Extended School Year

Green Chimneys’ Clearpool Campus offers two six-week Extended School Year options for special needs students who are not currently enrolled in Green Chimneys School. Academic, daily living, and social skills are emphasized and integrated into a summer camp experience. A home school district-sponsored Extended School Year program (also known as ESY) or individual private pay day camp option is available.

The summer program runs July through August and is built on a strong academic schedule, in the fun atmosphere of a summer camp.

The purpose of summer session is to:

  • provide review and reinforcement of academic material learned during the school year
  • develop and strengthen social skills
  • prevent social-emotional and educational regression

Extended School Year (ESY)

Green Chimneys Extended School Year (ESY) serves students in grades K-12 who can be maintained in their home district but need an extended school year either for prevention of learning loss or for enriched academic learning.

A supportive and nurturing educational environment helps children work toward their academic, social-emotional and behavioral goals. Activities are designed to stimulate the students’ awareness of and interest in their environment, as well as in relationships with others while building their confidence, self-esteem, and growth towards independence.

Unique Camp for Children with Special Needs (private pay)

The Green Chimneys day camp program for special needs is a supplement and resource for your child and for you as a parent. A unique interactive environment enables Green Chimneys to address many needs, particularly the ability to establish and maintain positive peer relationships, helping children to return to school feeling confident and ready to learn.

  • Six-Week Session Monday – Friday 8:30am – 2:30pm
  • Daily lunch and snack provided

Summer Program Structure

Instructional content is guided by each student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP). Small class size (8:1:2) allows individualized academic goals, instructional styles and behavioral strategies to be implemented based on each student’s needs. Review of previously learned materials keeps students from losing ground over the summer.

Programming incorporates an outdoor, educational setting where students “learn by doing.” A variety of engaging activities include hiking, boating, ecological and forestry studies, orienteering, ropes and challenge courses, and other exciting nature-based activities. Social skills and interpersonal communication are addressed in everything done at Green Chimneys.

Individual development is continuously monitored and students receive guidance on appropriate social behavior, team and group cooperation, and simple and varied responsibilities. Staff members include certified special education teachers, occupational and speech therapists, and school psychologists trained to work with students who have a variety of learning styles and social-emotional challenges. Each child’s strength is utilized to build success in academic achievement, social skills, and adventure learning.

Recreation

Educational goals are incorporated into more typical camp activities that are designed to be non-competitive, as each child “competes” only with him or herself.

Activities include:

  • Arts & Crafts and Ceramics
  • Athletics, including Baseball, Volleyball, and Basketball
  • Computers
  • Swimming, Boating, and Fishing
  • Nature Study and Outdoor Education
  • Campfires
  • Hiking

Therapeutic Services & Support

Green Chimneys staff members are trained to work with students who have a variety of learning styles and social-emotional challenges. Students receive relational and instrumental social skills training, as well as daily supported opportunities in which to practice these skills. Services include speech clinicians, occupational therapists, and psycho-educational groups. Individual progress is monitored by a designated case manager, who adapts techniques and interventions to meet the particular needs of each student.