I just saw the other reviews on this site and had to write in about our experience. Do not believe those negative reviews...The Learning Camp is fabulous and amazing!!!!! The only downside is that is not closer to where we live! This will be my son's 6th season. His first year there (his first year at any sleep away camp ever) he stayed 9 weeks. And he's been back every year since. He's bummed because this might be his last year. It's been the best place in the world for him. He was not successful in regular school and camp settings and found a place he could really succeed and feel good about himself at the Learning Camp. It was a great respite from the difficulties of everyday life. A true self-esteem builder with caring staff and an amazing director who knows and loves every child. My son called home after every session that first year and asked to stay. Every single email I sent as a nervous mom missing her kid was answered within hours and reassured me that everything was ok. I live in NYS and the idea that he is being taken so well care of by Ann and Tom helps me sleep better at nite. Some years my son was medicated when he went to camp, other years he was not and every year was a great one for him. There was plenty of direction and mediation on social skills, there was plenty of care and communication when he was sick, there was an abundance of support when we had family crises at home and he went to camp anyway. Ann and Tom and the rest of the staff there know what they are doing and love it completely. He was bullied and treated poorly at school and camps but at the Learning Camp, where they understand this problem and have a zero-tolerance policy for bully, he was able to make real friends and not worry about this issue. As for the accomodations --- I read other reviews. While the camp is near an airport it is not in anyway in an "urban" setting. It is way off the road via dirt roads, past ranches with horses, huge skies, great mountain views and beautiful pond that the kids love swimming in. The yurts are great. Ummmm...this is camp. Who heats a tent? It's in the mountains of Colorado. Don't forget your gloves and a hat, especially if you are there before July 1st cause you might just see snow. Do your homework --- if your kid doesn't like cold nights then send him to camp in Florida, not in the mountains of Colorado! :) Expensive? Yes. Your child's self-esteem and sense of independence? Priceless. Learning Camp? Totally worth it! read more

My grandson attended the Learning Camp two years in a row. It's been two years ago but he still reminisces about the experience and wants to return as a counselor someday. He often mentions the fun he had there, the many different experiences he had, but I think it was the fact that it was a comfort that he could go to a place for three weeks where he saw other kids like him in a friendly, "normal" environment, one where he was accepted. Having ADHD means being "different" in regular settings, and at the Learning Camp John was just like everyone else. He was on a level playing field. He reported no problems, I saw no problems, only caring, loving and concerned camp directors and staff. I received many photos during John's stay, and reports of his well-being. As for costs: we were given a more-than-generous payment plan the first year, and John received a full scholarship the second year, paid for by generous patrons and supporters of the Learning Camp. It was a godsend for us because John wouldn't have been able to go without that support. He wouldn't have been able to go camping for the first time, go horseback riding, climb a mountain, shoot a bow and arrow, go swimming in a lake, and his favorite -- take a risk (hard for kids with ADHD who have low self-confidence) and go down a raging river in a raft! So many opportunities of first-time experiences, I think his only problem was he was at first overwhelmed by the excitement of it all. Maybe we should have called a doctor: Doctor, John is too excited! Seriously, John's life was improved for three weeks, twice. He has good memories to relive. And I will be forever grateful to the owners, the Board, the teachers, the counselors, the helpers for providing such a challenging, safe, and happy environnent for him to thrive in during the summer. -- If you would like more information, please contact me. -- Diana Perkins read more

I am happy to report that my child's experiences at The Learning Camp where AMAZING and have changed her life for the better. Our experiences with this camp have been a huge success. I felt like the camp delivered on every one of the commitments it says they will do. They offered my child interesting, meaningful learning experiences that she is now able to teach others, including myself. I am a school teacher so I understand the importance of her learning both in academics and in lifelong learning skills. The staff was kind to my child, communicated quickly and professionally and generally cared about the wellbeing of my daughter. The staff has the ability to meet children's needs and has shown me time and time again their ability to help increase every child's abilities and quality of life. I believe the camp's great idea of introducing and teaching a wide range of sports is incredible for all children. I was sad to read a negative post regarding that. Children are always exposed to dangerous, sharp tools, and accidents are never 100% avoidable. For example, in a classroom there are scissors and possibly a paper cutter; in a kitchen there are sharp knives, it's not anyone intention to see an accident with these items. I love the Learning Camp and think it's a great choice for any parent or family that is looking for supported learning over the summer. Truly, it's changed our lives. This school year we received many great reports of how my daughter's confidence and willingness to persevere has greatly increased. I know this is because of her experiences at The Learning Camp. read more

3 Cheers for The Learning Camp!! I think the Learning Camp experience is really what keeps my child motivated. He feels special because he gets to attend The Learning Camp. The camp directors letters and pictures adorn his bulletin board in his room all year. It's a way for him to experience the world on his own terms. I believe the support of other people out in the world, other than family members, reassuring him of the wonderful qualities in his personality is what bolsters him for the school year. The Learning Camp family has made it possible for my son to feel a part of something bigger than himself. It's helped him to become more patient with himself and others. He has become a person who sees a great future for himself; college, athletics and his choice of any career. No longer do I hear him say that he's stupid or unable to learn. He gives himself time and a chance to learn without getting discouraged. He is learning to work around and work with his dyslexia rather than be ashamed of it. The camp counselors and directors allow the kids to have a real old fashioned camp experience with lots of outdoor activities; camping, hiking, rafting, exploring, swimming and travel out into the community's nearby. They meet lots of kids with different kinds of issues. These relationships introduce empathy and kindness, which is something that needs to be learned and practiced. I feel proud my son has been a camper at The Learning Camp for the past 3 years. He loves it! And will attend the camp again this summer. read more

This camp literally changed my life. I attended this camp for three years. Before I started I was shy in school, had low self-esteem, and was pretty discouraged about many aspects of school. This camp not only prepared me for the coming fall but also instilled in me a sense of courage and confidence that has never left me. My little brother also has been attending this camp since he was 8, and I've seen a positive change in him as well. He loves TLC and is so excited to be returning this year. I wish I could go back! The Learning Camp is located in the Vail Valley, and it is in an absolutely beautiful rural area. It's located by a small airstrip that makes it easy for kids traveling far to have access to the camp. When attending, campers rarely go inside, sleeping in yurts (on occasion, when the weather is bad, campers watch movies on the porch or just inside the lodge). It's a great experience. It's also surprisingly nice to get a break from electronics. We go on hikes that can sometimes be hard, and I know that a lot of the kids in the sessions I attended didn't think they could do it, and they did. All in all, TLC was a great experience for me and continues to be a fantastic experience for my little brother. It helped me take huge steps towards finding out who I am and what I can do. I'd just like to send a great big thank you to Ann and Tom for having the determination to start this camp and lead all those kids to better and healthier lives. read more

Listen up. I was a camper at this camp for over 6 years. That camp gave me the courage to stand up for myself and face fears I never would have on my own. I gained new skills that have helped me progress through life. You are all upset because you thought the staff was bad. I hate to say it, and don't take this the wrong way, but your kids were being rude to the staff. That's why the staff looked bad. The couldn't handle the way your kids were acting. I've seen kids there before fake illnesses to get out of thing.s. When your kid did get sick, they may not have believed him because of previous experiences. Sure the "Doctor" may not have medical training, but from my experience year after year. he proved that he was capable of taking care of me and my fellow campers. You are all just sour about what happened to your kid. I guarantee you right now, I wouldn't dare type this and stand up for what I believe in if it wasn't for this place. You have a right to your opinion, but you cannot make this place sound bad because your kid had issues they couldn't solve. Think about what you are saying. Sure. I can understand your concern's with kids with ADHD and archery, but sometimes things happen. Don't take out on the camp. Think about how other people are raising their kids. Parents are to blame for their child's behavior. Not the camp. So, stop making negative comments about a place that has changed many lives for the better. read more

Our son had the opportunity to attend the Learning Camp for two summers. Those two summers have been highlights in his life thus far; he could not wait to go back after his first camp experience. He is still in contact with the many friends he made during those summers, counting them as some of his closest friends. Surprisingly, he even really liked the "classroom" times of learning. As parents, we found the morning learning sessions--held in outdoor settings around the camp, in very small groups, with qualified committed educators--a great asset to our son's learning. He gained confidence and skills that helped him immensely in his schooling. Where he struggled to comprehend and know how to learn in the past, he came away with tools that have helped him to now consistently be on the school's honor role. Our son loved the afternoon adventures, whether it was hiking, rafting, rock climbing, swimming. He also loved the evening times of campfires, singing camp songs, and talent shows. I still have all of the photos that were sent to us during his stays at the camp. We found the Learning Camp, its staff and directors to be safe, nurturing, and caring people who are dedicated to working with children who learn differently. I would recommend The Learning Camp to any parent read more

I am a recent graduate from Colorado Mesa University, I have to give so much thanks to the Learning Camp and their staff as they truly helped me to understand that having a learning disability can not an will not stop me from succeeding in life and most importantly in my education. I spent every summer there from first grade till I graduated from the camp. I not only learned how to feel comfortable in my own skin but how to best preform in a classroom which in turn has lead to my ability to help myself to succeed and help other to understand that having a learning difference doesn't have to hold you back in life! While also at the learning camp I made true life long friends that I still keep in touch with to this day an we sit back and reminisce about our days at camp. The learning camp is amazing and I would recommend it to any child who has a learning difference and wants to be comfortable in their own skin about who they are and that being a little different cant and wont stop them from succeeding in their goals!!! read more

The Learning Camp has boosted my sons confidence and taught him how to feel positive about himself . The activities have given him confidence in what he can do and be without someone telling him what to produce. He has made choices for himself using his talents and learns how to succeed in his endeavors. They have taught him techniques that he could use to focus better and deal with frustration both in school and life in general. He comes home from camp excited and energetic, sharing all the things he has done and learned. The camp counselors are able to give campers experiences that are fun and challenging enough to promote success and learning experiences through activities and education to better adapt to lives usual surroundings. He is always excited when learning camp sends him a card around holidays and when school lets out it's excitement for camp that gets him through half of June. I would recommend the Learning Camp to any parent that wants a camp with experiences with education and life skills. read more

My kid got hurt during archery and was stabbed by a kid running with a long and sharp arrow. How can an adhd camp allow archery? And let the kids run into each other at the same time with little supevision. There are no medical staff at camp and my kid got no medical attention. They tried to cover up the injury. The camp is located in an urban setting across from an airport. its not in the mountains with trees and clean mountain streams. They keep the medicines from the parents in baggies under the owners desk in their "clubhouse office." The camp director disappears and stays with her grandkids up in their montain top "chalet" overlooking this urban property they call a camp.Their on site pond is full of green algae and they make kids sleep in leaking and nonheated tents!! The owners clubhouse is where they eat outside on the deck and use the basement bathrooms with two showers and two toilets! THIS CAMP IS A SCAM AND WAY TOO EXPENSIVE. read more

My experience at The Learning Camp was one of the best in my life. The staff was like family to me, and the owner was almost like a second mother. Because each session has around 40 kids, we all got plenty of attention and everyone was so welcoming! During my time there, I gained confidence in myself and discovered a new, adventurous side that I never knew I had in me, I made friendships that I still have to this day, and because I had newfound confidence in myself, I started to try new things. I really liked how the yurts we slept in were not heated or cooled, because it gave all of us the sense that we were actually out camping. All of the activities we did were fun and exciting, and the academics were great. There was never a day in that camp when I was bored. It was a truly amazing experience. I would recommend this camp to any parent with a learning different child who is both adventurous and independent. read more

My daughter loved the camp so much she wished she would have started going earlier in her life. She got to experience a "camp" setting, swimming in a good sized pond with a trained life guard. Sleeping in a stable, clean yurts with a trained counselor and eating outside with the view of the beautiful Colorado mountains. We were anxious for her to go because she had never been away from home so long and she had problems that we felt could possibly make her a target for other kids. However she came back more confident and wanted to go back for 3 weeks next time, which she did. I also have a nephew that attended after my daughter and his experiences were very similar, he begged to come back again, he was more confident and was able to make friends better in his school. If your looking for an awesome camp that is loving and caring and kind, don't miss this opportunity for your child read more

Our son attended the Learning Camp for 3 years and LOVED it. In fact, he was reluctant to come home with us after each session ended. The counselors were wonderful (he bonded with one, in particular) and he was able to experience a "real" camp while keeping up with his academics. He also commented that the food was great! We would highly recommend the Learning Camp for other children with learning disabilities. Update January 2016 - We were very sad to learn that The Learning Camp is no longer in business. What a loss for children with learning disabilities! We will miss you! read more

My son just started his third session at the camp and at dropoff he was ecstatic to be back. The camp get's him ready for the start of school through direct learning every morning and then frees up for full on camp activities in the afternoon and evening. I could not be happier with our experience. The staff is caring and as they are all local teachers they know how to teach, the facilities are a bit minimal but it's camp not the Ritz. After another great year having just finished up I am sure we will be sending our son back next year, he is already excited! read more

I cannot speak highly enough about this camp. Our son attended The Learning Camp last summer and is looking forward to attending again this year. Our son has always struggled in school. As a result, he had very low self esteem. He felt like he wasn't smart and that nobody liked him. He was nervous and reluctant about camp. But, he had an amazing time. He made some wonderful friends and had a life changing experience. Ann and Tom care and get to know your child as an individual. Camp allowed my son to thrive and helped to rebuild his confidence. read more

I was Expelled from the Learning Camp after a kid whose parents donated lots of money tricked me into doing something inappropriate and then ratted on me. Ann expelled me on the spot even though it was Chris's word against mine. She lied about me to my parents as well. This camp is only good if you grease Ann's palm. read more