Is TDI a Good Fit for My Child?
Think about your child. Do any of these phrases describe them?
A keen observer, who questions authority, and is insatiably curious
Intrinsically motivated when interested, but inattentive and distractible when not interested, especially in formal settings
Often prefers the company of people who are older or younger than they are
At some times seems silly and immature; at others, sensitive and wise beyond their years
Incredibly intense interest in topic(s) uncommon among their peers
A tendency towards strong opinions, reactions, and preferences, especially to sound, color, food, fabric, or other sources of stimulation, as well as to a sense of what is right and what is wrong
May often seem lost in thought, and need quiet time for reflection or processing
Unusually advanced capabilities, and profound love of, words and/or numbers, and ways to play with both
Needs to move around a lot
Has a brain that just seems to work differently than their peers, and may have trouble finding friends as a result
If so, then your child might be a good fit for TDI. Since the founding of TDI in 1998, we have worked to create an affirming, educational, and supportive community for Vermont's youth and their families, and in doing so have created an extended family of our own. Indeed, at the celebration, many of our alumni spoke of how much TDI had meant to them: as a home away from home, with people who helped them flourish into creative, capable, caring adults.
Two Frameworks…
TDI was founded by Dr. Carol Story, a Professor of Gifted Education at Johnson State College (soon to be Vermont State University at Johnson). Dr. Story spent decades researching, teaching, and supporting young people who met the classical definition of giftedness in 20th century American education: as an asynchronous development in one or more areas (cognitive, emotional, moral, social, etc) that at once empowered, and presented challenges to, the child’s everyday life. This framework was particularly focused on identifying and supporting students with unusual “intensities” or “excitabilities.” The senior staff of TDI trained as Dr. Story’s graduate students, in part to better support their own curious, quirky, excitable children.
Nowadays, the gifted framework has somewhat fallen out of fashion; instead, many parents come to us looking to support what they think of as their neurodivergent children. Their children may have a formal diagnosis like ADHD, anxiety, or being on the Autism Spectrum; alternatively, they might have patterns of thought and behavior that others informally describe (sometimes affectionately, but sometimes cruelly) as awkward, flighty, quirky, or just plain different. Although the two frameworks are different — neurodivergence emerging out of medical sociology, and giftedness out of educational psychology — there is in fact a substantial overlap in the characteristics and needs of the children involved. In particular, both frameworks recognize that some children have unusual interests and aptitudes that enable remarkable creativity, exploration, and expression, but also often make it harder for them to meet their full potential in standard classroom and social settings.
…One Community
We see ourselves as serving our community of kids who all have something in common, despite their differences. In brief, the kids we serve tend to learn earlier, faster, and deeper, and most enjoy being curious, creative, and engaging in hands-on projects. They tend to be passionate about learning in one or more areas of interest, and at TDI we provide the opportunity for them to engage with others who are also delightfully passionate about learning. In general, our campers have characteristics that mean they need something — academically, socially, or emotionally — other than what they are getting at school, and we believe the TDI learning environment and community provides it. One way we have historically described TDI is “a cross between a summer camp and an academic institute,” but our campers and alumni lovingly call it “nerd camp,” and we love that too!
The best way to tell if your kid might like TDI — besides attending, that is! — is to have them check out our brochures with descriptions of what they would explore: the most recent Strand Grids. If these excite them, there’s a good chance they would benefit from and love our program and community. Our goal is to create a unique, welcoming, and inclusive environment for a variety of campers with high potential, a place where they can feel at home, regardless of their social ability. We help TDI campers grow and thrive as they are, in a community of like-minded, accepting, and friendly peers and staff.