Cal Youth Camps offers one-of-a-kind social skills camps for children with Nonverbal Learning Disabilities, High Functioning Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and children with similar social skills deficits.
About The Program
For summer 2021, Cal Youth Programs & Camps will not be offering Social Skills Camp. Due to the unprecedented pandemic situation, we have recognized that the specific needs of the children served by this program are unique, and our staff and facilities may not be fully equipped to support this group of children this summer due to stricter than normal guidelines and expectations. Please join us for camp again in Summer 2022, we look forward to having your children back. If you have any questions, please contact Dave Leimsieder, Director, Youth Programs (daveleimsieder@berkeley.edu).
Our goal is to provide a supportive environment for children to learn social skills through participation in sports and recreational activities. Specific focus is placed on making and maintaining friendships and the culture of winning and losing in sports and games. There is an application for the program to ensure the best fit between the camper’s needs and program structure. These programs are not designed for children who need one-to-one assistance or have significant non-compliant or aggressive behavior.
Social Skills Camp – Elementary
The Social Skills Elementary Camp for children entering grades 4-8 exists within Blue Camp, a large day camp at UC Berkeley for typically developing children. Campers are organized into groups of three or four campers and are assigned a specialized group leader who supports them through their day. The groups follow a daily schedule that includes social skills coaching throughout the day as they are fully integrated into the day camp experience. Parents of campers in this program have seen their child happy in an active environment and have noted lasting improvements and a willingness to try new things during the school year.
Ages & Eligibility
Campers must be entering grades 4-8 in order to register for this camp. There is an application for the program to ensure the best fit between the camper’s needs and program structure. These programs are not designed for children who need one-to-one assistance or have significant non-compliant or aggressive behavior.
Blue campers, including those on the social skills track, have a set schedule with 6 activities that are set for the two weeks of camp. These activities will be selected to provide the maximum amount of success and learning. We will take into account the motor coordination of the campers as well as the instructors teaching the activity.
Campers are fully integrated with typically developing peers. Goal objectives are individualized, and social skills are taught in the environment and context where they are used. Sport skills are taught in a supportive environment; kids feel successful with large groups of children at a typical day camp. Teens gain leadership and work place skills with their peers.
Activities
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There are over 20 different sports and recreation activities running at Blue Camp and each social skills track group is assigned different activities depending on staff availability. All campers have Red Cross swim lessons. Other activities that have been successful in the past are: archery, basketball, volleyball, arts and crafts, field games, Magic: The Gathering, chess, card games and tricks, and soccer.
Schedule
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Camp Session: The Social Skills camp for entering grades 4-8 is four weeks.
Daily Schedule: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Check out is between 3:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Early Registration: The price of camp is $2995 for those that get all their application materials submitted by March 15th. After March 15th, the price of camp is $3295.
How to Apply
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To apply, please contact Dave Leimsieder (daveleimsieder@berkeley.edu). All inquiring families will be sent an Application Packet, with a list of required materials that must be sent in.
Once these materials are reviewed and your child is identified as a possible fit with this program we will contact you to schedule an in-person meeting and tour for you and your child. These visits are typically towards the end of March and April and we can accommodate weekends and after school times. Campers then will ultimately be selected based on their fit with this program. For more information, please contact Dave Leimsieder (daveleimsieder@berkeley.edu) (510-701-4288).
Social Skills Camp – Teens
The Social Skills Leadership Camp for Teens is for individuals entering 9th – 13th grade and who would benefit from support with social skills. This program provides an opportunity to learn leadership skills in the context of a camp environment. This program parallels our traditional Counselor in Training, and Camper in Leadership Training, programs while adding direct social skills support and activities designed to meet the teenager’s individual goals. Emphasis is placed upon the acquisition of vocational skills, simultaneously applying those in successful social situations with fellow staff and peers. Teens must have a desire to work with children or be involved with sports to be successful in this program.
Ages & Eligibility
Campers must be entering grades 9-13 in order to register for this camp. There is an application for the program to ensure the best fit between the camper’s needs and program structure. These programs are not designed for children who need one-to-one assistance or have significant non-compliant or aggressive behavior.
Teens in the social skills track are immersed into the program as Campers in Leadership Training (CILTs) or Counselors in Training (CITs). They act as support staff to group leaders, activity instructors, and other counselors. Teens gain leadership and vocational skills with their peers through supportive meetings held either once or twice daily, depending on their placement. Teens are assigned high school or college-age mentors and coaches to help support integration and goals. This is a transition program to support independence and the teens are fully integrated in the programs with their peers.
Activities
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Teens in the social skills track may submit preferences for activities they most prefer to help with. Schedules are crafted in a manner that accounts for these factors, providing for a successful balance of active and sedentary time. We encourage social skills participants to try new activities while striving to accommodate their needs as best as possible.
Schedule
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Daily Schedule: 9 a.m – 4 p.m. Teens in the SSTA-CIT program work from 8:30 a.m - 4:30 p.m., Teens in the SSTA-CILT are at camp from 8:45 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Is My Teen Ready?
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While this is not an exhaustive list, it may help you make a preliminary assessment about your teen’s readiness for the program
Guidelines for first time CILTs/CITS:
Must want to be a staff member at Blue Camp and feel motivated to grow in this role.
Must be able to accept coaching and follow directions from their high school or college-aged mentor.
Must be able to be outside in the sun for most of the day.
Must like children or sports.
Must be willing to engage in non-personal interest related activities with peers for at least 20 minutes.
Must be ready to understand the social context of their role: can take on staff identity to the extent they understand and demonstrate that they are responsible for the safety and participation of younger campers, and must understand they are not cultivating friendships with campers but are instead present to support teachers.
Must be ready to follow the fundamental principle that “camp is for the camper” and that the needs, interests, and participation of the camper must come before that of the staff during class time.
Must have stamina to work without breaks for at least an hour.
How to Apply
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To apply, please contact Dave Leimsieder (daveleimsieder@berkeley.edu). All inquiring families will be sent an Application Packet, with a list of required materials that must be sent in.
Once these materials are reviewed and your child is identified as a possible fit with this program we will contact you to schedule an in-person meeting and tour for you and your child. These visits are typically towards the end of March and April and we can accommodate weekends and after school times. Campers then will ultimately be selected based on their fit with this program. For more information, please contact Dave Leimsieder (daveleimsieder@berkeley.edu) (510-701-4288).
