YouthCare Transitions:  Saturday Explorations for Teens

Saturday Explorations is a Saturday afternoon program which offers youth aged 13-19 the opportunity to develop and practice daily living skills in a structured, supportive environment.  Based on the premise that youth learn best through “real-life” experiences, Saturday Explorations offers a community field trip on each program day.  Youth have the opportunity to learn about goal setting, money management, leisure planning, personal safety, travel planning, community resources, and more through planning social activities.  Self-awareness and Social Skill education is integrated throughout the program curriculum.  Activities take place independently and in small groups with a high staff-to-youth ratio to provide teens with individualized social coaching.  Transitions: Saturday Explorations for Teens is based in Charlestown, with field trips throughout the Boston Area.  Applications are accepted starting July 1, 2009 for the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 Programs.

We are currently accepting applications for the Winter/Spring 2010 Saturday Explorations Program.

Please click on the links below to view more information

Program Goals

Transitions: Saturday Explorations for Teens was developed to meet the needs of adolescents with social cognition challenges, including Asperger’s Syndrome, High Functioning Autism, and Nonverbal Learning Disorders.  Based on the premise that teens learn best through “real-life” experiences, Transitions offers community-based opportunities to practice daily living skills with staff support. Integrated throughout the curriculum is social skill and self-awareness education.  Its goals include:

• To give teens a fun filled experience in a structured supportive setting.
• To help teens develop leisure planning and daily living competencies.
• To provide direct feedback to teens about the use of communication, organizational, and social skills.
• To increase teens’ social and problem-solving skills through hands-on activities.
• To offer teens varied experiences in community settings.
• To create an age-appropriate environment that supports a sense of empowerment, in which self-monitoring and self-advocacy can be discussed and practiced.
• To be responsive to feedback provided by teen participants and their families about their needs.

Schedule

Fall 2009 program includes six 4-hour sessions:
October 24th-December 12th
Saturdays from 12:30pm-4:30pm
(closed November 7th and 28th)

Winter/Spring 2010 Program includes Eight 4-hour sessions:
February 27th-May 8th
(closed Mar 13th, Apr 3rd and Apr 24th)
Saturdays from 12:30pm-4:30pm

Program Description

Transitions: Saturday Explorations for Teens is a therapeutic skill-focused Saturday program for teens, providing structured and unstructured activities, daily living skill instruction, field trip experiences, team building activities and therapeutic groups.

• Small groups with high staff-to-youth ratio
• Instruction in Daily Living Skills
• Goal Setting
• Leisure Planning
• Money Management
• Travel Planning
• Personal Safety
• Community Resources
• Field Trips
• Most trip planning by teens
• Example field trips include shopping in Harvard Square, going to a movie,  bowling, visiting an arcade, touring Fenway Park, visiting the MIT Museum, or visiting the Harvard Museum of Natural History
• Hidden Curriculum of Daily Living
• Thinking about the unwritten rules of home and community life
• Teambuilding Exercises
• Therapeutic Group Activities
• Assessing Individual Strengths and Weaknesses
• Problem Solving of Challenges
• Social Coaching & Instruction for Group Work

Back to top

Teen Participants

Saturday Explorations is designed for adolescents aged 13-19 in 2009.  Typically, our participants have diagnoses including Asperger’s Syndrome, High Functioning Autism, or Nonverbal Learning Disorder, and have had success being supported through direct instruction.  Additionally, teen participants should be interested in learning new skills and motivated to become more independent.

Program Staff

YouthCare programs are overseen by Dr. Scott McLeod, Executive Director and Psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital.  Transitions is planned and coordinated by Kelley Challen-Wittmer, Ed.M., C.A.S.,  Director of Teen Programs.  Transitions staff have previous education and/or experience in areas including: special education, speech and language, occupational therapy, school counseling, employment training, vocational rehabilitation, social work and other mental health professions. 

Application and Tuition Fees

Application Procedure:Teens and families may submit an application directly or can be referred by human service providers.  Once application materials are received, they are reviewed for potential fit with the program.  While spaces are available, applicants who may be a good fit are scheduled for an interview.

Application Fee: A $55 non-refundable fee is required at time of application.

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling admissions basis. Space is limited.

Application Form: To apply, both the YouthCare Standard School Year Application and the Transitions Saturday Explorations Supplemental Packet (pdf) need to be submitted. Applications are accepted on a rolling admissions basis.

Back to top

Location

The program is based out of our office in Charlestown, MA.
Charlestown Office: 15 Green Street, 3rd Floor, Charlestown, MA 02129

Contact Information

For additional information please contact:
YouthCare, 73 High Street, Charlestown, MA 02129
Telephone: (617) 726-0060
Fax: (617) 726-0064
mghyouthcare@partners.org

back to top