Summer Camps | ADHD Information

My son did art camp last summer and loved it. It's not sports, but he was still in an organized activity with other kids. He loved the raiku firing! Let me tell you, THAT was a scary thought: my son in close proximity with skin-meltingly hot pottery. He also does boy scout camp every summer, and that is as close to a coming-of-age experience as he's going to get in our society: they learn to fish, shoot (is they qualify), first-aid, look after their own clothes, and basically care for themselves for a week undere the supervision of other adults. It's great! He's become so much more capable and confident as a result. I've heard,"Mom, I've got this!" so much more since he started.

Circus Camp. It is an ADHD kid's dream!

Just reading the words "Over night camp" makes me nervous. It would be nice to have a camp that was experienced with ADHD kids, too, but we live on the West Coast. I just don't see us making a trip to the midwest for a summer camp.

Circus camp sounds like a blast. I'll need to look and see if we have something like that here. And I didn't even consider swimming. He took lessons years ago and learned to swim, but it's not really something I think about. Maybe a swimming team would be fun.

Thanks for the ideas. I know if we have a plan for summer, it will go much more smoothly!

Hi, I recently read that sea air is rich in negative ions.

Negative ions improve our ability to absorb oxygen and helps us reduce
stress. Ions also balance our levels of the feel-good hormone serotonin.
Serotonin also makes us calmer.

This is the reason we sleep so well after a day on the beach. It makes
sense why spending time in nature, like camps, really is good for us.

Swimming is excellent for inattention and hyperactivity.

Good luck!!!

Mine are both going away for 6 days and 5 nights for the first time this summer and I am very scared but then i think...it is only 6 days and they know all about my child so they should be able to handle things

My 11 yr old son attended a week long camp in MI (we live in IL) last summer.  It is a Christian based camp (we are Catholic) and his session was for 5th through 11th grades.  He is not super athletic, but has tons of energy.  We were approached by the aquatic director at our local Y, who felt our son would be a good fit for their program.  My concern over the meds issues was addressed after learning that many of the campers are on meds and there is a nurse on site to administer.  He did not know a soul, we had considered having a cousin or pal go with him, then realized this was an opportunity to stretch his wings.  Turns out one of his favorite camp counselors from the Y now works up there, so now there were two familiar faces.  It turned out to be an incredible experience for him.  He was in a cabin with 8 other boys, and two adults.  Very structured.  The camp posted photos online daily so you could view activities.  THey had several reunions since camp broke, and he cannot wait to return.   He will continue to do specialty day camps at the Y, attend boy scout camp for the first time (one week), and still have some weeks free.  Cost was 5, plus a three hour drive each way.  He shined up there and experienced his first crush in a very safe place.  (she was 16 and had a burly boyfriend, they both treated him kindly and with much compasssion).  I never would have considered this type of away camp for my son with adhd, but it has turned out to be a perfect fit. He returns in July and plans to go every year.  It also provides an opportunity to get away from a pesky little sister (high risk for adhd, will be dx'd next month)My 11 year old adhd grandson likes playing all sports, except baseball.  For him, all the standing around doesn't work.  He needs fast moving sports.  He loves soccer and plays it in the fall and spring, as well as attending summer soccer camps.  He also likes basketball and plays that in between soccer seasons.  He also attends a basketball camp in the summer.  He would play football also, if it didn't coincide with soccer season.  

We tried baseball once and the dandylions were too distracting out there in left field.

Soccer is his favorite sport, but he already plays on a full year team. I don't want to burn him out. Although I love the idea for caffeine! Practices sometimes run until 8:30 in the summer and the meds are all gone by then. The recreational coaches don't mind him goofing around but these English guys who coach premier aren't interested in ADHD explanations.

I wondered about track and field? He can run for miles, maybe long distance running to get the extra energy out. Basketball seems like it takes a lot of energy, too. Just being a part of a team is so important so he can learn to get along with all the personality types out there.

Has anyone had a great summer camp experience they would like to share? My kids love sports and I know baseball is not great. Too much standing around. Maybe soccer? I want to do things as a team so he gets more experience dealing wtih other kids. Suggestions??

My boy 10, is an avid baseball player.  He is actually really really good and super adhhhhd. The reason why he can, is because he loves it so much. I have noticed anything he is passionate about he can really set his mind to it.  The meds help the impulsivity and negativity when he doesn't perform to his standards.

He really does keep busy with it on his own all the time.  For evening practices, we use caffeine.  Maybe try something your kids really really like?

good luck:)