Starfish was designed, created, and structured to provide a safe, fun and skill-building therapeutic camp experience to children who, for whatever reason(s), are unable to find success in more traditional environments. Many campers who attend Starfish have been asked to leave other summer or extra-curricular programs because the staff ratio, structure or program expectations did not set up children with extra needs for success. Some Starfish campers attend public schools with IEPs or class aides. Some attend private therapeutic schools with small classes and multiple teachers. Others attend residential schools or alternative learning academies. All are looking for a place where social interactions are appropriate and simplified, where they are not the "odd one out" and where they can feel at home. Some, though not all, of our campers have been diagnosed with one or more of the following: anxiety, ADHD, learning disabilities (including NVLD), Autism, Aspergers, PDD, Oppositional Defiance, anger problems, sensory processing/ integration disorder, depression, bipolar, inflexible explosivity, reactive attachment, and other extra needs. If you're not sure whether Starfish is right for your camper, please contact us!