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No, this is not a speech camp or therapy where the focus is on goals and language progress. 

Our focus in Pioneer Pals is social communication skills which includes forming and building connections and friendships with peers.

Yes, we now require a 25% nonrefundable deposit to secure your child’s place in camp. This deposit will be applied to your overall cost. 

Payments can be made via credit card (MasterCard and Visa only) over the phone or in person, exact cash, or check made out to CSU East Bay with Pioneer Pals in the memo line. 

Please note that we are not a vendor for the Regional Center and cannot accept third party payments. We can, however, provide detailed invoices that can be submitted to the Regional Center for reimbursement. 

Parents or caregivers of campers will need to complete a release of liability form. Per university policy, this form must be filled out and wet signed; electronic signatures will not be accepted. Additionally, there is a photo release form. Parents or caregivers may choose to not consent to photos of their child(ren) being used by the university. This form must also be wet signed whether consent is provided or not.

Please note that a new policy has been implemented by the university in which we will require a physical photo of your child in the event of an emergency. This photo will be kept within the department and only accessible by the department administrator and camp director if it is needed. No one else will have access to this photo.

Pioneer Pals campers will be with our graduate clinicians, student volunteers, and overseen by the camp director and a camp supervisor. Both the camp director and supervisor are licensed Speech-Language Pathologists. Students that volunteer in the program are students within our department or are from other departments and have taken some childhood development courses. All volunteers must complete a background check, fingerprinting, as well as additional training. All volunteers, graduate clinicians, supervisors, and the department administrator are mandatory reporters.

We aim for the ratio of clinicians and volunteers to campers to be two to one, however, there are never more children than clinicians or volunteers.

This is a sample schedule for a typical day of camp, exact timing is subject to change as needed based on the needs of campers. Visual schedules will be provided within the space to aid transitioning, time management, and activity success.

If at any time you decide that you no longer want your child(ren) to attend camp please let us know immediately so we may offer that spot to another family.

If there are any planned vacation days let us know during your interest interview. If your child gets sick or something comes up that will result in them missing a day or more, please let us know as soon as possible.

If you are confirmed for camp and do not show up to the first day, do not respond to phone calls or emails, or notify us of your cancellation, we reserve the right to not consider your application for the following year. 

We do not pro rate for missed days or weeks. 

Yes, we offer a multiweek discount of 10% to families whose child is registered for more than one week. This discount, however, does not apply to siblings or second campers.

If you are a CSU East Bay employee you may receive a 25% discount. This will not be combined with the multiweek discount. 

Thanks to our recent partnership with the Scottish Rite Foundation we are now able to offer scholarships of up to 50% to families that meet the income requirements as determined by the City of Hayward.