Talisman Camps - Young Adult
Specialized summer programs for young adults with ADHD and learning differences, focusing on life skills and job...
▌ Editor's read Talisman Camps' website loads successfully and provides detailed information about its programs for young adults with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and other learning differences. The camp is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), with accreditation valid through 2025, indicating adherence to industry standards for health, safety, and program quality. According to their 'About Us' page, Talisman Camps has been operating for over 40 years, founded by Dr. Robert Smith, and explicitly states a 1:2 staff-to-camper ratio. They also mention that all staff undergo background checks. The program type is overnight, and the owner type appears to be for-profit. Google reviews for Talisman Camps show an average rating of 4.6 stars from 47 reviews, with many parents praising the positive impact on their children's social skills and confidence. Social media handles include @talismancamps on Instagram and TalismanCamps on Facebook.
Who thrives here Ages 18–21
Talisman Camps - Young Adult serves high-school campers, which means the program is competing against summer jobs, college visits, internships, and residential overnight options. The case for a day camp at this age is usually a CIT (counselor-in-training) track, deep specialization in specialty, or a portfolio item parents and kids both value. Programs that don't articulate one of those three usually lose this age band by 9th grade.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Overnight camp
- ACA accredited
- Yes
- Established
- 1986 (40 years)
- Operator
- Private business
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Published by camp see camp site →
Details
- Category: Specialty
- Ages: 18–21
- Hours: 24-hour residential
- Address: 64 Gap Creek Rd, Zirconia, NC 28790, USA
- Phone: (828) 697-6313
- Email: [email protected]
- Cost notes: $4150 for 13 days, which is $2233/week. Financial aid is available.
Runs 24-hour residential, 11 sessions (8 one-week, 3 multi-week blocks), from Jun 14 to Aug 8.
Sessions ⛓
Bookable units published by the camp. Multi-week blocks marked ⛓ are indivisible — register for the full session.
- Session 1 Jun 14 – 19, 2026 · 1 week · $1,950
- Session 3 Jun 21 – 26, 2026 · 1 week · $1,950
- Session 4 Jun 21 – Jul 3, 2026 · 2 weeks · $4,150
- Session 6 Jun 28 – Jul 3, 2026 · 1 week · $1,950
- Session 7 Jul 6 – 11, 2026 · 1 week · $1,950
- Session 8 Jul 6 – 18, 2026 · 2 weeks · $4,150
- Session 10 Jul 13 – 18, 2026 · 1 week · $1,950
- Session 11 Jul 20 – 25, 2026 · 1 week · $1,950
- Session 12 Jul 20 – Aug 1, 2026 · 2 weeks · $4,150
- Session 14 Jul 27 – Aug 1, 2026 · 1 week · $1,950
- Session 15 Aug 3 – 8, 2026 · 1 week · $1,950
↗ What parents like
- Specializes in neurodivergent young adults
- Focus on life skills
- Peer community
↘ Watch for
- High cost
- Limited session lengths
Logistics
- Lunch provided: Yes
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: outdoor
Frequently asked about Talisman Camps - Young Adult
- What ages does Talisman Camps - Young Adult accept?
- Talisman Camps - Young Adult is open to children ages 18–21. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does Talisman Camps - Young Adult cost?
- Talisman Camps - Young Adult publishes $2,233/week for the standard session. That sits 15% above the $1,950 median for specialty camps in Zirconia — typical for specialty programs with smaller groups or premium facilities. $4150 for 13 days, which is $2233/week. Financial aid is available. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are Talisman Camps - Young Adult's hours?
- Talisman Camps - Young Adult runs 24-hour residential. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Is Talisman Camps - Young Adult accredited?
- Yes — Talisman Camps - Young Adult is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and has been operating for 40 years. ACA accreditation means the camp has been audited against ~300 health, safety, and program-quality standards covering staffing, supervision ratios, emergency response, and program design.
- Who runs Talisman Camps - Young Adult?
- Talisman Camps - Young Adult is operated by a private business, with 40 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does Talisman Camps - Young Adult provide lunch?
- Yes — Talisman Camps - Young Adult includes lunch in the program. Confirm whether it's a hot lunch, cold lunch, or a snack-plus-bring-your-own setup, and ask about allergy accommodations if relevant.
- How does Talisman Camps - Young Adult compare to other specialty camps in Zirconia?
- Talisman Camps - Young Adult is one of 10 specialty camps in Zirconia that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare Talisman Camps - Young Adult with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
- Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.
- Summer camp safety and accreditation · Review the safety signals that matter most.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside Talisman Camps - Young Adult.
- Talisman Camps · Talisman Camps · Ages 6–21 · $2,275/week
- August Camp · Tuxedo, NC · Ages 7–13 · $2,450/week
- Camp Greystone · North Carolina · Ages 6–16 · $1,950/week
- Camp Mondamin · Tuxedo, NC · Ages 8–17 · $1,820/week
- Camp Mondamin for Boys · Zirconia, North Carolina · Ages 6–17 · $2,167/week
- June Camp · Tuxedo, NC · Ages 7–13 · $2,167/week
- Main Camp · Tuxedo, NC · Ages 8–17 · $1,820/week
- Talisman Camps - Discovery · Talisman Camps - Discovery · Ages 6–7 · $1,950/week