Register Now for Camps, which run from June 16 to August 15

To protect himself from loud noises as a child living with autism, Max Torres relies on headphones.  But when it comes to stage fright, the second grader no longer needs them.

The Orange boy came out of his shell in 2023 and sang “This is Me” before hundreds of people at the Orange Summer Camp Talent Show.

“Max is often in a space where he wants to wear his headphones,” says Joanna Fermin, Director of Operations for the Youth Centers of Orange, a program of The Hub OC. “His mother was in tears.”

This is just one of many examples of how the city’s annual camp gives children a chance to have fun, experience new things, and, in many cases, learn bravery.

“Our goal really is that our students leave with a stronger sense of confidence, curiosity and creativity,” says Cameron Geringer-Pate, Director of Sustainability for The Hub OC.

Youth Centers of Orange has hosted summer youth programs the last six years, adding field trips to the summer activities in 2024.  Children can see a baseball game at Angel Stadium, learn about agriculture at Orange Home Grown Education Farm and dip their toes in the water at Dana Point.

Guests and mentors teach participants various skills.  In the 2024 camp, stuntwoman Nikkilette Wright, a three-time competitor on “American Ninja Warrior,” taught children tumbling, gymnastics and “stage combat,” the illusion of fighting for theatrical performance.

STEM learning also plays a part in the camp, and activities are geared toward multiple age groups.  Participants learn leadership and patience, as well as social and emotional learning.

Holiday Zimmerman, CEO of The Hub OC, says that the camp experience includes teaching children to step away from their cell phones and interact with others.

“After COVID, a lot of the younger kids are so glued to their technology that sometimes they don’t know how to shake hands and look someone in the eye,” Zimmerman says.  “We empower our kids to go introduce themselves because that’s something kids don’t typically do.”

Andrea Brooks, whose son and daughter have attended the camp since 2020, enrolled her children to give them a safe environment to interact with other children.  She has witnessed the program grow into a place where children learn about life, gain meaningful relationships and learn respect, time management and the importance of following rules.

She says her son also has a new interest in pickleball and gaming, while her daughter enjoys helping staff with the younger children thanks to the camp.

“I can’t say enough good things about Youth Centers of Orange.  From the moment my kids joined, we felt like part of a family,” Brooks says.

The camp provides additional workshops focused on career and life skills, as well as resume building and entrepreneurship for children in the seventh through tenth grades.  And college students looking to explore careers working with children can gain experience while shadowing camp directors.

The camp keeps parents in the loop through a mobile app called Procare and face-to-face interaction at the end of each day.

“It’s important for us to build relationships with kids and their families,” Zimmerman says.

Brooks agrees.  “They’ve played a key role in guiding my children through changes by helping them adapt and tackle various situations.  Youth Centers of Orange offers a safe environment for the kids to do homework, burn off some energy and enjoy some care during summer and school breaks,” she says.

The Hub OC hopes to expand the program to include multiple camp locations running simultaneously to accommodate more children and to make the program more accessible to children living in different parts of the city.

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The camp runs from June 16 through August 15.  Register online at YCOrange.org/programs/summer-camp.