New City ‘Bootcamp’ Aims to Teach Social Skills to Youngsters

After just six months, Social Skills Bootcamp in New City has gone from conception to reality.

In January, Marietta Bennett—a local speech pathologist—was giving a presentation on the socialization of children with language and social difficulties.  After the presentation, parents of special needs children began approaching Bennett.

“The parents shared that there aren't enough effective social programs in the county and suggested starting something on my own," Bennett said.

Bennett came together with special education teacher Loren Margot, and began to consider creating a new helpful outlet for children and adolescents with special needs.

“Loren and I were talking about doing a social skills group, and then it blossomed into doing a whole center,” Bennett said. The pair set their sights on establishing a program on par with the other big learning centers like Huntington and Sylvan, yet targeted at a new audience and with a new approach.

“We came together and tried to create a place we wanted eventually to become an after-school supplemental center that kids can go and get tutoring for regents exams, ELA tests, speech therapy, yoga, the whole nine yards,” Bennett said. Thus, the Center for Exceptional Children was born.

In the fall of 2013, the Center will begin its weekly social interaction groups that will include everything from tutoring to movie nights. In an effort to kick-start the school year, Bennett and Margot decided what better way to get kids excited for school than a week of learning and fun over the summer.

Social Skills Bootcamp for children ages 12 to 16 and Social Skills Bootcamp Jr. for children ages seven to 11 will serve as a pilot program for the Center.

The camp will target any student who struggles with social language and social skills, and will be a blend of learning and fun enjoyment, Bennett said.

One feature of the camp is the idea of mentors—in her practice, Bennett takes students with social language disabilities and students who do not, and teaches all of the students together.

“Studies have shown that kids not only develop social skills but generalize them and start using them with other kids when they’re practicing them with their age-matched peers who are trained,” Bennett said. “So we train these kids. Its like a one-to-one.”

Bennett took this idea from the classroom into the new camp. Children, who will be in the camp on a volunteer basis, will be able to help others grow and learn to better their communication skills, Bennet said.

In terms of structure, the camp will offer structured lessons on social skills in the morning, followed by games applying those lessons.

In the afternoon, though, the campers get to set off on trips around New City. These outings include going to the movies, bowling and even an ice cream parlor.

On the last day of camp, the kids will enjoy a day of fun in the sun, spent lounging and playing at a Clarkstown pool.

Bennett and Margot hope to make Social Skills Bootcamp and Social Skills Bootcamp Jr. annual staples of summer in New City, and hope to expand with time and word of mouth.

“This will be an awesome way to end the summer, but also start the school year,” Bennett said. “It’s a nice transition. We get them to do fun things while practicing communication skills and improve friendships.”

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The camps are close to capacity, but there are still spots available in both age groups. Check out the Facebook page for The Center for Exceptional Children or contact the program at thecenter4exceptionalchildren@gmail.com for more information.