For many kids, summer camp is a chance to play sports, explore hobbies, and hang out with friends. But for kids who stutter, the Sioris Family University of Minnesota Kids Who Stutter Camp isn’t just a typical day camp, it's a chance to build confidence, community, and family.

Erin Bodner, camp co-founder and director, says the inspiration came from her own experience attending summer camp. 

“Summer camp played a pivotal role in my own childhood development, and I wanted to combine that with the special considerations that come with being a kid who stutters.”

Bodner co-founded the camp in 2009 as a graduate student in speech-language pathology through the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences in the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts.

The camp takes place primarily outside or in fun locations, typically on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus or in partnership with local organizations. In previous years, campers have toured Huntington Bank Stadium, crafted in the Walter Library Toaster Makerspace, and explored the Minnesota Robotics Institute.

Bodner says these experiences let campers combine real-world communication skills with summer fun.

“They’re not on their phones, not on social media. It’s an opportunity for them to be present.”

Bodner, who also stutters, says it is very affirming for the campers to be in an environment where people who stutter are the majority. “Camp leadership and volunteers are all people who stutter, and they’re incredible role models.” 

For instance, the camp hosts a teen mentor day, where camp alumni return to lead group activities and discuss challenges they have faced, such as dealing with bullying and teasing. The teen mentors also hold a panel discussion with campers’ parents and caregivers.

“We aim to help our campers build confidence in their communication skills and to help them recognize the importance of their voices,” Bodner says.

Family, friends, and allies

In the last several years, the camp curriculum has been updated to better suit the needs of campers. Previously, the camp was held in two half-day sessions for different age groups. Now, the camp meets all day on weekdays. Campers range from students entering 5th to 9th grade. 

“We felt that in this age group, the campers are more open to having deeper conversations about the social-emotional aspects of being a kid who stutters,” Bodner says.

The camp is largely made affordable because of the generosity of the Sioris family. Scholarships are offered on a need basis to ensure students of all backgrounds get the opportunity to participate.

Another clever update comes in the new camp motto, an adaption of the Golden Gophers football coach PJ Fleck’s motto “Row the Boat.” Campers are taught to “keep rowing.” “No matter life’s weather, it’s your choice to keep rowing!”

Bodner also decided to extend end-of-camp reception and discussion panels for parents, caregivers, and community members. Extending the receptions allows parents more time to see the progress their children have made and learn more about how they can best support them.

The receptions provide campers with an opportunity to do public speaking in front of a larger audience and to teach others how to be better listeners, communicators, and allies. Bodner recalls a camper asking to give a speech in front of the entire reception. “Their parents hadn't ever seen their child talk in front of such a large group. It was really, really moving for them to see that.”

Rebecca Lulai, the director of clinical programs in speech-language pathology who oversees the camp as part of her role at the Julia M. Davis Speech-Language-Hearing Center, recalls that poignant moment. 

“There [wasn’t] a dry eye in the room,” Lulai says. “It’s so powerful that communication is so impactful.”

 
Fostering connections

Bodner and Lulai both hope to continue to broaden the scope of both the camps and the Davis Center. “We’ve been toying with some ideas of expanding to have it be more than one week, or doing some minicamp things during the school year,” Lulai says.

Another goal is to facilitate parental communication throughout the school year. “We want parents and caregivers to create connections and stay in touch during the winter. [The] friendships campers build with each other can be very strong,” Bodner says.

She also wants to continue to partner with local organizations and U of M facilities to keep camp “camp.” 

“It’s all about creating our camp family.”

Help future campers by donating to the Sioris Family Endowment for Young People Who Stutter.