The NYU Summer Program for Kids (SPK), established in 1997, is an eight-week therapeutic clinical program devoted exclusively to children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) who are between the ages of seven to eleven years old. The program, which is based on a landmark study funded by the NIMH, is specifically designed to improve children’s social behavior; friendship skills; academic competence; problem-solving skills; self-esteem; classroom behavior; sports competence; rule following; home behavior; and anger control. Parents are also taught specialized parenting skills to enhance parent-child relations. All counselors in the program are upper classmen in college or graduate students. The counselor to child ratio is one counselor to every one to two children. All counselors must participate and pass an extensive behavioral therapy training program in June before the start of camp. In addition, counselors are supervised by clinical psychologists, which is essential to providing such a highly individualized program tailored to each child’s specific needs and goals. SPK is located on the campus of the SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx. This past summer, the program served 54 children, including children and their families from as far as Hong Kong and Japan. In addition, the September 3^rd issue of People magazine featured an article that chronicled the challenges and successes of a young girl, Sophie, who attended the SPK program, and provided moving testimonials by Sophie’s mother and counselors who worked at the camp.

The NYU Summer Program for Kids is currently the only evidence-based summer program in the New York metropolitan area to treat children with ADHD and related disorders. SPK includes academic and recreational programming, with behavior modification procedures used to consistently reinforce skills throughout the course of each day.

A typical morning at SPK has children focusing on academics, forty-five minutes using and learning about computers, and working on arts and crafts. Using instructive, cooperative, and peer educational methods, licensed special education teachers target academic performance and improved behavioral functioning. In the afternoon, specialty instructors lead structured enrichment activities that build on the children’s talents in areas such as swimming and other physical activities. This regulated instruction helps teach children with ADHD the skills in which they are typically deficient, such as paying attention, organization, following directions, persevering and cooperation.

For information about how to enroll a child in our program, call Dr. Karen Fleiss at (212) 263-0760 or (516) 358-1811.

We are pleased to inform you that counselors can now elect to participate in the NYU Summer Program for Kids as an NYU salaried employee OR register for participation in the program as an NYU student for six (6) college credits (tuition: $900/credit). Please indicate your choice when submitting your application.

For information about how to apply for a counselor position, call (212) 263-0760 or (516) 358-1811, or download the application (PDF) and call us to register as an applicant.

To view the 2008 brochure, please click here.

Summer in Paradise is a look at the NYU Summer Program for Kids, an eight-week all-day therapeutic evidence-based program devoted exclusively to children with ADHD. With a primary emphasis on improving social skills and self-esteem, the SPK uses various academic and sports activities to achieve this goal. This short film follows the children throughout their various activities and shows that it is possible for children to learn the skills to be successful while having a fun and productive summer experience.