Camp Maple Leaf

Maple Leaf Clinic Wallingford, Vermont hosts Camp Maple Leaf, a special needs camp that supports campers with Nonverbal Learning Disorders (NLD). Maple Leaf stresses that their camp environment is “more like a family vacation.” Day activities focus on the campers, where social skills are woven into each activity, from kayaking, to short hikes, campfire time, and crafts. To Maple Leaf, these are all opportunities for social growth and improvement. Each day, the camp hosts a special guest, which could be a magician, or a herd of alpacas, a chemist who helps campers tie-dye camp t-shirts, or even a team of huskies (everyone’s favorite). Campers enjoy themselves without realizing they are learning along the way.

“Our goal is that not only does our camper have fun and learn new approaches for life, but that our camper’s family is also educated and that their confidence is built up,” Maple Leaf says. “After all, you’re going to take care of our camper all year long until we see him/her again next year!”

Families benefit from evening activities. S’mores by the campfire with Clinical Psychologist Dr. Mooney is a common occurrence. While the children are busy at camp, Dr. Mooney meets with family members as a group (this could include mom, dad, siblings, grandparents, etc.) and shows presentations to help them understand the diagnosis, the strengths and weaknesses associated with the diagnosis, and interventions for home and school. There is no extra charge for these presentations.

Maple Leaf says families originally come to the camp because Maple Leaf is known as the expert in NLD, but at the end of the week, most families feel that they are the experts and have a strong sense of what they should be doing to make life less of a struggle.

“What is amazing is that we get families from all over the world: Indonesia, Japan, England, Australia, Canada, and of course the U.S.,” Maple Leaf says. “All of a sudden, all of these parents who feel that they are the only one in the world with a child diagnosed with NLD, well, they are all in the same room together with an expert who can answer all of your questions. What happens is nothing short of magical to be honest.”

Learn more about Maple Leaf on their website or email their offices for information.