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Julie Herr & Associates hosts children with and without special needs for an integrated day camp every summer.

Camp Dates

Summer 2012

Session 1 June 18 - 28

Session 2 July 2 - 12

Session 3 July 16 - 26

Session 4 July 30 - August 9

Monday - Thursday

8:30 am - 2:30 pm

We admit ten children ages 4 - 9, plus one expert player, per session. Click through the menu at the left to learn more, or contact Julie at (312) 388-8883 or julie@julieherr.com for more information.

Summers at Julie Herr & Associates provide a unique opportunity for children to forge meaningful relationships, play with peers, build confidence, and master new skills. Many of the children who attend our camp struggle to fully engage in interactions and never experience the sense of camaraderie that parents hope for camp to provide. Certain behaviors -- like isolating oneself, playing chaotically, or lecturing without contingently responding -- are often merely symptoms of challenges with language, processing, or regulation. Unfortunately such symptoms often make it hard to play with peers in traditional camp settings. Yet children with these struggles can absolutely share the kind of gorgeous, engaged eye contact and warm conversations that let us know they’re reveling in mutually joyful moments. Each summer we watch our campers blossom, displaying newfound self-esteem, resilience, and capacities for team-work as they are given opportunities to practice these skills through our carefully designed activities and outings.

Here are some of the techniques that allow us to create such joyful summers with children who are at risk of missing out on quintessential camp experiences in more traditional camp settings:

Well-Designed, Predictable Schedule

Each week we have three “home days” and one field trip. Home days are clinic-based days which always follow the same, time-tested schedule: We begin each home day with a sensory-based outdoor obstacle course, followed by snack, a walking trip to a local park, a theme-based activity (such as dramatic play, science, or art), and then lunch. We conclude the day by asking each child to recall his or her favorite part of the day. We include the children’s dictations in an email that we then send home to families reviewing the day’s activities and accomplishments. (Read email dictations from previous summers.)

Trips Planned Around Children’s Interests

Field trips are based on the interests of the children, and differ each summer. Field trips from last year included a family farm visit, a Cubs game, and a tour of a dog hotel. Field trips give each child the opportunity to learn from friends and to share their expertise and enthusiasm for cherished topics. We prepare the children for the trips through discussion, visuals, and dramatic play. Afterwards, the children have further opportunities to process the trips through play. Memories from the trips are recorded in the daily email dictations and later celebrated in the photo albums that children take home at the end of summer camp. (See photos of field trips.)

Dramatic Play

Play is central to our camp because it is the most important way that children learn. Through play, children gather knowledge, develop critical reasoning skills and process experiences. As they play, children negotiate relationships, understand emotions, and learn about themselves. We emphasize our respect for play and support creativity by providing the children with elaborate sets, costumes, and props based on the week’s theme. Each summer, we include one “expert player” in camp; this child serves as a compelling play partner and model for the other children.

Facilitated Interactions

To be successful in play and exploration, children benefit from adult support that helps them focus and stay involved in conversations. Adult support becomes especially important when the interactions involve disagreement. With low child-counselor ratios and talented staff, the children at our camp are not alone as they make sense of the world, maintain connections, and manage their emotions. The personalized and constant social-emotional support children receive at each juncture of the day helps the children to develop greater self-awareness and coping skills, ultimately resulting in a sense of resilience that continues to evolve long after the summer is over.

Use of Visuals

For children that struggle with sequencing or auditory processing, new experiences can be overwhelming and stressful. For this reason, we add a visual component to all camp activities. Visuals support children's abilities to anticipate new situations, regulate emotions, and engage with their peers in typical and joyful ways. (See how we use visuals in obstacle courses, dramatic play, and throughout the day.)