Amy Allen
Camp Director for Talisman Summer Camps
(855) 588-8254
info@talismancamps.com
Interview With
Amy Allen
Talisman has been providing exceptional programming for 33 years for campers with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and other learning differences. Talisman was established after we realized the need for a place for kids who wanted a camp experience, but required additional social support and structure that a traditional camp couldn’t typically provide. Today, we have grown to provide 7 distinct programs for campers ages 8-22 to spend a summer growing socially, developing emotionally, and connecting with kids just like them.
We are located in a small town in western North Carolina, about 40 minutes south of Asheville NC.
Our camp mission is to provide young people with learning differences exceptional opportunities to increase self-confidence, independence, motivation, and social competence in a safe and nurturing environment.
We specialize in kids who struggle socially; this can be due to impulse control, anxiety, limited range of interests, delayed development of social skills or who are socially or emotionally immature.
We offer a wide range of activities for all our campers. Our more traditional camp activities include arts and crafts, archery, science and tie-dye. We also offer a number of off-campus activities including backpacking, rock climbing, white water canoeing and kayaking, zip lining, and more.
We offer three sessions throughout the summer, one 2-week camp and two 3-week camps. This summer our dates and rates are:
Session 1 (13 days, June 15-27) $2795
Session 2 (19 days, June 30-July 18) $4085
Session 3 (19 days, July 21- August 8) $4085
We hire about 60 direct care and supervisory staff every year. We recruit staff from colleges and universities with strong psychology, special education, and outdoor recreation programs. Our staff join us with a variety of pervious experience working with similar kids to our or with extensive outdoor experience. All of our staff undergo state and national background checks, 3 reference checks, and drug test. We provide our staff with 2 ½ weeks of staff training prior to working with us for the summer.
The most feedback we hear from parents is that their camper becomes more independent, self confident, and social at camp. Talisman is a camp where kids who don’t typically fit in to have a place where they fit in and feel good about themselves.
Our enrollment typically starts in late September and runs through June (spots become limited in mid April)
Talisman is equipped to manage medications, special diets, and similar needs. We also provide communication with parents (and educational consultants or clinical professionals upon request) regarding camper development throughout the session with weekly phone calls, emails, and photos uploaded through a secure parent portal. For more information visit our website at www.talismancamps.com or give us a call at 855-588-8254.
By phone: Monday – Friday during regular business hours, we do also respond to emails over the weekend.
