Rooster Tales is returning in 2026!
Rooster Tales is an inclusive theatre camp for young autistic actors, ages 10-14

Give4Garnet 2026: During Give 4 Garnet, you can help Rooster Tales Camp grow from a powerful one-week summer experience into a year-round support program for autistic youth. This groundbreaking partnership between USC’s theatre education program and the Carolina Autism and Neurodevelopment (CAN) Research Center blends research-based practice with the transformative power of the arts, helping young actors build confidence, creativity, and essential social and emotional skills. 
Your support keeps this program free for families, gives USC students invaluable hands-on experience, and creates a space where campers discover themselves as performers, collaborators, and friends. With your support, we can expand the stage — and the impact — for students across our community. Visit the official website to donate today!

• Stage Hand - $50 - Purchase materials for students to have on hand (noise cancelling headphone, fights, etc)
• Actor - $100 - Support one graduate student for a week of support work
• Director - $200 - Support one camper for a semester of weekly sessions
• Producer - $300 - Sponsor one camper for a summer program

When:  June 8th-12th (Pre-Teens/Teenagers)
             June 15th-19th (Elementary)

Location: TBD

Cost: Thanks to a grant from the SC Arts Commission, there is no cost for this camp.
​The Department of Theatre and Dance and the Carolina Autism and Neurodevelopment (CAN) Research Center at University of South Carolina are collaborating to offer a new camp as part of the Summer Drama Conservatory. The camp will be open for students with a range of support needs, including students who are minimally-speaking and those with other processing disorders. Through interactive theatre activities, improvisation, role-play, imagination, singing, and dancing, students will learn about theatre while practicing social interactions, empathy, movement, conversation skills (as appropriate), and confidence development. 
Class Size: The classes will be no larger than 15 students. The teachers are experienced theatre makers and educators who have considerable backgrounds working with students on the spectrum. There will also be graduate student aids as well as high school helpers. The student teacher ratio will be no larger than 2:1. The small class sizes will allow actors to receive individualized attention as well as opportunities to consistently practice life-skills. We invite family-supported child aids to come to the camp as well.   
Accommodations: Sensory supports, quiet rooms, visual schedules, individualized goal setting, peer and video role modeling. We develop a predictable routine for the students and we invite students and their families to come to the location the week prior to camp so they can see the space and know what to predict when they arrive on the first day of camp.
Curriculum: The camp focuses on a Social/Emotional Learning frameworks that encourages students to communicate, collaborate and celebrate with each other. The theatre is an excellent way for students to learn about a character’s perspectives, what the character wants, and how they can go about getting it. Research shows the tremendous impacts that the theatre can have on students on the spectrum. We hope to see you and your actor at Rooster Tales!

B-RAD Lab is conducting a research study together with Rooster Tales

Before camp

Surveys to complete will be mailed or emailed

• Parents: <60 minutes (earn $10)
• Campers (on-site, working with our research team): <30 minutes (earn $10)

During camp, we will observe and record what campers do in two ways: (1) hand-coding "live" during the camp, (2) by reviewing video recordings of the camp.  

At the end of camp

• Parents are invited to join a focus group
• Campers have the option to complete <15 minutes of surveys (earn $5). Campers can work with our research team to complete

What to expect

• Campers will arrive by 9 am each day of Rooster Tales. They can bring snacks, fidget toys, other support needs, and activities for break times. 
• The first day, we will start with paperwork for each camper. We will have research staff on hand to help students complete their paperwork.
• Each day, we will alternate between ~45 minutes for activities (e.g., theater games, sharing) and ~10-15 minutes for breaks.
• At the end of the respective weeks on the last day of camp (Friday, June 12th /  Friday June 19th),  Rooster Tales campers will have a Sharing Day (10-10:30 am).  Parents are invited to join for this!

Meet-the-teachers

Example of one of the theatre games

Will be updated when teachers are confirmed!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Where will the camp be and what are the dates/times?

• A: Rooster Tales Summer Camp is Monday through Friday (June 8-12, June 15-19th) from 9am to 12pm. The camp will be located on campus at soon-to-be-determined location. We have a video above showing what parking and drop-off options are available!

Q: What should we expect at the camp/what do the activities look like?

• A: An agenda of what our camp days would look like should have been emailed to you. Please contact our coordinator (information provided below) if you would like a copy of the camp agenda sent to you. We have a video above that shows a few examples of the activities campers will be doing!

Q: Will you be sending pictures or videos about the location?

• A: Part of the video above shows the inside of the theater and the space where we will be working with the campers!

Q: Can we pack snacks for our kid, or will it be provided? Is there a snack break?

• A: Parents will pack snacks for them to bring to camp. Please let us know if your camper has any food allergies or restrictions. We will provide snack breaks.

Q: Can we stay for the first day of camp and watch?

• A: Yes, you are welcome to stay for any of the days of the camp! We would encourage parents to stay on Friday to experience the entire camp and Sharing Day.

Q: Where will we be parking, and do we need a parking pass?

• A: You can use the parking lot across the street from the building and walk with your camper across the street for drop off/pick up. We cannot provide a parking pass. If you plan on staying for any days except Friday, you will have to park at the meters and pay (you can also pay using Passport Parking). Please check your email for full details about parking.
  

Q: Can we come in for the first camp day/any one of the camps days and take pictures?

• A: You are welcome to take pictures of your camper during any of the days of camp.
  

Q: Is there an option for late pick-up?

• A: As long as you inform our coordinator 24 hours before camp starts and which days, yes! The latest time to pick up your camper would be 12:45pm. Please notify us if you will be arriving past that time.

For more questions, please contact our lab.
​Email: [email protected]
Phone: (803) 470-5776

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