ADHD of the Christian Kind - Boarding Schools

Boarding Schools and Summer Camps

NOTICE: The following posts are taken from the Christian ADHD List. The names, e-mail addresses and locations of all parties involved have been removed to protect their privacy. The posts have been used with permission, but are copyrighted by ADHD of the Christian Kind.

List of Boarding Schools and Summer Camps for ADD/ADHD Children

These have not been personally evaluated by ADHD of the Christian Kind so it is up to each family to personally check out any schools you may consider for your child. Please do this in person.

An account of one member's visit to Bunker Hill Military School/Camp and an update on that school.

Hi all I have an issue that is really bugging me and I need some input prayers and anything I can get on this. This is going to sound awful but I don't mean it to be as bad as it sounds. _____ and I are to our limit with _____. We want him out of our house. We have tried diets, herbs, all the meds and nothing is working at all with him. We have found a school that specializes in ADHD ODD and other neurological disorders the only thing is that it is PA. We may be able to get the military to pay for that and also _____ qualifies for medicaid since his father has nothing to do with him and he hasn't ever gotten any support money. We are going to really look into this school because they have the therapy, the doctors and counselors and behavior mod program and the school all right there in one and I won't have to deal with 5 different doctors telling me 5 different things or diagnosis' for him. I am really struggling because _____ and I haven't ever been apart not even for over night but once since he was 6 months old and he is now 6.

I have sat down and thought about the pros and con of the school and I just don't know. I'm going to see if there is one closer than PA to us ....but these are my thoughts. _____ really needs to get under control now otherwise I know that he will end up in jail or in a gang or in lots of trouble or even dead.

His brother is really being affected already by his behavior. _____ can't sleep in his bed because of how _____ treats him....he has told us he is scared of _____. He wakes up nightly and crawls into bed and we have to keep returning him to his bed. _____ is learning very dangerous things from _____ like getting into the kitchen and helping himself to whatever is there. He jumps off of things now even the top bunk after _____ has had stitches and two teeth knocked loose from doing the same thing.(two different times)

_____ is not making friends because the other children can't stand his behavior and attitude, he is very inappropriate no matter what we do. _____ wakes up in the night almost everynight.....he turns off our alarms and _____ has been late for work and _____ late for school because of this often. He wakes _____ up at all hours of the night. He gets _____ to do things that he knows that he would get into trouble for. I'm to the point that I can't deal with him rationally at all. I have been trying for 3 years now to help him and nothing is working.........so I'm beginning to think that a school that provides intense therapy etc.....is about my only hope. Our family is being torn apart because of him. I can't handle basically being a single mother with him (which is the reason I gave my second son up for adoption) _____ isn't home to deal with him or help and when he is all he does is yell and snap at all of us. I have to do everything in the house....I had to move us from off base to on by myself....I have to clean, cook, take care of the kids animals, unpack, do the bills etc......EVERYTHING and can't do it because _____ is taking all my time just trying to keep my house from falling apart and the baby getting hurt. I spend all my time miserable and wanting to leave my husband and the kids for about the past year. I don't know how _____ would do though because of our never being separated. but as you can see the pros by far outweigh the cons. I could really use some input as you can see though cuz I'm really in a bad spot here. Thanks

My first thought was "oh no, not for a 6 yo." But then I finished reading your post. I know that it sounds like the only way out. Just seek the Lord's face on this one and do what He gives you the peace to do.

I don't know where you are but if you can find a homeopathic practioner s/he may be able to help. I have seen them help in similar situations. I don't understand all the hows and whys, and it doesn't always make sense that it will change something, but it does work when you find the right remedy. We haven't hit on exactly the right one for _____, but there has been a lot of improvement and many changes in behaviors and thought processes. He's been on Ritalin (very infrequently) for about a year now and we are going to contact the dr. again after we move (Dec 14) and work on the homeopathy some more.

My heart goes out to you. I don't know how you'll do it; but if the Lord truly wants you to take this step, He will give you the peace, grace, and funds to accomplish it.

I do not know anything about boarding schools for ADD/ADHD. But I have a friend who keeps her autistic son in a home with very good results. However, she has had to move him several times to find a suitable program.

Her case is very like yours- her son is high IQ, but was dangerous to those around him and to himself. He is not the typical autistic- he is high functioning. He requires 24 hour supervision and a challenging educational program. He understands what is going on in his head now, so he comes home on weekends and extended visits-- but asks to go back when he feels funny again.

Because I have been around autistics (my nephew is also autistic, and my ADHD daughter has some symptoms along with her depression) I think you are right to keep checking into this school. Your son sounds more than ADD/ADHD. You need more help. I homeschooled my daughter for a long time, and it was very hard. It is still hard on us even though she is in PS, because she requires a LOT of extra attention and funds.

Also, do not consider only the military and medicaid for funding. Here in IL there is a special fund through the governor's office for private schools for children who really need them. It does not guarantee to pay all the cost- but in practice it does. The way it works is to have the school system where you live send him. I can get particulars from my friend- this program pays over $100,000 a year for her son. Officially the local school is paying for it, but actually the governor's office reimburses them. She has lived in two other states and says they have the same program. She goes to the School Board meeting when she moves and explains it to them, including pictures of her son so they feel friendly. She says this is not required- the school HAS to do it- but she goes to make sure everyone understands she isn't costing the local school money by moving into the district.

God does require that we find the appropriate education and help for our children. If for you this includes a school, *I* am not going to say you are wrong. It could be the best thing you can do.

RE: Bunker Hill Military School UPDATE

I read the post/letter from the mom whose 13-year-old son was out of control and whose husband is an airline pilot. I know there is no name in the letter because of privacy, etc. So, if you could let her know that I and 20+ parents have been working since last July to get the school/camp closed and were finally successful on 4/28/99. The school was shut down and the owner is currently in jail. They (Bunker Hill) changed their name last November 1998 to Blue Ridge Military Academy and moved to Pasco County, Florida. They were forced out in March 1999 by Pasco County. They then moved to Telfair County, Georgia where they finally met their demise on 4/28/99. I just thought that this mom would like to know this - because if she took the time to write the letter about her experience with Bunker Hill, she would be grateful it is no longer in existence. If you can forward this to her I would greatly appreciate it.

RE: Bunker Hill Military School

For those of you who don't know what Bunker Hill is or why I'm telling you about it, it goes like this...some time ago _____ and _____ were talking about the Bunker Hill web site and summer camp. The camp and (now) military school is for boys with ADHD. If you check out their web site it sounds like they certainly know their stuff. Also they have on their staff a Dr. LaDonna Childers who has written articles somewhere on the net. Anyway...

A few weeks ago now, our family traveled from our home in _____ to California to visit family. On our trip _____ (13 ADHD and adopted at 7 years) acted out in what I consider to be violent ways toward myself and our 17 yo daughter. In the month previous to this trip he had "blown up" twice. Only towards my daughter and I. My husband is always out of town when he acts up. So this was the last straw. I decided that I could not tolerate his angry behavior any longer. I insisted that we look seriously into Bunker Hill.

We left home EARLY, it was still dark, and flew to Atlanta, Georgia. The man who my husband spoke with on the phone said that the school was rustic so wear old clothes. My husband is a pilot for an airline and in order to fly very cheaply we must dress up and so I just brought a pair of sneakers to change into.I should have brought a mask and rubber gloves. Rustic does not describe this facility ( I loosely use the term facility). By the way, my husband told me that I should not tell any of you the truth about this place because your standards may be different than mine. But I have to tell you that I have not been into a public place this gross ever! Not just that it was dirty and uglier than any camp I've ever seen (much less a school) you don't have to take my word for it. Go see it. Please don't send a child sight unseen. There was a window with no pane, cob webs that looked like they forgot to take down their Halloween decorations and a kitchen that I am sure was infested by things not human.

Ok now that you know what it looked like, let me tell you that it felt like I was stepping into the movie "Deliverance". If any one there was actually educated past junior high I'd be surprised. They are not regulated by the state (no kidding!) Not about their method of educating (if you call it that) children or their food handling and preparation. It seemed like a group of people who figured out a way to make some money and play army at the same time. Dr. Childers, who says that she comes out to the school several times a week, was strange. They stretched the truth to us in a few ways and in other ways they just didn't live what they preached. For instance, the rules state that no student should have tobacco...the adults were all smoking. The director of admissions said that they had 20 students when he spoke to us over the phone, we arrived to find 8. The buildings were one very small dirty house and a couple of smaller yuckier out buildings, one they called their school room and another where 4 of the younger boys slept alone.

Hearing about this place on the internet made it sound great. I wouldn't even leave my dog. By the way, _____ had a good day today. Last weekend he went to a church camp and the speaker really made him think. He came right home and opened his Bible to show me "some really great scripture". Maybe this trip to Bunker Hill was worth a days trip to help him see what he has and what he could loose. "OK God, I'm learning too!"

Re: Kanakuk

My girls adore the camp they attend -- KANAKUK . Both they and one of their brothers will attend this August, too. I do not know how much adapting they will do for extreme behavior difficulties, but Joe White, the director, probably understands kids and families better than just about anyone else in the US. My sometimes impulsive girls have been kept too busy to get in trouble. I think once the oldest had to run a mile with her cabin, because they were caught with junk food in the cabin. (No eating in cabin and no candy/ junk food allowed are big rules there. But that's not too bad.)

Kanakuk is a Christian "sports" camp, but even though my oldest dd doesn't really enjoy sports much, she LOVES this camp. They keep the kids busy every minute of the day. They do have one hour of FOB time (flat on bunk), but they can write letters or read books. They often fall asleep, because they have multiple activities from AM through 10pm, otherwise non-stop.

I have many friends whose sons adore this camp, too, one of whom is ADHHD. they have a website http://www.kanakuk.com. You could email them with your direct questions about your child's specific needs and ask what they do if the child won't settle down for FOB and what discipline they use, etc....

What I like is that there is NO unsupervised time for loafing and getting in trouble. (My camp memories include much trouble time during "free" time. The kids have choices on activities, but they must choose, and wherever they are there are always counselors present.

Downside: cost ~ $1000. for 2 week camp. (There is a one-week camp). Also there tends to be a waiting list. I signed mine up for this summer last August. they may be full in all sessions already.

Check it out.

List of Boarding Schools and Summer Camps for ADD/ADHD Children

These schools have not been personally evaluated by site owner and it is up to each family to personally check out any schools you may consider for your child. Please do not send your child to any camp site unseen.

A camp personally recommended by a member is Kanakuk.

Vincent/Curtis Registry of Boarding Schools and Summer Camps
ASCI Schools Search - Not all schools listed accept special needs children
Grace Christian Home, Shreveport, LA - 318-425-8336
Howe Military Academy - Bdg School and summer camp programs; recommended by a list member
Stone Mountain School (boys only)
Camp Nuhop
Eagle Hill School, MA - ADD/ADHD/LD
Hampshire Country School - Tourettes/ADD/ADHD/Asperger Syndrome
The Hunter School - ADD/ADHD
Spring Ridge Academy (girls only 14-17) - ADD/ADHD
Kids Camps - Listing of Summer Camps
American Camping Assoc. - Find the Right Camp!
Kanakuk - Recommended by a list member whose children attend during the summer
Lake Aurora Christian Camp & Retreat Center - Parent/Child camping