The SOAR Experience: Social Skills, Outdoor Fun, Arts & Crafts & Relationships

Making friends, dancing, music, drama, games and songs.

About SOAR Experience is a Therapeutic Social Skills program conducted in an environment rich in social skills for your child who experiences the social communication and social skills challenges seen in Autism Spectrum Disorders (HFA and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities) or Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder.

Examples of SOAR Goals:

Building Relationships, Increasing Flexibility, Enhancing Perspective taking, Problem Solving, Resolving Conflicts, Coping, Successful Transitions, Improving Social Scanning, Decreasing Anxiety, Experiencing Newness and Change and Coping with Sensory Experiences.

Participating will expand skills in the following areas:

*Successfully engage with peers

*Increased understanding of nonverbal behavior (i.e. eye gaze, facial expressions, body language, personal space, voice volume/tone)

*Initiating and maintaining conversations

*Demonstrating interest in others and sharing interests appropriately

*Understanding other’s emotions and point of view, as well as responding accordingly

*Handling disagreements wisely

*Trying new things in a safe environment

*Coping with unexpected events and situations

*Scanning situations to increase social opportunity and maximize safety

*Support during exposure to sensory and motor based activities

All this while having fun!

About the Counselor in Training (CIT) Program:

The CIT program is for individuals, ages 14-24, who experience the social communication and social skills challenges seen in Autism Spectrum Disorders (HFA And Nonverbal Learning Disabilities) or Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder. CIT’s will gain a valuable vocational experience including completion of applications, interviewing experience, extensive training and daily guidance and support as they develop as they develop their work related skills. As valuable members of the team, the CIT’s will work side by side with the clinical staff in delivering an exciting camp experience to children and teens on the spectrum. There is a $600.00 application fee for the CIT program.

Each week The SOAR Experience will have a ‘theme’ such as: Anthropology Adventure, Never Stop Questioning, Color My Mind, Dancing Through The Decades, Lost in Space, Lights-Camera-Soar… Many of the activities, games and trips will incorporate the weekly theme. Participants will be provided daily snacks and one lunch per week. Family to provide lunch for remainder of the week.

SOAR Tuition: (subject to change): 6 Weeks $4,200.00/3 Weeks $2,200.00. Applications available on our website http://www.westbergen.org. Participants: 6 years old-17 years old. Counselors in Training (CIT): 14-24.

A $600.00 deposit is due at the time of application. Please complete applications in full and return with all requested records. An interview may also be required. These procedures assist in predicting whether this program is a good fit for your child. Deposit to be returned in full should applicant not be accepted or the minimal registration for the program not be met. Please note, deposits will not be returned if you withdraw from the program after being accepted. Please note there is a maximum number of participants that can be accommodated. Early application is recommended. There is also a minimum number of participants that must be registered. In the unlikely event that we do not meet the threshold number  to run the program, the full deposit or tuition paid will be refunded. Payment options: Credit cards or checks payable to West Bergen Mental Healthcare. For schools or agencies guaranteeing payments, a contract, confirmation letter, purchase order and any additional documents required by sending entity must accompany application, accompanying documents and payment to:

The SOAR Experience

c/o West Bergen Mental Healthcare

1 Cherry Lane

Ramsey, NJ 07446

*The family is responsible for transporting children to/from program. Transportation to and from trips and swims to be provided by the program.

West Bergen Mental Healthcare over 50 years in your Community:

West Bergen Mental Healthcare was founded in Ridgewood as a child guidance clinic in 1963. Over the years, the Center has expanded to provide comprehensive mental health services for children and adults in over a dozen specialty areas. Operating out of three locations in Ramsey, Ridgewood and Mahwah, NJ, this community mental health agency has played a significant role in offering quality mental health services at an affordable rate. Recognizing the growing and unmet need for counseling and psychiatric services for children throughout the county, West Bergen established the Center for Children and Youth in Ramsey in 1990. This high quality mental health center offers parents and children meaningful and effective services as they face a changing and challenging society. The Center for Children and Youth has served more than 6,000 children, adolescents and their families.

Service Locations:

West Bergen Mental Healthcare

120 Chestnut Street

Ridgewood, NJ  07450

West Bergen Center for Children and Youth

One Cherry Lane

Ramsey, NJ  07446

West Bergen Counseling Group

860 Wyckoff Avenue

Mahwah, NJ  07430

Online@www.westbergen.org

For additional information or to schedule an appointment please contact our Access Center at (201) 485-7172.

Disclaimer: This information was taken from The SOAR Experience pamphlet and I give them full credit for the information. Please call the number above for more information.