Camp Amicus
Camp Amicus helps youth with Learning Disabilities (such as Dyslexia) and ADHD increase social skills, self-confidence and self-esteem
Registration for Camp Amicus is coming January 2025!
Camp Amicus is a unique summer camp program designed specifically for children and youth with Learning Disabilities (such as Dyslexia) and/or ADHD. Our goal is to create a rewarding and successful summer camp for each young person. We provide a structured and supportive environment for children to learn social skills, build relationships and have fun! Mature, caring counselors plan activities to ensure that campers build confidence and self-esteem while enjoying a true camp experience. We offer both overnight and day camp options as well as horsemanship, Teen Leadership/ hiking, and Counsellor-in-Training camps.
Intake Criteria
- We serve children and teens from ages 8 to 18 diagnosed with a Learning Disability (such as Dyslexia) and/or ADHD. Full details about our Intake Criteria and Intake Process can be found here.
Why Send Your Child to Camp Amicus?
- A camp program for children with Learning Disabilities (such as Dyslexia) and/or ADHD operating since 1982
- A 3:1 camper to counsellor ratio with leadership staff and a Camp Manager to support campers and staff
- Camp Amicus offers a social skills program grounded in evidence-based, behavioural and social learning theories specifically for youth with LD/ADHD
- It offers fun, non-competitive camp activities
- Programming reinforces age-appropriate social skills in a safe and supportive environment
- Mature, caring counsellors plan activities to ensure that campers build confidence and self-esteem, while having a great time
- All staff recieve specific ADHD and learning disability training in addition to a certification in SIVA (Supporting Individuals through Valued Attachments) safety management
"Camp Amicus provides a rewarding and successful summer camp experience where adolescents with ADHD learn social skills, build relationships, confidence, and self-esteem. Overall, the present findings provide evidence that adolescents with ADHD enhanced their social competence. The camp structure, programming, and counsellor approaches provide practice and reinforcement of age-appropriate social skills in a fun and safe environment. These results support the premise that evidence-based social skills programs can be effectively implemented in community settings such as summer camp and can help adolescents develop social competence in a short amount of time." (Neprily, 2020, p.76).
This is a quote from the 2020 study entitled "Summer Camp for Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Naturalistic Context for Enhancing Social Competence" that looked at the impact of Camp Amicus.
See Camp Amicus in action
Jana has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Calgary, and is registered with the Alberta College of Social Workers. She has a history of working with children, youth, and families, and is passionate about early intervention, prevention, and meeting children’s social, emotional, and developmental needs. Jana is trained in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, and the Nurturing Parenting Program Curriculum. She utilizes a trauma-informed and strength-based approach in her social work practice, aimed at mitigating the effects of trauma, strengthening family resilience, increasing natural supports, and building on existing strengths.
Intake Criteria
Check our Intake Criteria to ensure that we can meet the needs of your child.
New Campers
Intake approval is needed prior to registration. Please complete the Intake Form to begin the process.
Camp Amicus is a member of 
Thank you also to all the generous donors who have contributed to the Camp Amicus Bursary Fund: The Prosser Family Foundation, B’Nai Brith and Children’s Hospital Aid Society and many individual donors. With their support, we try to keep Camp Amicus financially accessible to all eligible campers.