Helping Improve Social-skills Through Evidence-based Practices (HI-STEP): 6-week day program focusing on developing children's social-emotional & problem-solving skills through group social skills training, individualized attention, sports & recreational activities, creative arts, & academic-related activities.
Healthy snacks are provided with alternatives available depending upon special nutritional needs; children bring their own lunch.
Session Information
Ages 6-16.
Dates: June 25-August 3, 2012 (29 days total, closed July 4th) - this is a day program; no overnights; 8:45 AM - 2:45 PM daily
Cost: $4,250 for 6 week program
Two Locations:
1) Pennington, NJ in Mercer County (near Princeton & Flemington, NJ & Bucks County, PA)
2) Scotch Plains, NJ in Union County, located near Routes 287, 78, 80, NJ Turnpike and Parkway
More About Camp
HI-STEP is designed for children with difficulties displaying appropriate social skills and problem-solving skills. The program commonly is appropriate for children with special education needs, including high-functioning Pervasive Developmental Disorders (e.g., Asperger's Syndrome, High Functioning Autism, PDD-NOS), Non-verbal Learning Disabilities, ADHD, Learning Disabilities, and symptoms of anxiety, shyness, obsessive-compulsiveness, etc. A diagnosis or special education classification is not required for enrollment in HI-STEP. Children are grouped based upon age, strength and needs relative to the other children in the group, and based upon the determination of the best match with specific counselors.
Skills targeted include: Making Friends (eye contact, conversational skills, sharing, taking turns); Perspective Taking; Communicating Feelings; Recognizing Impulses & Solving Problems; Giving/Receiving Compliments;
Dealing with Putdowns/Teasing;
Identifying Anger Triggers; Learning to Calm Down & Manage Anger; Keeping out of Fights; Anticipating Consequences of one's actions;
Telephone Conversation Skills; Critical Thinking, Abstract Reasoning, & Inferential Thinking.
The daily schedule includes social skills and problem-solving training, sports and recreational activities, arts and crafts activities, lunch, snack, supervised play activities to promote friendship-building and learning to play various games appropriately, academic-related activities focusing on social skills, and exchanging points for prizes at the reward store.
There are also various special activities, which may include many of the following: Therapeutic Dogs, science presentation/activity, magician, visit from professional baseball player, animal show, musicians, carnival games, etc.
HI-STEP Summer Social Skills Program provides more frequent and more intensive social skills training compared to traditional summer programs and weekly summer social skills groups. Generalization opportunities are provided through activities recommended for the home and community, parent training, and a summary of strategies staff members found to be effective.
Many children attend HI-STEP as their Extended School Year (ESY) program, funded by their respective school district; an excellent opportunity for learning, fun, and friendship-making.
Activities & Features
Land Sports
Baseball Basketball Soccer
Other Activities
Social Skills Training Problem-Solving Arts & Crafts Therapy Dogs Sports Instruction Cooperative Games Structured Recreational Activities
