Neurodiverse Pathfinders Summer Camp

Featuring daily field trips and fun in San Francisco for all 2nd–5th graders, empowering self-love, self-knowledge, and social skills.

Join us for a summer experience deepening connection with self, nature, and others.

4:1 Coach-to-Camper Ratio

Our team is deeply attentive to each child's strengths, learning style, and preferences.

Safety & Expertise

Every Camp Coach is fingerprinted, CPR certified and has personal and professional experience empowering neurodiverse youth.

Neurodiversity as Strength

Sensory breaks, movement, and personal choices are part of our culture rather than exceptions.

Sample Daily Rhythm

Our six-hour days follow an intentional rhythm while remaining flexible to respond to interests and needs.

Activities during the day may include Skill Sharing, Weekly Showcases, Expressive and Visual Arts (ukulele, percussion, painting, movement, crafts), Cooperative Games (sports and swimming, treasure hunts, ax throwing), Nature exploration, gardening and play, volunteerism and Harmony Practices such as mindfulness, yoga, martial arts, journaling, leadership, origami and airplanes, ancestor and land acknowledgements, and more all depending on student interest.

Time	Activity
8:45–9:00	Pre-camp drop off & play
9:00–9:15	Arrival & play
9:15–9:45	Check-in & social-emotional learning
9:45–9:55	Break
9:55–12:55	Transportation, field trip, lunch & nature play
12:55–1:55	Arts & skill share planning
1:55–2:05	Break
2:05–2:45	Leadership & choice time
2:45–3:00	Check-out, mindfulness, appreciations, reflect on growth and next day preview
3:00–4:30	Coaches planning to adapt to student needs, collaborate and communicate highlights with parents

We want you and your child to feel comfortable and connected before camp. A week before camp starts, you’ll receive an orientation video to walk you through what to expect. If you have any questions along the way, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We will host an optional meet and greet with our coaches every Monday leading up to camp, starting at 8:15 AM.

Camp Dates

Select 1 or more weeks · $1,200/week

Week 1

June 15-19

Week 2

June 22-26

Week 3

June 29-July 3

Week 4

July 6-10

We Believe

When children are respected and valued, they thrive. When they know and love all parts of themselves, they are unstoppable.

We know the world needs all our children, especially those with unique, extraordinary minds.

Hours

9 AM - 3 PM

Who

All 2nd-5th Graders
(Fall 2026)

Location

Everett Middle School 450 Church St., S.F.
(Drop off/Pick-up entrance on 17th St.)

Questions?

510-600-0456
Contact@neurodiversepathfinders.com

Growing

Natural leaders

Neurodiverse Pathfinders was created especially for unique children. When children trust their authentic way of being rather than performing for approval, we’ve observed amazing things emerge, not despite their differences, but because of them.

The problem, as we see it: Too often, schools, adults, and peers repeat subtle but impactful messages urging children to fit in, adjust, and mask. Even “gold standard,” evidence-based therapeutic programs can unintentionally pressure children into socially defined boxes. We know that when children hide their true selves, they risk believing their natural way of being is wrong. This belief can linger into adulthood, affecting relationships, learning, self-worth, and life choices.

What we offer: Through intentional coaching in an environment where children are truly seen and celebrated, they strengthen the confidence to trust their own path. Children are affirmed that their unique way of thinking, feeling, and experiencing the world isn’t something to fix, it’s something to lead with.

Difference doesn't mean deficient!

We believe that being different is not a deficit to be corrected, but a way of experiencing the
world. We equip children with the tools to:

Understand the "Why"

We support children to decode their behaviors, moving from shame to curiosity and confidence.

Self-Advocate

We teach children to articulate their needs with dignity and respect.

Hold Boundaries

We deeply respect community AND maintain respect for individual needs.

Growing internal resources

Listening to Body Wisdom

We teach students to recognize their sensory signals without judgment. What does overstimulation feel like? How do we slow down? When do we need to move more and consider others at the same time? We offer mindful practices respecting each camper’s needs, empowering them to make decisions based on knowledge of self. At the same time, we help them recognize their interconnection with the community and environment.

Ancestral Roots

Everyone has ancestors, even if their names are unknown. We invite campers to connect with the land they’re on and consider their lineage as a valuable resource. We support children to check in with the seven directions (the cardinal directions and above, below, and within) to increase their awareness of self, others, and the environment. We remind children that they belong to a lineage of resilience and greatness that supports them in being here in the world, just as they are.

Meet the Coaches

We are educators and therapists who were called to this work as Coaches, and we show up bringing our whole selves. We are relatives, inspired by the ancestral tradition of inafa’maolek, a Chamorro word from Guam and the Mariana Islands translated to mean to make good and move toward harmony. We see Neurodiverse Pathfinders Summer Camp as a movement toward harmony. Our roots are of African, Cherokee, CHamoru, Filipina, and European descent. We have all been connected to San Francisco throughout our lives and can navigate the city with ease. It is in the legacy of our Nanas (mothers) that we are committed to the holistic development of ALL children, now and for generations to come.

20 + years supporting youth

Shauna “Peace” Castro-McDaniel, M.A., LMFT

Coach Peace, Lead Coach

Peace founded Be Love Community Counseling to provide a safe space for those who have been oppressed and marginalized including those who have neurodivergent and intersecting identities. As a woman with ADHD, a trauma and resilience specialist with 20+ years of mindfulness practice, she co-created three summer camps that center youth development. She’s grateful to be a mother, a wife and to work so closely with relatives she loves. She’s looking forward to playful experiences in nature this summer.

37 Years in Education

Verna Castro, M.A.

Coach Castro, Lead Coach

Verna has worked in SFUSD for 37 years as teacher, administrator, athletic director and coach. She holds degrees from USF, Stanford and UC Berkeley in education and urban education and leadership. Skilled at adapting Physical Education to all learners and creating fun challenges she co-created Neurodiverse Nature Navigators camp with Peace and Yasear through Inafamaolek.us. She is the proud Nana of two brilliant boys and looks forward to Coaching campers through many movement games and obstacle courses this summer.

38 Years in education

Glenn Castro

Coach Glenn, Lead Coach

Glenn has served as a Student Advisor at SFUSD for nearly three decades. He teaches martial arts (Shotokan), ukulele, and restorative practices and has coached youth sports and facilitated First PASS (Promoting Achievement in School Though Sport). He is a founding member of Inafamaolek.us with Coach Castro and Peace and he previously created a summer camp with Coach Linda. He is a father, grandfather, great-grandpa and husband and when he’s called on professionally and personally to fix things, he’s skilled involving youth with hands on learning experiences each step of the way. He looks forward to supporting camper-led projects such as the student led showcase.

28 Years in education

Linda Castro

Coach Linda, Lead Coach

Linda has served as a School Administrative Assistant in SFUSD for 28 years and is a YMCA after-school program leader. She is a co-founder of a 10-year city exploration summer camp in San Francisco with Coach Glenn. In addition to bringing her warmth to campers, she was an integral part of operations, overseeing the bookkeeping and administrative needs. She is a mother of two daughters, ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren and she’s looking forward to fun with crafting this summer.

Camp Support

brainchild behind 2 summer camps

Yasear

Coach Yas, Advisor

One of Yasear’s many strengths is creativity. He had an idea and brainstormed with this Nana (grandma) about a summer camp following a resilient year in school, and then the camp came to life successfully. Now he’s actively planning and he looks forward to new experiences and co-creating with other leaders. He will be joining camp with peers but also is a Jr. Coach when it’s time to play capture the flag so he’s prepared to share the game with everyone that wants to play.

service dog in training

Guaiya “Paddington”

Camp Pup

Paddington is a puppy who has already started helping his person in addition to sitting in therapy sessions and visited schools. He will be present throughout most of the camp. Campers will be welcome to pet and play with him on most occasions.

Ready to Join the Neurodiverse Pathfinders?

Spaces are limited. Apply today for June 15 – July 10, 2026 in San Francisco.

Neurodiverse Pathfinders Summer Camp · Co-Create Harmony, LLC
1151 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 208D, Alameda, CA 94502
510-600-0456 · Contact@neurodiversepathfinders.com
instagram.com/neurodiversepathfinders