Summer Programs
Camp SOCIAL
Camp SOCIAL is full for summer 2024!
The Parish School and The Carruth Center’s Social Learning summer overnight camps began in 2010 after Margaret Noecker, Parish Head of School, and Renee Attaway Storer, Social Learning program director, had a conversation about the need to provide an immersive experience for children struggling the social learning necessary for success in school, home and the community. This discussion led to the dream of a summer camp focused only on social learning and for students who needed less support. Renee specifically wanted a camp where our students could experience a more traditional summer camp experience while participating in social groups focused on Social Thinking®. Margaret was passionate about the outdoors and camping and believed strongly in social learning as necessary for life success. She was also a great friend to Camp For All and her efforts made this dream a reality.
This dream became Camp Social Superheroes and Camp Connect. For years, Renee Attaway Storer has taken children and teens to Camp Aranzazu and Camp for All with her team of passionate and highly trained counselors. In those years, the camp served hundreds and gave campers the experience of a fun experience where they learned new social cognitive strategies, practiced independence, and made connections. In 2023, Camp Social Superheroes and Camp Connect combined. The children and teens had separate cabins, counselors and curriculum during camp, but the camps unified to start new traditions and to create a safe and accepting environment for all campers.
This success of combining camps in 2023 led to the merging of the two camps to make:
Camp SOCIAL is a six-day, overnight camp at Camp for All in Burton, TX, where children and teens ages 8-16 who struggle with social competencies learn and practice Social Thinking® in a supportive environment. All campers attend a daily social group that focuses on social learning concepts necessary for everyday life. Campers work hard to identify their own social goals and to try new strategies as they navigate the week at camp. Camp SOCIAL focuses on teaching campers to think through and problem solve social situations rather than relying on cueing or changing the external environment around the camper. This allows the camper to gain more confidence and true understanding of the concepts. Most of our counselors have been with us for over 8 years and come from different career paths, including general education, special education, social work, licensed professional counseling, speech-language pathology, and even finance.
July 7-12, 2024
8- to 16-year-olds
Held at Camp for All
$1,650* for the week
includes food, lodging, therapy services and activities at camp
$85 intake fee for all new campers
Registration will open January 23, 2024
*Please note, this camp is not reimbursable by insurance.
Camp Goals
Goals at camp are individualized for each camper. However, most of our campers share these common goals:
- Observing social environments and people around them
- Blending and sharing space in groups
- Recognizing hidden social rules of situations
- Guessing other people’s thoughts, feelings and motives
- Understanding and forming friendships or connections
- Cognitive flexibility
- Solving social problems
- Conflict resolution
- Connecting to others through conversation and hanging out
Activities
Counselors support campers in practicing social learning during traditional summer camp activities, including:
- swimming
- canoeing
- ropes courses
- archery
- horseback riding
- eating meals together
- team challenges
- talent shows and dances
- campfire activities
- and so much more!
This is an incredible opportunity for campers to make connections and gain real-life experience exploring social learning.
*Due to a generous donation from the Hamill Foundation, every camper will receive a scholarship that keeps the cost of Camp SOCIAL the same as in 2023! Additional Financial Assistance is available.
Contact Us
If you have questions about camp, please contact Renee Attaway Storer, MS, CCC-SLP.