for children who face challenges in reading, writing, spelling, or mathematics during the school year. Children with dyslexia, ADHD, language-based learning disabilities, or other specific learning disabilities will experience success in a supportive, skill-building environment. Our program balances fun activities tailored to students' interests with evidence-based academic support. (For kids entering grades 2-8.)

Palo Alto, California

“My kids loved the small groups and immersive, hands-on activities at all of the science camps. An instructor and several helpers provide plenty of support. They get to delve deeply into their passion areas. I’ve also heard great things about the art and drama, etc camps but haven’t tried them yet.” - Y.V. "Palo Alto Zoo science camp was great for my kindergartener. Shoutout to Jennifer who was running the camp classes and she was an amazing leader and super inclusive, informed, and kind and respectful to my 2e and non-2e boys."

San Mateo, California

"Before the camp started, they hosted an information night on Zoom meeting, providing a lot of information to parents. They also reached out to parents who identified their kids with special needs during the registration process. At the drop off on the first day, I saw the camp teacher printed out my email with their own comments to get fully prepared. They have daily check in with me at pickup and sincerely take my suggestions on how to work with my son. On the last day of the camp, the kiddos had great presentations with their own made posters." - C.Z.

Woodside and Los Altos, California

“We’ve had a lot of luck with Decathlon Sports Camp for my high energy ADHDer. They are a long running family run camp with a high camper-to-counselor ratio. They’ve been especially high-touch with my family’s extra needs in the last few years, going the extra mile to make sure my kids are matched with loving experienced counselors and checking in frequently with me for feedback.” - C.P.

Palo Alto, California

Ed note: This camp runs weekly throughout the year as well. "This is the camp for all kids who love to LARP and role-play. It's Dungeons & Dragons brought to life. My son and his friends can't get enough." - A.K.

Bay Area, Southern CA, Chicago, Denver, Seattle

“Very hands-on camp with different themes each week. Art, science, and active sections daily. Non-competitive and focused on creativity and experimentation. High-quality counselors, good ratios, and allowed us to bring an aide. The morning rah-rah portion may not suit all kids.” — Y.V. “My kids like Galileo Summer Quest. Choice has been key to my child’s success at camp, and Galileo let them choose their own focus area (for example, learning to sew).” — D.W.

Stanford, multiple locations

“My rising 10th grader attended the residential program at Stanford University and had a fantastic experience. They offer day and residential programs across the U.S. and abroad. It’s a great low-stakes way to try residential learning while staying local, especially for teens who love reading or writing.” — L.D. “My child did the Great Books program between 6th and 7th grade, and it was transformative. It convinced them they wanted advanced reading and analysis year-round and helped them feel ready for boarding school. I highly recommend it.” — K.Z.

Stanford and various other locations

Ed note: Check out their sleepaway options as well! “My son loved his three one-week sessions at ID Tech this summer—absolutely rocked it. From what I observed, many kids seemed to be on the spectrum, and the instructors clearly knew how to support them.” — L.L. “My 2e son had a fabulous week at coding camp. He felt like he was with ‘his people’ and kept coding for hours after camp each day.” — A.K. “My son attended the Stanford ID Tech program for a one-week session and had a solid experience. Staff communicated well about his needs, and the setting supported growing independence with thoughtful scaffolding.” — S.T.

Stanford

“Activities are fun, creative, and mostly non-competitive games. They are more flexible than most camps - they want kids to try everything, but if a kid really doesn’t want to do something after trying it, they will usually accommodate.” - L.L.

Los Altos, California

"My son has asked to return to this camp several times now over the past few years with him also attending its past summer camps and a spring break camp. I especially found the lead counselor, Donald, this past summer to be inclusive and engaging." - S.T.

Sunnyvale, California

“Wide variety of maker space camps including woodworking, metalworking, 3D printing, D&D, Arduino, and more. Small groups with an instructor and helper provide plenty of support. Amazing equipment and freedom to be creative.” - Y.V.

Redwood City, California

“My 2e and gifted children loved this science camp when they were in elementary school. The staff is friendly and overall the camp feels relaxed.” — A.K. “After the first day, the camp director identified my son's needs. After checking with me, she immediately took action and assigned experienced staff members to work with my son and provided him the breaks he needed. This is the first time he finished the camp without getting kicked out. It means so much to him. I am so grateful!” — C.Z.

Sunnyvale, California

"My 12 y/o has participated in their summer and spring camps for the past 5 years. He's progressed and pushed himself to climb higher and attempt challenging routes. He takes a book to read when he wants some down time during the half day sessions. It's one of the few camps he asks to attend every summer." - S.T.

Oakland, California

Ed note: This camp is run by Doug Ronning, a past REEL speaker. REEL parents have participated in his past online D&D groups and highly recommend his programs! A live Action Role-Play camp designed using a neurodiversity-affirmative approach.

Various Locations

San Mateo, California

"My 2e son thrived in this environment without incident. And made FRIENDS!!!! It is a major relief to me to know he's in a safe and supportive environment."

Various Bay Area locations

"Steve and Kate's lets each camper decide exactly which activities they want to do. It was a good fit when my kids were young. However Steve and Kate's only works if they pick a site with outdoor space. A few summers it was great - for instance at Encinal School, with all the classrooms and outdoor space. I'd say learning what the location looks like is very important, in addition to the content itself!" - D.W. "Steve and Kate's camp in Walnut Creek has been great with our kiddo. He is also 11 years old, and he gets bored and overwhelmed easily. The camp allows him to select his activities and the days he wants to come. They have made a huge effort to understand our kiddo and make his experience a good one." - D.P.

Various Bay Area locations

“Great camp for tinkerers, budding engineers, and LEGO lovers! Counselors were able to work with my son even though he needed extra support reading some of the instructions.” - A.K. Ed note: In past years there has been a sleepaway camp option; the overnight camp is unfortunately not happening in summer 2023, but the day camps are running.

Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, San Rafael, California

“Tinkering Camp is the summer program of Brightworks School. It is an amazing hands-on building camp which my 2e son has loved for many years.” - A.K. "This camp has lots of 2E kids, and more of an even gender balance than other science/builder/coding camps we've tried." - M.K.

Los Gatos, California

“I learned about this camp on a Facebook group for Bay Area ND and gifted kids. My kids totally loved it! The husband and wife couple who run it are great.” - A.K.

Palo Alto, California plus other locations

“Good quality counselors and programs, worked well with our ND kids.” - L.L.

Santa Cruz, California

"I learned about this amazing camp that’s great for 2e and is highly inclusive - one kid grew from just watching to meeting industry experts and singing and performing abroad etc!" - Y.V.