Announcing the College Internship Program's Summer Program

Announcing the College Internship Program’s Summer Program

We are pleased to announce our brand new summer session for students ages 16-19, coming this summer, June 19 – July 3rd, 2009. The College Internship Program has four national centers of excellence and operates as a year-round program for students with Asperger’s, Nonverbal Learning Disabilities and other learning differences.

Founded in 1983, it has grown from Lee, Massachusetts, to Brevard, Florida, to Bloomington, Indiana, to its newest center in Berkeley, which opened in July of 2007. This comprehensive two-week summer overview program introduces students to an array of CIP services while they enjoy a real slice of college life.

There is no better place to be than Berkeley in the summertime with its temperate weather, diverse population and culturally rich atmosphere, driven in part by the world-renowned University of California where our students will have this unique opportunity to stay.

Housing is provided in beautiful new dormitories with plenty of space, private bath areas, comfortable lounges and classrooms within the same complex. Students will be treated to the award winning food of the cafeteria located on the first floor. Laundry facilities and computers are also available for student use.

There is 24/7 security in the building and CIP staff will be staying overnight to ensure a high level of safety for all our participants. Summer housing is easily accessible to the main CIP Berkeley Center, site of the year-round program, public transit and historic Telegraph Avenue with its myriad of shops and restaurants brimming with the sights and sounds of college life.

Students have access to campus recreation passes where they can swim in heated pools, use fitness equipment and exercise as part of maintaining a healthy life style. We will also discuss various ways to minimize stress and to stay connected to other students as a way of building community.

Transitioning to college means learning how to manage more independently and students will gain skills and information that is invaluable as they think about life beyond high school. Students are going to be cooking, learning how to do laundry and light cleaning while learning effective time management strategies in order to juggle ever-changing priorities.

This first CIP summer session will provide a window into the national College Internship Program training modules such as reframing, executive functioning and social thinking skills building. We plan to reinforce our curriculum with wide-ranging activities that can allow students to steadily build these independent skills throughout the entire two weeks.

Students are going to be working on crafting their “person-centered plans,” another signature piece of the year-round CIP curriculum. We intend to support all participants with CIP’s expert facilitation by staff familiar with the both the strengths and challenges faced by a typical CIP student.

Being in our CIP summer session also means participating in a lengthy list of fun activities that will include educational and fun outings, designed to build community and social skills all around the San Francisco Bay. Students will begin with a day trip to Six Flags Amusement Park, visit Fisherman’s Wharf and Alcatraz, enjoy bowling and movie nights, attend a professional sports event and explore spectacular museums and nearby parks. We will conclude with students giving brief presentations of their “person-centered plan and a graduation ceremony.

Included in this mailing is the pertinent information you need to get started and the link to the application form and FAQs, www.collegeinternshipprogram.com/summer.

It has been our pleasure this fall to welcome Wendy Byrnes to our staff as the Summer Program Coordinator. Please feel free to contact Wendy at 510-704-4476, x 102, wbyrnes@cipberkeley.org with any further questions.

We expect to reach capacity for this program early and so students and their families are encouraged to get their application in process as quickly as possible.

Thank you very much for your interest and for sharing this information with others who could benefit from CIP’s summer session.

Sincerely,

Caroline Wheeler
National Admissions Director

Janet Miller, MA, CET
Berkeley Center, Program Director