"Kids Who Think Outside The Box" Hidden Valley is one of two summer camps featured in the "Exceptional Programs, Ventures, Voyages For Your Child" chapter of a new book entitled "Kids Who Think Outside The Box." See what is said about HVC below...

Written by Stephanie Lerner and published by the American Management Association, the book is devoted to the narratives of more than 30 eminent achievers who share their perspectives and stories about becoming their personal best. Some are well known celebrities such as Paul McCartney and Spike Lee. Others have made great strides in their fields but avoided the limelight such as Astronomer Edwin Riess who proved that our universe is five billion years older than originally thought and Tori Murden McClure, the first woman to row a boat across the Atlantic and to reach the South Pole.

In addition, the author recommends 50 outstanding programs across the United States for unique, exceptional children. The descriptions in this section, according to Lerner, capture a child's qualities and translate them into programs compatible to a child's personality traits.

Lerner says the book was inspired by her son Morgen who was more interested in astronomy and amateur rocketry than sports. As a mother she wanted him to be part of his peer group and not feel different or excluded. It wasn't until she began telling him stories about great achievers who started out as "out of the box" kids, such as Steven Spielberg and Bill Gates, that he began to feel more secure in who he was.

A full page in the book is devoted to Hidden Valley Camp. The author writes: "Not a traditional camp. Not your average camp. A camp that is non-competitive and enmeshed strongly in the arts...They do it well. It's choice driven for the kid who is independent and works well in a less-structured environment. Hidden Valley Camp welcomes students from across the country and around the world for arts and crafts, horseback riding, music, sports, swimming — you name it. There are also day trips and special performance arts events in which kids can participate and much more. It's an international and creative performing arts camp. The camp stands out for self-esteem building within children. A camp newspaper, sign language and organic farming are elements that make this experience exceptional."

The book is inspirational and motivating and is designed for the parent who has a child who is remarkable in thought, spirit, and personality, says Lerner. It's for the parent of the child whose head is in space — the future astronomer, writer, or computer scientist. Through the personally-written stories of the "living legends" parents will learn how important it is to embrace a child's differences.

In her conclusion about Hidden Valley Camp, Lerner says the directors "mean business" in their goal to provide children with "a complete, different, and personality enhancing experience. A summer at Hidden Valley might just give your child the confidence to learn what they are good at, and who they are through their unique program, staff and other unique kids."