Camp Journal
AAC Camp = connection, creativity, and communication.
During Week 4 our campers explored describing words, discovering how adjectives help us paint clearer pictures, tell richer stories, and share what we're thinking with others. Whether we were reading, writing, cooking, creating, or playing together, there were opportunities to notice, compare, describe, and communicate.
We continued building language through shared experiences, modeling, and meaningful conversations while celebrating every child's unique way of participating. Campers supported one another, tried new things, and reminded us that communication grows best in a community where everyone has something valuable to say.
As we head into our final week together, we're grateful for the laughter, the learning, and the relationships that continue to make AAC Camp such a special place.
Week 1 | People + Animals
July 6–9, 2026
Our summer adventure began with smiles, new friendships, and lots of opportunities to communicate!
During our first week together, campers became familiar with camp routines, explored our new home in Holyoke, and began building relationships with peers, graduate student clinicians, and staff.
Together we read There's a Bear on My Chair, sang songs, made homemade dog treats, became fingerprint detectives, and discovered that communication happens everywhere; from cooking and science to music, movement, and play.
Week 1 Vocabulary
These words were woven throughout our shared reading, writing, science, music, cooking, and conversations as campers practiced describing, requesting, commenting, asking questions, and getting to know one another.
1
Throughout the week, campers talked about what objects are, what we use them for, where we find them, and how they help us. These vocabulary words came alive in literacy activities, scavenger hunts, science experiments, cooking, music, movement, and play.
2
Week 2 | Things We Use
July 13–16, 2026
During Week 2, campers became investigators as we explored the everyday objects that help us learn, play, eat, read, and communicate.
We continued building literacy through shared reading and writing while becoming scientists with our "What's in the Box?" mystery investigations.
Campers also enjoyed making Pudding in a Bag, practicing teamwork, following directions, making choices, and describing what they observed throughout the week.
Week 2 Vocabulary
3
Week 3 | Things We Do
July 20–23, 2026
Week 3 of AAC Summer Camp is in the books, and what a fun week it was!
This week's theme was Actions, as we explored words like run, sit, sleep, play, cut, swim, write, read, and cook through meaningful, hands-on experiences all week long.
During literacy, campers read engaging stories, participated in shared reading, and helped create their own predictable chart writing pieces. The best stories are often the silliest, and together we discovered that playing with language is a wonderful way to build communication, literacy, and confidence.
Cooking gave everyone opportunities to cook, cut, read recipes, follow directions, and communicate with teammates while creating something delicious together.
Across science, art, music, movement, and outdoor activities, campers were encouraged to talk about what they were doing, what others were doing, and what they wanted to do next. Every activity became an opportunity to model language, make choices, solve problems, and connect with one another.
Behind every game, craft, recipe, and story is intentional teaching. Our goal isn't simply to learn vocabulary words; it's to help campers use those words to communicate, share ideas, build friendships, and participate more fully in the world around them.
We're so proud of all of the growth we've seen halfway through camp and can't wait to see what Week 4 has in store!
Week 3 Vocabulary
Week 4 Vocabulary
4
Week 4 | Things We Use
July 27–30, 2026
This week we explored the power of describing words! Our campers discovered how words like big, hot, red, wet, and sad help us share more complete ideas, tell better stories, and communicate more clearly.
From books and predictable chart writing to cooking, science, art, music, and movement, every activity became an opportunity to notice, compare, describe, and connect. We modeled descriptive language throughout the day, helping campers build longer messages, expand their vocabulary, and express their own unique ideas using speech, AAC, gestures, writing, and every other form of communication.
One of the greatest joys of camp is watching communication grow naturally through shared experiences. As our campers continue to use new words and connect them in meaningful ways, they are building confidence, relationships, and a stronger voice.
We can't believe we're heading into our final week together!
