Camp I Can Say It!
Program Features
During the week before camp, each camper will have an individual assessment and campers and families will have an opportunity to meet camp staff. During the five days of camp, we will provide research-based therapy and activities in English and Spanish for campers and education for families. Each camper will be paired with a graduate-level clinician for their assessment and therapy, and these sessions will be supervised by experienced speech-language pathologists. The majority of camp staff are bilingual.
Individual Assessment
Before camp, each camper’s speech needs and goals will be evaluated during a telehealth appointment and an in-person appointment. This comprehensive assessment will include a bilingual English-Spanish assessment, motor speech evaluation adapted for Spanish, structural functional exam looking at the mouth and throat, hearing screening, language sampling, and letter-sound knowledge assessment.
Individual Therapy
During camp, each camper will receive 60 minutes of individual therapy per day in two 30-minute sessions to support their specific speech goals. Therapy will use dynamic tactile temporal cueing (DTTC), an approach that aims to improve the brain’s ability to plan movements for speech.
Small Group Therapy
Campers will have opportunities practice speaking in a small group setting while still receiving one-on-one support. In small group therapy, they will work on phonological awareness and early reading skills using the phonic faces approach, which helps children associate letters with sounds and practice those sounds.
Large Group Therapy
In large group therapy, campers will practice their social communication goals and reinforce sound-letter awareness during snack and activity time while still receiving one-on-one support.
Family Education
Two family education sessions will be held at the same time as campers’ group therapy sessions. Topics will be chosen according to attendees’ interests and may include topics such as the connection between speech and reading, IEP plans and advocating for your child at school, and more.
Application Information
A short online application with questions about your child and their speech, language, and communication needs is required to determine their eligibility for the camp. Acceptance decisions are made based on fit and space availability.
Camper Eligibility
The camp is designed for English-Spanish bilingual children ages 5–7 with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) or other severe speech challenges who need additional support developing skills to read, identify, and produce speech sounds. A previous medical diagnosis is not required. Camp is intensive and not well-suited for children who also have a diagnosis of level 2 or level 3 autism spectrum disorder (ASD), disruptive conduct disorders, or impulse-control disorders.
Application Timeline
Applications open in April 2024 and will be accepted until all spaces in the camp are filled. You will be notified if your child has been accepted within one week of applying.
Cost
$125, which includes an individual assessment, one week of individual and group therapy, lunch on camp days, and other materials. A $25 deposit is required by May 24 to secure a position once your child has been accepted.
Camp Schedule
Important Dates
- June 17 or 18: Individual assessment via telehealth
- June 20 or 21: Individual assessment at Trios Care Center
- June 20: Family meet-and-greet at a local park
- June 24–28: Camp at Trios Care Center
- June 25 and 27: Family education sessions at Trios Care Center
Before Camp
During the week before camp, campers will receive an individual assessment via a short telehealth appointment and then a 1.5-hour in-person appointment at Trios Care Center. Campers and families will also have an opportunity to meet student clinicians and speech-language pathologists at a meet-and-greet event at a local park on the evening of June 20.
During Camp
Daily camper activities will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 24–28 at Trios Care Center. Family education sessions will be held at the center for one hour on June 25 and 27. A short graduation ceremony will be held on the last day of camp.
Daily Schedule
| Time | Activity |
| 9:00–9:15 a.m. | Arrive at center |
| 9:15–9:45 a.m. | Large group circle time |
| 9:45–10:15 a.m. | Individual therapy |
| 10:15–11:15 a.m. | Gross motor activities, music activities, and crafts |
| 11:15–11:45 a.m. | Individual therapy |
| 11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 12:30–1:00 p.m. | Large group circle time |
| 1:00–1:15 p.m. | Family debrief |
Facts About Bilingual Language Development
- All children are capable of learning multiple languages, including children with developmental delays and learning disabilities.
- Bilingualism does not cause language delays. It has been shown to improve children’s ability to learn new words, identify sounds, and problem solve.
- Families should speak the language they are most comfortable speaking, so children have rich linguistic models and can interact with other members of their community.