Yak Apprentice
ages 16–18 | $1975/ four week program
The Yak Apprenticeship Program is a four-week intensive work experience program. The program is a unique opportunity for young adults to focus on "soft skills" necessary for success in a job as well as everyday life, with "point of performance" job readiness instruction supervised by professionals.
While in the program, apprentices will receive direct instruction from masters-degree level professionals on appropriate social communication at work, self-advocacy, and appropriate emotional regulation when faced with more challenging workplace situations. Since the goal is building independence for work, dedicated one-to-one assistants are not provided.
Each apprentice will have the opportunity to learn skills in an area that interests them. With support, Yak Apprentices will assist as much as possible in day-to-day operations of camp and learn job skills necessary to be a contributing employee and co-worker. There are daily staff meetings along with mid and final reviews with a supervisor.
Apprenticeship Hours
10:00am-3:00pm
Apprentices have two,15-minute breaks and a 30-minute lunch every day
Pre-Camp Meeting
Orientation for Guardians and Yak Apprentices
Date: Coming Soon
Eligibility Criteria
Participants must have the following skills in order to meaningfully participate in the Yak Apprenticeship Program:
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Pass a criminal background check (18 and over) and/or reference check to ensure the individual’s ability to interact safely and respectfully in our setting;
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Follows rules, compliant to authority figures, overall;
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Can stay calm and safe when faced with stressful situations;
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Trustworthy, honest;
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Kind-hearted, helpful nature;
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Enjoy being around children
Department Options
We spend the first week of the program learning about our program participants, their interests and goals, and then explore the various apprenticeship options. We have many areas to match our apprentices to and they are supported as much as they need, with a gradual release model used to help them learn to be independent in their job. This may look different for every camper as we take their needs and comfort level into account. Here is a list of some of the apprentice jobs that we have had in the past:
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"Yak Shack" Snack Store worker
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Office Helper
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Housekeeping
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Class Assistant
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Recess Activity Leader
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Photographer
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Mail Delivery
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Tech Assistant
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Supply Room Assistant
Goals and Learning Outcomes
Development of "soft skills" including executive functioning and social communication skills are at the heart of the Yak Apprenticeship program. We know that 4-weeks will not “fix” deficits in these areas, but we expect to “move the needle” toward greater independence in these skills:
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Communication
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Leadership
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Critical thinking
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Listening
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Adaptability
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Organization
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Teamwork
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Punctuality
Yak Apprentice Staff
Camp Coach
Camp Coaches are college students with specific training and interest in clinical or educational fields who provide necessary scaffolding for apprentices to successfully meet expectations for the job.
Department Supervisors
The Department Supervisor delegates tasks and provides feedback to the apprentice. Apprentices help the Department Supervisor to complete duties that keep the camp functioning efficiently; such as classroom materials preparation, setting up or cleaning different camp spaces, or helping children participate in camp activities.
Yak Apprentice Coordinator
The Yak Apprentice Coordinator is a masters-level professional who works with a Yak Apprentice Speech-Language Pathologist to deliver job-related social skill instruction in large groups or in one to one meetings with an apprentice. Additionally, the YA Supervisors are in charge of coordinating department placements, training and supervising Camp Coaches and Apprentices. The YA Coordinators call and run staff meetings, arrange special programming each week, and conduct mid-term and final reviews.
Directors
Directors provide general supervisory support to Yak Apprentices, Camp Coaches and Department Supervisors and ensure that camp resources (i.e., staff and supplies) are used appropriately to support apprentices.
Course Components
Yak Apprentice Online Training
Each Apprentice will complete a brief training about policies and procedures at camp, as well as information specific to each apprenticeship.
Yak Apprentice Pre-Camp Online Meetings
Orientation: date coming soon!
Yak Apprentice Skills & Interest Survey
Each Apprentice will complete a survey to gather information about their interests, skills and challenges to assist camp directors in placing apprentices in the right department and provide appropriate support.
4-Week Full Time Apprenticeship
Apprentices attend from 10:00am-3:00pm, Monday-Friday, for four consecutive weeks.
Mid & Final Reviews with Supervisors
Each Apprentice will have mid and final reviews with their supervisors to identify strengths and areas for growth. Each Apprentice will have 2 goals they are working on. One goal will relate to the departmental knowledge/skills they are developing and the other goal will relate to a more general job. Apprentices complete self-ratings on their goals. Each week progress toward each goal will be reviewed with the apprentice based on feedback from the Department Supervisor and other staff. A final review will be held at the end of the Yak Apprentice’s service with the Camp Coach & Director of Special Programs using a rating scale (copy will be provided).
Guardian Participation and Support
To help staff plan for the individual goals, strengths and needs of apprentices, parents complete an online questionnaire when registering for camp. Parents provide transportation, and lunch/snack.
Apprenticeship Levels
Ideally, Apprentices move through levels of independence as the individual builds job readiness skills and confidence in many forms of social interaction over time. Some apprentices will be able to demonstrate this growth in one summer's 4-week sequence or over consecutive summers. Camp Yakety Yak staff provide necessary supports so apprentices have a successful learning experience!
Stage 1: Novice Level (Requires 75% or more supervision)
The Novice or beginner has little to no experience in the situations in which they are expected to perform. The Novice lacks confidence to demonstrate safe practice and requires continual verbal and physical cues. Practice is within a prolonged time period and he/she is unable to use discretionary judgment. Knowledge is developing and Novices are not expected to be proficient in asking for help, rather they receive maximum (consistent) support from supervisors in terms of oral and written directions and other scaffolding.
Stage 2: Advanced Beginner to Competent (75-50% supervision)
Because it can be difficult to delineate exact levels of competence, Stage 2 is a wide range of accuracy and developing independence. Apprentices at the Advanced Beginner to Competent stage demonstrate acceptable performance because the apprentice has had prior experience in actual situations. He/she is efficient and skillful in parts of the departmental duties, requiring frequent to occasional supportive cues/reminders. May/may not be within a delayed time period. Apprentices are expected to know when and how to ask for assistance at this stage, instead of waiting for a supervisor check-in.
Stage 3: Proficient (25-50% supervision)
Apprentices at the Proficient stage has learned from experience what typical events to expect, what work needs to be completed and can make plans to respond to these events. The apprentice begins to demonstrate decision making and problem solving skills and so receives few supportive cues/reminders. Apprentices at the Proficient stage use systems that have been developed to assist them independently.
Let Camp Yakety Yak help your young adult develop the "soft skills" that employers expect!
Employee soft skills include a person’s attitude to their job, their work ethic, how they interact with others, how they solve problems and how well they resolve conflict. Simple things like making eye contact, expressing empathy, exhibiting emotional intelligence and showing old-fashioned courtesy as well as offering a firm handshake and taking time to communicate face to face. The problem in the world of work now is that these skills, previously learned as a natural part of growing up, are getting lost as more and more communication happens via the more impersonal text, email, and social media.
For more information:
https://www.nationalsoftskills.org/special-education-students-graduating-couch/
