Vermont

“Where quirky campers thrive. Akeela campers are boys and girls completing grades 3 – 10 who are excited about a camp experience that supports their social growth. Many have been diagnosed with Asperger’s, NVLD or a similar neurodiverse profile. At Akeela, they truly belong and find lifelong friends.” - Akeela website "“Big property in Vermont with a lake. Co-ed. More for ‘rule followers’ - do not want to deal with refusals or oppositional behaviors. 3 periods in the morning of preselected activities, then each week they choose what they want to do for the other 2 periods in the afternoon.” - L.L. “As the kids age, they can check out ‘Beyond Akeela’, which aims to prepare them with the life skills they need to live independently and/or on a college campus. We haven’t gone ourselves but have heard good things.” - C.T."

Santa Clara, California

Ed note: This camp also seems to have a day camp option. "“Altitude provides year-round camping experiences for participants entering 6th through 12th grade with social cognitive challenges including: verbal and nonverbal learning disabilities, ADHD, Asperger’s, and high functioning autism. We build social skills, independence, and self-confidence to prepare our participants for the transition to young adulthood, future relationships, and the rest of their lives.” - Altitude website “This is an outdoorsy, swimming, hiking, crafting camp. You can do an intake interview with the person who runs the program, and she will answer all of your questions so you can weigh whether it would be a good fit for your kiddo. The woman I talked to did know the term 2e and seemed to really want the camp to be a place that would work for my daughter. We didn’t end up going, but it may be worth looking into if you’re looking to try out a camp experience that isn’t too far from home, since it’s right here in Silicon Valley.” - C.T."

Pennsylvania

“Camp Sequoia is a supportive overnight camp for exceptional young men ages 7-17 and exceptional young women ages 10-16, focusing on the unique needs of boys with ADHD and those working on social or life development skills.” - Camp Sequoia website “My son who has ADHD and social anxiety went to Camp Sequoia. He was 17 at the time but it was the best experience of his life and I only wish I had discovered it when he was younger. The director, Brian Lux, understands 2e kids.” - C.E.

Los Altos Hills, California

Ed note: This program has day camps too! "My son had a successful time at the Hidden Villa Residential (sleepaway) camp. They really do aim to be inclusive. They didn’t schedule a call with us beforehand per se, but I took the initiative to call the director and he really listened. At dropoff I could see they had printed all the forms and the counselors had really read them and were already familiar with everything I mentioned. Although the camp is mostly group-activities rather than individual-choice-activities, they allowed my son to opt out of things he didn't want to do - for example, he played cards most days instead of swimming. They seemed really flexible. Whatever they did, it worked for him and he had a good time there." - L.L.

Pennsylvania

Ed note: We heard from our community that this is an outdoor camp that may accept neurodivergent kids. We're not sure, but it might be worth checking out. “Sleepaway Summer Camp for youth that have social and emotional learning challenges, any age from 8 years to 21 years.” - Summit Camp website

North Carolina

“We provide specialized camp experiences for young people ages 6 to 22 with autism spectrum disorders, ADHD and/or other learning differences.” - Talisman website “This camp has a large variety of programs, for ADHD and autism (or both). The programs range from 1-4 weeks. They can deal with some refusals/oppositional behaviors as long as the child does pose a safety concern to themselves or others.” - L.L.

Wisconsin

“Timbertop Camp for youth with learning disabilities and special needs is a Wisconsin overnight summer camp designed for kids that think and learn differently. Youth campers have been identified by their School District as needing extra help for a learning disability or special need. Specific learning disabilities or special needs may include: OHI, ADHD, ADD, LD, SLD and Dyslexia.” - Timbertop website “Extensive intake process. Can deal with behaviors except for elopement. Structured activities in the morning, free afternoons at the lake. Farm animals!” - L.L.

Michigan and Colorado

Designed and led by eminent experts in the field of gifted youth, Yunasa embraces gifted children for who they are, helping them understand and work with the unique joys and challenges that gifted children face. Geared toward the unique needs of gifted children, while offering all the enjoyment of a traditional summer sleep-away camp, Yunasa provides a combination of traditional camp activities and special workshops designed specifically to help gifted children learn more about themselves as they develop greater awareness and self-acceptance. The week-long camp is held in Colorado in June and Michigan in July.

Yale, Cornell, Bryn Mwr, Fairfiled University, UCLA

SIG provides dynamic and innovative approaches for supplementing the education of our world’s most gifted and talented students, ensuring that they receive the individual attention they require.Through over 35+ years of experience and resources in gifted education, SIG provides a unique environment for gifted and talented students to connect with peers in a community of like-minded learners from all over the world who share common interests, abilities, and goals.