Summer Camp for Teens with Autism & ADHD · Ages 13–17 · ACA Accredited
The Summer Camp for Teens with Autism
Who Are Ready to Find Their People
Talisman is a neurodivergent teen summer camp built from the ground up for adolescents with autism and ADHD — real adventure, real friendships, and real growth in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Ages 13–17 · Autism & ADHD · ACA Accredited
The Summer Camp for Teens with Autism
Built Around How They Actually Think
Most camps aren't built for teenagers with autism or ADHD. They're built for neurotypical kids — and neurodivergent teens are left to navigate a social environment that was never designed for them. Talisman is different.
As a dedicated summer camp for teens with autism and ADHD, every program, every staff member, and every activity at Talisman is built around neurodivergent adolescents — not adapted for them. We've been doing this since 1980, and it shows in everything we do.
For teens ages 13–17, we offer two distinct tracks: Insight for campers on the autism spectrum, and our Teen Adventure Series for campers with ADHD and high-functioning autism. Each program surrounds your teen with peers who share their profile — so they stop masking and start connecting.
This is what a true neurodivergent teen summer camp looks like: real adventure, real friendships, and staff who know exactly how to bring out the best in your child.
Two Tracks. One Goal.
Programs Matched to
Your Teen's Specific Profile
We don't lump all neurodivergent teens together. Diagnosis, processing speed, and age group all shape where your teen is placed — so they're always with the right peers.
Insight
Our summer camp for teens with autism, ages 14–17
Insight is Talisman's dedicated summer camp for teens with autism. Designed for campers ages 14–17 on the autism spectrum, it focuses on independence, social competence, and confidence — all built through real adventure experiences in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
- Peer-matched by diagnosis profile and processing speed
- Daily goal-setting and self-advocacy practice
- Social skills development through structured activities
- Staff trained specifically in ASD support
- Hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, tree climbing
Teen Adventure Series
Adventure-based programs for teens with ADHD
Our Teen Adventure Series is a collection of neurodivergent teen summer camp programs for campers with ADHD and high-functioning autism ages 13–17. Each program is built around adventure, challenge, and the kind of real-world problem-solving that builds genuine resilience.
- Multiple program options by age and interest
- Fast-paced, high-engagement activities
- Backcountry adventures and expedition-style trips
- Staff trained in ADHD and learning differences
- Emphasis on peer connection and self-awareness
Teen Adventure Series Programs
Four Ways to Spend a Summer
Doing Something Real
Each adventure program has its own focus and style. Our team will help you find the right fit for your teen's age, interests, and readiness.
Mountain Odyssey
Multi-day backcountry adventures through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Builds resilience, navigation skills, and real-world problem-solving in teens with ADHD and high-functioning autism.
Quest
A discovery-focused program centered on peer connection and self-awareness. Quest is built for teens with ADHD and learning differences who are ready to explore — themselves and the mountains around them.
Caves & Mining
Caving, mine exploration, and geological discovery in Western North Carolina. A hands-on adventure program for teens who love exploring what's beneath the surface.
Tri-Adventures
Three distinct adventure disciplines combined into one session. For teens who are ready to push their limits across multiple environments and challenges.
What to Expect
Skills That Go Home
With Your Teen
Our programs go far beyond adventure activities. Campers set daily goals, work through real challenges with staff support, and return home with confidence, social skills, and a sense of self they didn't have when they arrived.
Many teens come to Talisman feeling misunderstood at school and at home. Here, they're surrounded by peers who get it — and staff at our summer camp for teens with autism and ADHD who know exactly how to help them thrive.
Growth Areas
Your teen will develop:
- Independence through daily goal-setting and self-advocacy
- Confidence earned through real adventure challenges
- Social skills built through structured peer interaction
- Frustration tolerance and emotional regulation
- Communication skills in a low-pressure environment
- Lasting friendships with peers who truly understand them
- A positive self-image they carry beyond summer
"Many of our teens arrive feeling like they don't fit anywhere. By the end of the session, they don't want to leave. That shift — from outsider to belonging — is what Talisman is built for."
Why Talisman
What Makes This Neurodivergent Teen Summer Camp
Different by Design
Since 1980, every detail at Talisman has been built around neurodivergent youth — not added on as an afterthought.
Specialized Staff
Every counselor holds CPR, Wilderness First Aid, and Lifeguarding certifications — plus professional training in autism, ADHD, and learning differences.
3:1 Staff-to-Camper Ratio
Small groups matched by age and program mean every teen gets real attention — not just supervision.
Peer Matching
We group by diagnosis profile and processing speed, not just age. Your teen is always with peers whose brains work like theirs.
Challenge by Choice
No teen is ever forced or singled out. We encourage every camper to stretch at their own pace with consistent, patient support.
Blue Ridge Mountains
Our Western North Carolina campus puts world-class hiking, climbing, paddling, and caving right outside the cabin door.
ACA Accredited
Talisman meets the American Camp Association's highest standards for programming, staff qualifications, and camper wellbeing.
Ready to Find the Right Program
for Your Teen?
Call us at (828) 697-6313 or apply online — our team will help you find the right program and session for your child.