About Us

MEET OUR NEURODIVERGENT CAMPERS!

Camp Akeela campers are completing grades 3–10 and are excited about a traditional camp experience that supports their social growth. Parents and teachers describe them as bright, kind, creative and well-behaved. They have above average intelligence and are typically academically successful in mainstream school settings, although may receive extra help with executive functioning skills, social pragmatics, or other social deficits.

Our campers genuinely enjoy interacting with peers, but often struggle to make deeper, more meaningful social connections. They may need practice and guidance in reading nonverbal cues, exhibiting conversational empathy, or understanding social nuances. Families often report that, without facilitation, their children tend to socialize more easily with younger kids or adults.

CELEBRATING NEURODIVERSITY: AUTISM SPECTRUM (ASD LEVEL 1, FORMERLY CALLED ASPERGER’S), NONVERBAL LEARNING DISABILITY (NLD), ADD/ADHD

Most of our campers identify as neurodivergent, often with a diagnosis of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), ADD/ADHD, or a social-based learning difference such as NLD. With or without a diagnosis, they all share a desire to be part of a community that “gets” them and where they can meet friends with similar outlooks and experiences.

Akeela campers typically do best when they:

Know what to expect going into an activity or event
Get a written or verbal preview of transitions ahead of time
Socialize in a structured environment with established expectations
Are given step-by-step instructions to support their executive functioning
Have a trusted adult/mentor they can go to when they have a question, concern, or are upset

SUCCESSFUL AKEELA CAMPERS MUST BE ABLE TO:

AKEELA CAMPERS DO NOT EXHIBIT THE FOLLOWING BEHAVIORS, NOR CAN OUR STAFF PROVIDE A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE TO CHILDREN AND TEENS WHO:

Akeela campers typically do best when they:

Have behavioral outbursts or meltdowns
Have a history of physical or verbal aggression
Are oppositional and/or defiant or refuse to participate in less preferred activities
Require one-to-one behavioral support or consistent prompting to stay on task during activities or in class
Have a history of wandering or running away from a group
Have a recent history of psychiatric hospitalization, suicidality or self-harm

We love partnering with families to mutually assess if Akeela is the right fit for their child. It is the most important part of our jobs! Although our first-time campers are often unsure about coming to Akeela, after the application process is complete, they are ready to be at camp for the session. The best first step to help us get to know your family is to review our application process and complete our Inquiry Form.

SOCIAL SKILLS CAMP FOR NEURODIVERGENT TEENS

At Akeela, we work on social skills while campers are enjoying a traditional camp program. Because we know that every camper is different, we choose no t to follow one specific social skills curriculum or therapeutic approach. Instead, we work with families to understand exactly what will make each camper feel socially successful.

SOCIAL SKILLS SUMMER CAMP

We pride ourselves on being a camp that has a deep impact on kids’ lives, changing the way they feel about themselves and how they interact with others. Parents tell us at the end of the camp session that they can’t believe how much their children have changed. They are consistently moved by the enthusiasm with which their son or daughter proudly introduces them to new friends and counselors. Without question, Akeela is a therapeutic experience for our campers. Yet, it’s equally important to us that it doesn’t feel like a therapeutic environment. To be a camper at Akeela means to have a magical camp experience that matches the best “typical” camps in New England.

real-world opportunities

Camp is about having fun, making friends, trying new things, building character and being a part of something bigger than ourselves. At Akeela, it does not include an academic component, nor any explicit social skills lessons. Instead, living in a 24/7 camp community provides countless real-world opportunities for social challenges and successes. Staff members who truly know and love our campers help coach them through these moments, to reflect on them, and to practice new strategies for greater confidence and competence.

“I CAN BE MYSELF HERE”

Akeela campers tell us that camp is the place where they can truly be themselves. Most are in mainstreamed academic settings, where they have to work very hard to fit in socially. Camp Akeela provides an opportunity to live in a community filled with people who appreciate them for who they are. Enjoying a peer group and a program designed specifically for them allows them to be more open to feedback from staff and friends, which in turn leads to profound growth and connection.

HEAR ABOUT AKEELA FROM OUR CAMPERS AND DIRECTORS

A Typical Day at Akeela (VT)
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All About Our Staff
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The Akeela Difference
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The Camper Experience
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ACTIVITIES AT CAMP AKEELA

ARTS/MEDIA: Art, ceramics, cooking, dance, drama, music, rocketry, woodshop

Aquatics: Canoeing, kayaking, recreational swim, sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, swim instruction

LAND sports: Archery, basketball, frisbee golf, golf driving range, martial arts, soccer, softball, tennis

outdoor adventure: Animal care, farm & garden, low and high ropes courses & climbing wall, nature & science, weekly day hikes for every camper, overnight camping trips

PLUS: Community service, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), special events, trips, visiting craftspeople, weekly campfires