A summer activity and resource guide for parents
Are you wondering what to do with your children this summer after a year of limited events and activities? No need to fear! Behavioral Progression is here to help! We will be providing a list of summer camps, family events and activities, family exercises, crafts, and snack ideas to spice up your summer.
You will find a list of summer camps available below with a description taken from the camps’ websites. In addition to the content shared in the current resource, we will be posting inexpensive and free things to do both in your home and in the community throughout the summer. We hope to help you have a fun-filled summer that keeps your little ones happy and healthy. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Sign up/subscribe to our Blog to be notified when new content is available. Tag us in your family summer crafts and activities!
Summer Camp Information
Hillsborough County
YMCA
Campo Family YMCA - Valrico, FL
Camp Christina YMCA - Riverview, FL
"Summer camp at the Tampa Y is so much fun! Campers begin their day meeting in large groups, join in songs, games and fun. Kids break out into smaller age groups and begin various activities with our new Activity Central curriculum. Activity Central is comprised of projects, learning, and most of all, fun! Campers will participate in one subject for about 45 minutes, and by the end of the day, they will have experienced up to five different camp activities, depending on YMCA location offerings."
Brandon Sports and Aquatics Center (BSAC)
Brandon, FL
"The Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center is a community-based 501c3 non-profit organization. Our mission is to impact lives daily through superior educational and athletic programming that enhances physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. BSAC focuses on four main pillars of service: after-school care, youth drowning prevention, sports & recreation, and special needs education."
Bricks for Kids
Tampa, FL
"Bricks 4 Kidz has over 1,000 custom LEGO® models that our Master Builder Instructors assist campers in making. You cannot find any of our models in a store or online retailer. All camps have a maximum number of campers we allow, and during the camp week, we split our campers into different groups based on age and skill level. Each camper builds models that are suitable to their age and LEGO® building abilities. Each day the models get a little harder, so all of our campers will see a significant improvement in their LEGO® skills. By the end of each camp week, we aim to have our campers building the most challenging models we have to offer! And that’s when they attain the ultimate title…. A Bricks 4 Kidz Master Builder!
Have multiple children? Use code SIBLING25 to save $25.00 off your second and third child!"
Camp Sparks
All People’s Life Center, 6105 E. Sligh Ave. Tampa, FL, (813) 744-5978 x 0
Brandon Park and Rec Center, 502 E. Sadie St., Brandon, (813) 635-8179
This Camp Sparks location is for summer camp only: Carrollwood Meadows Recreation Center, 13918 Farmington Blvd., Tampa FL, (813) 288-8481
“Camp Sparks for students from age 5 to 22 and the goal of the program is to raise a healthier generation of kids, by encouraging healthy lifestyle choices through physical activity and promoting daily living skills. Camp Sparks is designed for children with disabilities, such as autism, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries and/or learning disabilities, and the locations are staffed with a 1-to-6 staff-to-student ratio by our Adaptive Recreation Team.”
First Discoveries Academy Summer Camp
Brandon, FL
South Tampa, FL
“Our Discovery Club Summer Camp is focused on two things: keeping camper's minds active and having fun! Our program is built around exciting activities, events, and adventures to keep kids engaged and learning during summer break.”
Childcare of Brandon
Multiple locations in Hillsborough
“Our School Age Summer Camp offers themes full of specially designed program plans and activities, including exciting, fun-filled field trips. We will keep your child engaged and active all summer long”
HOST
Multiple locations in Hillsborough
“The goal of this program is to provide the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth and development which children need in order for them to be successful. Each program plans daily activities such as homework assistance, academic enrichment, art, crafts, and games, outside games, and field trips.”
MOSI
Tampa, FL
"MOSI’s Summer Science Camps bring Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) alive through hands-on experiments and building projects. From launching rockets, building robots and extracting DNA, we are about creating the experiences that expand interests and make dreams a reality. Doing real science with the tools and technologies used by industry professionals is just one way MOSI Summer Science Camps inspire our campers with a can-do attitude that can last a lifetime. Real science coupled with exciting experiments, simulations, explorations, and inventions will help you discover the innovator within."
Camp hours are 9 am – 4 pm. Extended hours are available from 7 am – 9 am and/or 4 pm – 6 pm for an additional fee.
Mission Hill Church- Kids
Tampa, FL
“Mission Hill Kids desires to be a ministry that is intentional inside the church walls and outside the walls. We desire for volunteers, kids, and parents to foster a love so deep for Jesus that they live out their faith no matter where they are at.”
Multiple weeklong activities for kids in K-4th grade
Mission Hill Church- Preteens
Tampa, FL
"This exciting ministry is specifically designed to meet the spiritual needs of 5th and 6th graders who are actively transitioning into middle school. The middle school years are an exciting time for students filled with new surroundings, friends, teachers, and experiences. But the preteen years are also a time where students will be facing a whole new world of temptations and challenges. That is why we believe it is vitally important to prepare our students to make this transition smoothly. Our desire is to come alongside you, parents, to disciple your kids, fully equipping them to stand firm in their faith no matter what the world throws at them!”
Multiple weeklong activities for preteens in 5th and 6th grade
Polk County
Grace City Kids Camp
Lakeland, FL
“Camp will be from 8:30AM - 4:00PM, Wednesday through Friday. Each day will consist of fun activities and lessons including Life Journals, powerful teachings, worship, skits, games, and a big activity for the day. We will end the week with a trip to the Tampa Zoo! We will also provide breakfast, snacks, and lunch for each day! We will have other options for any dietary restrictions. We cannot wait to spend time with our Grace City Kids and learn how to love and pray for everyone around us!”
June 23-25th 8:30am - 4:00pm
Happy to accommodate/make modifications for anyone with special needs
YMCA of West Central Florida
Lakeland, FL
“Our Day Camps provide a safe and enriching environment for campers to participate in healthy, developmentally–appropriate activities and learning experiences. All camps focus on building self-esteem, confidence and social skills while increasing independence and wellness awareness.”
Virtual Camps
Camp Boggy Creek
Virtual
"Camp Boggy Creek is able to serve thousands for campers and their families through activity-packed weekly and weekend camp programs. The camp offers children the chance to catch their first fish, go horseback riding or climb our ropes tower, all while making new friends. Beyond boundless fun, Camp Boggy Creek provides fellowship. Children can spend time with others who are just like them and share their life-experiences, which serves as a reminder that they are not alone."
-Camp for children with serious illnesses that includes expert medical care
-Located just a short drive from Orlando, Florida, the 232-acre camp serves children ages 7-16 who’ve been diagnosed with chronic or life-threatening conditions. Camp Boggy Creek never charges campers to attend and never asks them to contribute anything other than a positive, playful attitude.
Continuum Social Skills Groups
Virtual
Contact: rachel.mlot@continuumgroup.net
Teen Healthy Relationships Social Group: Cost $275
Everyone has different relationships in their lives – friends, coworkers, bosses, family, and romantic, and it can be difficult to navigate these different types of relationships. This 6-week Healthy Relationships Social Group is designed to help you recognize, establish, and maintain healthy relationships in your life and is designed for teens 14-18 years (however we are open to other ages if this group would be a good fit). We will be using the curriculum “Healthy Relationships” developed by Diana Loiewski, M.Ed. The group will meet online via live-interactive Zoom meetings. These meetings will be led by Liza Ross, BCBA and she will incorporate lessons, activities, and role play to help our adults get the most out of this group.
This is a 7-week online group that meets Tuesdays from 5-7pm EST from July 6th to August 17th
PEERS® Teen Social Skills Group: Cost Short $275; Long Group $625
We have a short 7-week and long 14-week course that utilizes the entire PEERS® curriculum to teach and practice a variety of skills. The participants meet online via live-interactive Zoom meetings. Each meeting the consultant leading the group will introduce a topic and teach the targeted skill for that week. The PEERS curriculum breaks down various skills that will be taught each week, and they build over time to work on more advanced skills. The consultant will assign each participant a partner and push them into “breakout rooms” to practice the skill. These “breakout rooms” are mini-private rooms, so there will only be the two participants in the online breakout room. They will be able to practice the targeted skill with each other (and with parental support). The consultant will be able to join each room to observe and give feedback to the participants. After they practice the skill, the consultant will close the breakout rooms and everyone will rejoin the main meeting room. They will end the session with a group social activity. Then there will be a parent training meeting following the social group to help parents better support their teens.
The 7-week course meets Saturdays from 12-2pmEST from July 10th to August 21st and the 14-week long course extends to October 9th
Conversation Pre-Teen Social Group: Cost $275
This is a 7-week course that teaches the basics of conversational skills. The participants will meet online via live-interactive Zoom meetings. Each meeting the consultant leading the group will introduce a topic and teach the targeted skill for that week. The curriculum is designed to teach topics such as: Joining and exiting conversation, maintaining conversation, reading social cues, making phone calls, and handling disagreements. After the skills is taught, the consultant will assign each participant a partner and push them into “breakout rooms” to practice the skill. These “breakout rooms” are mini-private rooms, so there will only be the two participants in the online breakout room. They will be able to practice the targeted skill with each other (and with parental support). The consultant will be able to join each room to observe and give feedback to the participants. After they practice the skill, the consultant will close the breakout rooms and everyone will rejoin the main meeting room. They will end the session with a group social activity. Then there will be a parent training meeting following the social group to help parents better support their teens.
This is a 7-week course that meeting Wednesdays from 5-7pm from July 7th to August 18th
Other
Camp Able Summer Camp
Palm City, FL
“When school lets out in June, most children are on their own for the quality of their summer fun. For children with special needs, the ARC's Able Summer Camp Program offers a summer of tremendous fun and then some! -->Supported by Newman's own Foundation”
“Camp ABLE is a specialized summer camp program for children with developmental disabilities and behavioral challenges ages 3 to 22.”
Safe and Sound Swimmers Program
Hillsborough, Polk, and Pasco Counties
Hosted by Behavioral Progression Inc.
Behavioral Progression, Inc. provides private swim lessons for individuals with and without special needs who may have not been successful with traditional learn-to-swim programs. We allow the child to learn at his/her own pace! This program incorporates Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) techniques with learn-to-swim methods to promote water safety and lasting change in swimming skills. Our instructors make every effort to build a stress-free, fun learning environment, with individualization and positive reinforcement in order to encourage swimming success.
- Must be 2 years or older
- No prerequisite skills needed!
Cooking Activity
Undercover Apple Donuts
Ingredients:
· Sliced applies
· Yogurt (any kind)
· Sprinkles (or substitute chocolate chips, nuts, raisons, etc.)
· Food coloring (optional)
Instructions:
1. Pre-wash/slice apples
2. (Optional) Add food coloring to yogurt & mix
3. Spread yogurt on each slice of apple
4. Add toppings
5. Enjoy your healthy snack!
Helpful tip: Use a small cookie cutter to cut out the center for various shapes.