Thrive OuTside Summer Intensives

2024 Sessions in June—July

One feel-good week at Elk Rock Island in Portland, OR and one in Beaverton OR, with the developmental boost your child needs!

Your child will remember a fun-filled week of outdoor camp. You’ll remember it for the big changes you saw at home.

Outdoor occupational therapy intensives fuse the fun of summer camp with incredible progress towards your child’s therapy goals. This is 20 hours of therapy in just 5 action-packed days.

You might be wondering how to maintain — or even better, make progress with your child during the upcoming summer months
Maybe this school last year did not go as planned or you noticed your child struggling with:

  • Forming peer connections

  • Lack of confidence with movement games or when on the playground

  • Negative attention from peers because of disruptive emotions and energy

  • Rigid preferences that cause problems at home or at school 

  • Difficulty following directions 

  • Big emotions and frustrations

  • Catching up emotionally or socially after the pandemic

    Yup, sounds like your child needs a boost! 

    Actually, after the pandemic, a lot of kids are needing some extra support. 

    The Summer Intensives at Thrive Outside are for you if you want high impact and high carryover progress so your child is primed to connect with you and others!

     (Especially good, if your child itches for classic summer fun that includes a little dirt).

    This 20-hour week of occupational therapy is going to make a big difference in your summer and in your child’s future. Think hard work, big progress, and lots of summer camp glory.

    And don’t worry, groups are capped at 8 kids each, with a lead Occupational Therapist, plus co-leads and student volunteers from the clinical field. This means your child will be getting tons of individual attention. 

Summer Intensive Group Options

APRIL UPDATE:

Even if you missed pre-registration, you can still register today while our deposit is only 10$ instead of 247! Reduced deposit fee ends May 31

  • Build Social Connections.

    Supported play to promote the building blocks for Interactions with peers and family that feel spontaneous.

  • Promote Problem-solving.

    Exploring options and trying new ways of doing to promote the flexible thinking that’s needed to overcome challenges or work with others.

  • The Gift of Confidence.

    Watch your child’s confidence bloom with each day. Through trying new — sometimes hard — things your child will uncover new abilities to manage their body, interactions, and emotions.

Details on our 5 summer intensives:

  • June 17-21 Oak Adventurers at Elk Rock 10:00-2:00

    Join us for exploration, survival skills, foraging, and of course social skills, team-building, and body awareness and confidence!

  • June 24-28: Sensory Fun and Social Skills in SW Portland

    This one is for our little ones! Sign your 3-5 year old up for sensory exploration, socialization and regulation skills. It's going to be lovely.

  • July 8-12: Elementary Age Kids Yoga and Mindfulness/Self-Regulation in the Great Outdoors with Dr. Diana

  • July 15-19: Elementary Age Kids Yoga and Mindfulness/Self-Regulation in the Great Outdoors with Dr. Diana

  • July 29 to August 2, 2024: Interoception Outside! (Elementary-age kids)

    Dr. Erin Wallace will lead participants in exploring multi-sensory opportunities through active and age-appropriate sensory-motor activities such as movement and heavy work, and exploration of arousal-altering inputs of sound, smell, taste, and touch.

    There are so many opportunities for sensory-motor play and exploration in the great outdoors which is why an interoception-based program in the outdoor environment can provide participants with valuable regulatory skills. Participants will explore their external and internal environments which research shows will provide a child with a sense of confidence, reduce stress, and support their problem-solving skills needed for self-regulation.

This absolutely impacts your child’s daily life. Connection, problem-solving, and confidence are the keys to a day with your child that flows with more joy and ease.

Investment: $947/ therapy week

Note: We want this to be as inclusive as possible while still compensating our clinicians. For families who need it, we have a payment plan option and 2 SLIDING SCALE spots and available per intensive—please contact admin@thriveoutside.net if you’d like to be considered for one!

 Get Signed Up Below!

  1. Fill out the registration form

  2. Intake call

  3. Pay registration fee

  4. Show up for camp at Elk Rock!! 

Application Process begins March 1 2024

You can’t beat the progress that comes from having fun in nature! Each day is designed with activities to support your child’s unique needs.

Small group sizes combine the fun of learning with peers while still getting personal attention from the therapist.  

Kids need time to be kids! That’s why each day includes free play for building creativity, social connections, and confidence.

  • The glory of outdoor sensory play includes unique textures, big movement, and soothing sounds.

  • A dose of risky play to encourage resilience and body awareness. 

  • Therapist-designed outdoor activities to guide your child toward their goals.

  • Mindfulness activities so your child practices body awareness, breathwork, and self-regulation for days that feel calmer. 

  • Snack time to practice manners, food preparation, following directions, and sharing. 

With our combination of support and outdoor experiences, kids feel empowered to unlock the long-term lessons that come from trying new, exciting, and sometimes hard things.

Keeping You in the Loop 

Goals That Matter to You

Intensives are more successful with a clear focus. That’s why we take the time to meet with each family to make sure everyone knows the goals we’re working towards.

Daily Updates

Our daily updates provide a refreshing way for parents to be fully engaged with our work during the intensive. Conveniently sent to you digitally, when you open your computer you’ll be greeted by clear explanations, and written support so you never wonder what’s happening with your child. 

Celebrate Growth

Every day you’ll hear about the fun your child had, but all their hard work shows up in the results at the end. Once your child’s intensive wraps up, you’ll receive a written summary that highlights their progress and any additional recommendations. 

No parent wants to see their child struggle.
We can help!

Occupational therapy that’s different in all the right ways … 

Clearly different than therapy in a clinic. Summer intensives take our highly effective groups and make them even better for your child’s summer needs. 

  • Outdoors — Absolutely nothing can replace the gifts of connection, mental wellbeing, and the sheer fun of being outdoors. We take our therapy outside because kids try harder, and feel more successful and calm just by being immersed in nature. We’ve seen kids who have struggled in other therapy settings thrive here.  

  • Intensive model — Focused effort over a short period of time makes a big difference in progress and carryover. Know your child is making big gains while still having time for summer play and vacations.

  • Designed for your child — Every kid deserves the glory of summer fun! The challenge is not every camp or activity is prepared to support kids with extra emotional or behavioral challenges. Our specially trained staff of occupational therapists ensure your child gets the exact support and guidance they need to thrive outside. 


We incorporate the therapeutic benefits of nature to help your child become more calm, coordinated and confident