Buddies Intensive Camper Program
For adolescents with special needs, ages 12-15
$680/week
Important Notice! In an effort to keep the integrity and effectiveness of our special programs such as Special Needs Campers (40), Buddies Intensive (8), Junior Camp Counselors (12), and Yak Apprentice (12) there will be a cap for participants each week, noted in parentheses. Once the cap is reached, a wait list will be generated. Please don’t wait to register because these programs fill up fast!
Registration Opens April 17th at Noon
Buddies Intensive Camper Program
For adolescents with special needs, ages 12-15
$680/week
Important Notice! In an effort to keep the integrity and effectiveness of our special programs such as Special Needs Campers (40), Buddies Intensive (8), Junior Camp Counselors (12), and Yak Apprentice (12) there will be a cap for participants each week, noted in parentheses. Once the cap is reached, a wait list will be generated. Please don’t wait to register because these programs fill up fast!
Registration Opens April 17th at Noon
Students & Volunteers - Our Fabulous "Blue Shirt Staff"
We have many volunteer, internship,
and graduate student opportunities.
Please scroll down for more information about:
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Camp Counselor/Volunteering
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Internships
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SLP Graduate Practicum Student*
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OT Fieldwork I Student*
*Must be enrolled in an accredited SLP or OT Graduate Program and have pre-approval from your program and the CYY Clinical Director, Heather Eason.
Interns & Camp Counselors can learn more about their roles at camp in the Intern Handbook!
Position: Camp Counselor - Volunteer
1 week or more
Camp Counselors can be Team Leaders, 1:1 Assistants, or Team Assistants and get lots of interaction time with campers with professional supervision/support. It is a great learning opportunity for those who like working closely with children and part of a team.
Camp Counselor positions are best for college students who cannot commit to a 4+week internship but have one or more week to offer and who are interested in general and special education, social work, speech-language pathology, counseling, psychology, occupational and physical therapy, nursing, and other related fields in the helping professions.
*High school and middle school students are also considered Camp Counselors and can have their volunteer hours signed off by camp directors for graduation or service learning requirements. We LOVE our teen counselors!
*Due to Covid Safety Protocols we are only accepting Camp Counselors that are fully immunized and can provide documentation.
Camp Counselor Skills/Requirements:
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Likes working with a group of people
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Fun, encouraging, flexible, and patient personality
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Can remain calm when faced with stressful situations/people
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Easily directed/accepts feedback from supervisors
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Has transportation to and from camp daily
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Able to visually and physically monitor child safety
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Physically active- and can run, climb stairs, etc. to help monitor children
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Excellent listening skills
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Lift/carry 25 pounds
Camp Counselor Program Requirements:
Background and reference checks: For those age 18 and over, applicants must receive favorable results from a nationwide criminal background check before working with children. A reference check for staff ages 13-17 will be conducted.
Job Shadows: Camp Counselors attend a Job Shadow Day on the Thursday of the week BEFORE he/she is scheduled to volunteer. Week 1 Teen Camp Counselors will have Orientation the week before since there is not a job shadow day for them. Information on the training will be provided by email.
Attend Daily Staff Meetings: Each morning and afternoon, staff meet to discuss best practice strategies to support campers and daily announcements. Volunteers attend the meeting but no preparation for the meeting is needed.
Certificate of Service Hours: Camp Counselors will get a certificate of total volunteer hours at the end of their service to camp signed by the Camp Director. Volunteers are encouraged to list CYY as volunteer experience, but no formal letter of recommendation or job reference will be provided to weekly volunteers, unless individuals have served the camp for three or more weeks.
Position: Intern
4+ weeks
Interns can work at camp as Team Leaders and Team Assistants, 1:1 Assistants to campers with more significant needs in the Buddies Program, JCC Program, or as Camp Coaches for Yak Apprentice. Interns can also work with the occupational therapist, camp nurse, or our camper support team to learn more about those fields.
Interns are college students who are admitted into our rigorous training and hands-on learning program for approximately 250 hours that includes extensive pre-camp training and meetings. Preparation, research guided discussions, and daily reflections are required.
Intern positions are best for college students who commit to a 4+week internship, and who are interested in general education, social work, counseling, psychology, speech-language pathology, occupational and physical therapy, and related fields in the helping professions.
*Due to Covid Safety Protocols we are only accepting Interns that are fully immunized.
Internship Skills/Requirements:
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Likes working with others in a dynamic team environment
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Fun, encouraging, flexible, and patient personality
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Can remain calm when faced with stressful situations/people
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Easily directed/accepts feedback from supervisors
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Has transportation to and from camp daily
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Can bring a personal laptop to camp on a daily basis
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Familiar with Google Drive and Google Apps
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Able to visually and physically monitor child safety
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Physically active- can run, climb stairs, etc. to help monitor children
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Excellent listening skills
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Lift/carry 25 pounds
Intern Program Requirements:
Background and reference checks: For those age 18 and over, applicants must receive favorable results from a nationwide criminal background check before working with children. A reference check will be conducted.
Attend Daily Staff Meetings: Each morning and afternoon, staff meet to discuss best practice strategies to support campers and daily announcements. Volunteers attend the meeting but no preparation for the meeting is needed.
Training Videos: 15-20 hours of online CYY training modules before being onsite
Stipend: Interns will receive a stipend of $500 at the conclusion of the internship. We are happy to work with you for a robust letter of recommendation for graduate programs or employment.
Position: Clinical Practicum SLP Graduate Students
1 week or more
Clinical Practicum Students are graduate students in speech-language pathology from one of our partnering universities. We even have graduate students from other programs in the country. Clinical Practicum Students can work at camp as Team Leaders, Team Assistants, or as 1:1 Assistants to campers with more significant needs in the Buddies Program, Explorers Program, or with the Yak Apprentice Program. Their main responsibility is to support the communication of campers while under the supervision of a licensed SP Supervisor.
*Due to Covid Safety Protocols we are only accepting Graduate Students that are fully immunized.
Clinical Practicum Skills/Requirements:
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Likes working with others in a dynamic team environment
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Fun, encouraging, flexible, and patient personality
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Can remain calm when faced with stressful situations/people
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Easily directed/accepts feedback from supervisors
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Has transportation to and from camp daily
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Can bring a personal laptop to camp on a daily basis
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Familiar with Google Drive and Google Apps
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Able to visually and physically monitor child safety
-
Physically active- can run, climb stairs, etc. to help monitor children
-
Excellent listening skills
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Lift/carry 25 pounds
Clinical Practicum Program Requirements:
Enrolled in a university speech-language pathology program.
Background and reference checks: For those age 18 and over, applicants must receive favorable results from a nationwide criminal background check before working with children. A reference check will be conducted.
Attend Daily Staff Meetings: Each morning and afternoon, staff meet to discuss best practice strategies to support campers and daily announcements. Volunteers attend the meeting but no preparation for the meeting is needed.
Training Videos: 10 hours of online CYY training modules and 1online meeting before being onsite
Position: Fieldwork Level I Occupational Therapy Students
1 week or more
Fieldwork Level I students are graduate students in an occupational therapy program from Pacific University. Fieldwork I students can work at camp as Team Leaders, Team Assistants, or as 1:1 Assistants to campers with more significant needs in the Buddies Program, Explorers Program, or with the Yak Apprentice Program. Their main responsibility is to observe our occupational therapist work in a variety of settings throughout camp and gain experience along the way.
*Due to Covid Safety Protocols we are only accepting graduate students that are fully immunized.
Fieldwork Level 1 Skills/Requirements:
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Likes working with others in a dynamic team environment
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Fun, encouraging, flexible, and patient personality
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Can remain calm when faced with stressful situations/people
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Easily directed/accepts feedback from supervisors
-
Has transportation to and from camp daily
-
Can bring a personal laptop to camp on a daily basis
-
Familiar with Google Drive and Google Apps
-
Able to visually and physically monitor child safety
-
Physically active- can run, climb stairs, etc. to help monitor children
-
Excellent listening skills
-
Lift/carry 25 pounds
Fieldwork I Program Requirements:
Enrolled in Pacific University's graduate program for occupational therapy.
Background and reference checks: For those age 18 and over, applicants must receive favorable results from a nationwide criminal background check before working with children. A reference check will be conducted.
Attend Daily Staff Meetings: Each morning and afternoon, staff meet to discuss best practice strategies to support campers and daily announcements. Volunteers attend the meeting but no preparation for the meeting is needed.
Training Videos: 10 hours of online CYY training modules and 1 zoom meeting before being onsite.
Our college and teen student staff come from many schools in and out of state for this unique experience!
Can you find your school on this list of camp counselors and interns? If not, be the first from your school to join us!
Camp Yakety Yak is an amazing program that effectively educates and accepts kids of all abilities while placing great emphasis on interprofessional collaboration. The staff works as a cohesive team to teach kids how to do the same! I think that makes CYY special.
- Nick B., Medical Student at Creighton University, 2018
The PSU graduate program in speech-language pathology is so fortunate to partner with Camp Yakety Yak. Every year, our graduates and undergraduates are transformed by the experience of working at Camp. They learn how to support kids with social communication goals while having so much fun. They learn that therapy is not just hard work, but also full of moments of joy and connection. PSU loves Camp Yakety Yak!
-Claudia Meyer, Clinic Director, Portland State University