Are you looking for a children’s camp which is unique, can help foster independence and self-esteem and can support certain special needs?

 Well, look no further than Telluride Academy. My family and I just returned from Telluride, Colorado where my son attended the camp for two weeks. I think it was the best experience he has ever had.

It is no secret that my son has ADHD combined type. Even before he had a definitive diagnosis, I knew he was ADHD. He has been a ball of energy and oddities since he was able to walk. Time and time again I heard from babysitters and coaches and instructors how my son wouldn’t listen and couldn’t seem to cooperate with a group. In ski class he would roll in the snow or stuff snow in his mouth or lie face down and lick the snow. He would ski off by himself or ski past the instructor. Karate class was a total failure. My son attended for six months and never learned one movement pattern. Rather, he would spend his time lifting up his uniform top and checking out his belly button in the mirror. He entertained the other parents, for sure, but never was able to progress. He did make progress in skating class, but that was due to the persistence of his big-hearted and kind instructor who chose to ignore him when he would skate furiously in circles or lie down on the ice and lick it!

My husband and I heard about Telluride Academy during a winter visit. We met a couple at dinner one night whose daughter had attended the camp. They were raving about the program. It seems their daughter was painfully shy and had separation issues. They said that the camp helped diminish her shyness and helped her to become more independent.

I enrolled my son in “Camp Telluride” which is one of a variety of programs. It offered a sampling of many of the activities of the other programs. The camp session ran Monday through Thursday for two weeks with a Wednesday overnight each week. My son had an opportunity to go horseback riding, rock climb (yes, the type with ropes, belays and helmets), explore a mine (and ride the mine car), sleep in a tent under the stars, hike, explore the wilderness, fish for crawdads, swim in a hot spring and more. If it hadn’t snowed one day (that’s right), he would have also gone canoeing. Now all this might not sound so amazing, except for the fact that my son is only six. I don’t believe most camps engage such young kids in these kinds of activities.

We had to buy him a frame pack for his overnights. Those are the huge backpacks which you see campers use. His backpack included a sleeping pad, sleeping bag, utensils, change of clothes, and flashlight. I think the pack was bigger than he was. Normally, my son avoids carrying his schoolbag. Now here he was with a huge, heavy backpack strapped on and he was raring to go. I don’t think he even said good-bye to my husband and me the mornings we dropped him off for his overnights. He was excited to get started with his adventure.

Now, I am not going to say that everything went perfectly. As a matter of fact, there were some issues. My son has some “interesting” social interactions sometimes. Apparently, so did a few of the other campers. The behaviors were sufficient that it became necessary to provide an additional counselor. This particular counselor was specially trained to work with kids like my son. Having a “buddy” was all it took to resolve the issues and allow my son to have a fantastic experience. If I had noted the ADHD in advance, the trained counselor could have been there from the start.

Telluride Academy has partnered with the National Inclusion Project.

This allows them to provide training and staff who can work with children who have special needs. According to Elaine Demas, Director of Telluride Academy, the camp can provide an “inclusive experience for any child with any disability as long as that child has the drive, ability and desire to participate.” While the Academy is best suited for children with cognitive disabilities, it can accommodate some physical disabilities as long as the child can manage in the natural environment. The alliance with the National Inclusion Project makes it possible for Telluride Academy to provide additional staff when needed at no extra cost to the camper’s family.

My philosophy in raising my son is that I want to provide him with the skills he will need to compensate for his ADHD.

I already know, both as an occupational therapist and a mom, that kids with ADHD tend to have problems in school, problems with socialization and problems with good self-esteem. I also know that self-esteem is essential to good child development. Self-esteem is developed via successful, positive experiences in which ability is challenged. I truly believe that Telluride Academy provides the opportunity for children to build developmental skills and develop that self esteem. Rock climbing? Horseback riding? Hiking? Camping in the wilderness? Overnights without mom and dad? Additionally, my son had to work with the group, help set up the campsite each week and help clean the van at the end of the program. He got to vacuum the inside (I heard he loved it). I was astounded because it is a battle to get him to help around our house.

Telluride Academy is a great camp for any child.

In addition to the “Camp Telluride” program, they offer sessions such as rafting and mountain bike riding, horseback riding, survival skills, adventure travel, rock climbing and more. Levels range from beginner to advanced. They even offer a theater program. The Academy programs are truly designed to foster important developmental skills. Kids learn patience, self-sufficiency, cooperation they develop good motor skills. The Academy’s partnership with the National Inclusion Project makes it the perfect camp for children like my son and others with cognitive disabilities or mild physical disabilities.