Learn about our Adventure Programs

Unique Children’s Therapy Through Summer Camp

Unique Children’s Therapy Through Summer Camp

The Oaks Psychological Group offers a group day camp for children patients!

The camp will be held in July and participants can join for a week or two. To ensure the lasting impact of this unique therapy, we encourage campers to stay for eight days.

Learn ABOUT the Camp

The camp provides an opportunity for you to be in a fun and adventurous environment to develop social skills and self-confidence. Dr. Ball provides consistent feedback and support so you can work on your skills in real-time. These help all campers build positive relationships with their peers while participating in outdoor activities that promote rapport and confidence.

Therapeutic Objectives of Camp

  • Build self-esteem and empathy toward peers

  • Improve confidence around peers

  • Expand participants' ability to accurately perceive their social environment

  • Enhance long-term friend-making skills

  • Increase interest in outdoor activities

Philosophy and Premise

Our group day camp is a unique way of providing individualized real-time therapy to children who are struggling with social skills and self-esteem issues. We maintain a safe and nurturing environment for all campers.

We strive to hone a child’s ability to accurately assess their social surroundings and learn to adapt to their peers when at play, solve problems, and work together. In addition, the participants will be challenged socially throughout the week in various activities and will promote flexibility, communication, and cooperation.

Therapeutic Objectives of Camp

  • Build self-esteem and empathy toward peers

  • Improve confidence around peers

  • Expand participants' ability to accurately perceive their social environment

  • Enhance long-term friend-making skills

  • Increase interest in outdoor activities

What To Expect

Dr. Stephen Ball is involved in all aspects of the camp. You can trust that we will:

  • Promote a positive and nurturing atmosphere to create trust and openness between campers.
  • Encourage participation from everyone at all times.
  • Focus on setting goals beyond the scope of the initiative games activities when discussing the groups’ experiences.
  • Build morale and camaraderie within the group.
  • Emphasize the idea that everyone has different strengths and abilities to offer the group and that none are better than any other.
  • Promote an encouraging atmosphere where group members are comfortable with one another and can grow and have more fun together.
  • Allow the group to have fun! As long as the group is being positive and respectful, we want them to joke, laugh, and play.

The Use of Initiative Games and Activities

Throughout the camp, there will be extensive use of initiative games as a live-action teaching tool. These will be used to improve your teamwork skills, break down barriers and stereotypes, increase confidence, and provide you with a physical or mental challenge to solve.

Our Ultimate Goal

We strive to make participants feel good about themselves. Our staff also assists campers in gaining the skills and confidence needed to work well with others. This is a lofty goal and cannot be completely accomplished in one week. However, the group should be thoroughly introduced to these ideas. They will encounter several experiences in these areas. If a participant learns to work well within their group, they can apply what they learned to situations in their home, school, and personal lives.

All about Safety

Safety will always be of the utmost priority throughout the camp. That is why we make sure that activities are appropriate for each group. We will introduce the idea of "challenge by choice" and allow campers to choose to participate or not before beginning the activities. This way, they can opt not to join, especially if campers find it uncomfortable.

Those who wish not to participate will be respected. However, they will be asked to help observe activities and provide feedback to remain active.

Processing the Experience

Participating in initiative games activities is the heart of the camp. However, the lessons that each challenge teaches may not always be obvious. Because of this, campers will discuss their opinions on particular events.

Some groups will want to share their thoughts more, but others will find it difficult to put their feelings into words. You may also feel awkward or intimidated about talking about your feelings and emotions. But if campers don't take the time to process their experience, then the camp may be less meaningful and effective. That is why we encourage everyone to speak up. We will also stop and debrief mid-challenge to help campers process information and regroup.

Reminders for Each Activity

The following guidelines will be considered when processing each activity:

  • Everyone is encouraged to participate.
  • Respect for everyone is essential.
  • Use the idea of "Guide Discovery."
    • The group will not be told what they learned, rather, they will be led to discover on their own what lessons they have learned during a challenge or activity. This process will also be utilized to evoke the groups' feelings about each challenge.

Therapeutic Four Core Concepts to Surmount Any Challenge

  • Problem Solving:

    The process of using your brain, creativity, logic, and foresight to succeed at a given task.

  • Communication:

    The act of conveying (verbally or non-verbally) information to others. Communication is a two-way street. Not only do you need to express your ideas, but you must also listen to others as they explain their ideas.

  • Cooperation:

    Working together while respecting and utilizing each other's ideas.

  • Trust:

    Placing your faith in a person or a group of people, knowing they are keeping you safe in some manner, whether it is physical or emotional safety.

Utilizing Your Skills to Achieve Success

The summer camp program creates an environment that might push you to go out of your comfort zone. We all face challenges and hardships in life, which is why we provide you an opportunity to overcome new challenges in the camp that will translate into a greater sense of autonomy once you're outside.

Achieving goals like success, health, and happiness do not come easy; they must be worked toward and earned. It requires certain skills, and we intend to foster yours. For some people, these abilities come naturally while others must continue practicing. We believe that everyone can improve their skills, overcome challenges, and with determination, achieve their goals.

Join Our Camp!

If you’re interested in our unique program, get in touch with Dr. Stephen Ball at 818-597-9333. We’d love to discuss it further with you.

Call 818-597-9333