BOONTON — Best Practices in Behavior Analysis (BPBA) announces the second year of their Kids Helping Kids social skills camp for children entering Kindergarten through eighth grade during the weeks of July 22, August 12, 19 and 26.
It is no secret that in today’s technology driven society, where so much communication happens on mobile phones via text and messaging, children are struggling to develop the interpersonal and social skills they need to lead fulfilling and successful lives.
This camp, called “Kids Helping Kids”, is designed to help children of all backgrounds and with a variety of needs or exceptionality to hone their social skills and build their self-confidence and ability to work well with others.
Kids Helping Kids camp will be held July 22-25 at The Nature Nest located at 220 Vreeland Avenue, Boonton. During the month of August, it will be based at Saint Christopher’s Church on Route 202 in Parsippany in the heart of Morris County.
Kids Helping Kids is an inclusive social skills camp focused on developing face-to-face social, emotional, physical and academic skills. Campers engage in game play, physical activity, STEM projects, guided conversations, and practice their social skills. They learn from their peers and from the board-certified analysts who run the camp as well as the aspiring behaviorists who support the team.
“Last summer was our first year of this camp and we all learned so much. This camp started as a traditional social skills camp designed for children with special needs and what we quickly realized is that the kids without any sort of classification benefited just as much. They enjoyed the activities and by the end of the week everyone matured and began to improve critical social skills and start to demonstrate advanced responses such as empathy, collaboration, patience and consideration,” said Stasia Hansen, MA., BCBA-S, Founder of Best Practices in Behavior Analysis.
The goal of the Kids Helping Kids camp is to teach social repertoires to children with and without special education classification. This is done in a fun and nurturing environment where relationships can be made. The program is run by two Ivy League Board Certified Behavior Analysts with a combined total of 40 years’ experience.
Stasia Hansen, is a local mom of two from Parsippany and the founder and director of Best Practices in Behavior Analysis. She is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, BCBA, with more than 20 years’ experience in the field of behavior analysis. Stasia graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2003.
Lisa Searls is a BCBA and has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis for 20 years. She received her master’s degree in ABA from Teachers College, Columbia University. She also has a MA in Special Education, is a NJ Certified General and Special Education teacher, and a certified aerobics instructor. She currently works as a behavior consultant for several public-school districts.
This camp is ideal for children entering Kindergarten through eighth grade. Children with high functioning autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and developmental delays are welcome and encouraged to attend as are children who are not classified with any special needs but who wish to gain leadership and/or social skills.
Data will be collected on the all the skills taught to the campers and progress will be tracked. In most instances and as appropriate, the campers will track their own data which acts as an academic lesson and furthers their accountability.
To find out more visit the BPBA website here or download the camp flyer here. You can also contact camp director Stasia Hansen at stasia.bestpractices@gmail.com.
