Pioneer Pals: A Camp Designed for Children With Autism

For many children, summer offers an opportunity to head to camps and enjoy some fun in the sun, arts and crafts, or other activities. However, there are very few inclusive camps that welcome children with all abilities to engage and interact with each other. Often such specialized camps are defined for those with very specific diagnoses and can be cost-prohibitive. 

The Pioneer Pals summer program at Cal State East Bay is designed to help children ages 3-10 of all abilities meet new friends and have new experiences in a safe way. Research shows that children learn best when engaged with each other in fun developmentally appropriate activities.

"I can’t tell you enough how much my son loves camp,” Sally S, a mother of one of the campers said. “He can’t stop talking about it and asks to go every day. He can’t wait to come back. I see him making progress everyday."

The brainchild of Shubha Kashinath, a professor in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, the summer camp trains students pursuing careers in speech-language pathology alongside clinical experts to guide participants through project-based educational activities including STEM, arts and crafts, outdoor play and theater. 

“The focus of our camp is on building camper skills in the context of authentic relationships and interactions with supervisors, peers and volunteers, “ said Kashinath. “We welcome siblings of campers to help us create an inclusive community for young children who are learning new ways to interact and play with their brother/sister and their new friends.”

Children do not need a referral or official diagnosis to attend the camp. This is the sixth year the Pioneer Pals is being held and sessions are at capacity.