Camp Chit Chat
Camp Chit Chat is a fun and socially interactive therapy program for children aged 3 ½ to 6 years old with mild-moderate speech and language delays. It’s a great way for children to keep up with essential communication skills during the summer when regular therapy services are not offered. Each camp participant will be placed in a small group (2-3 children) with same-aged peers also working on similar skills such as articulation, language, fluency, and social communication. Not every child that applies for camp will have the opportunity to be enrolled. We look at each child individually to make sure he or she will benefit from our program.
Camp Chit Chat Schedule:
-
Campers will attend one 60-minute therapy session each week with a clinician and 1-2 other children who are of similar age and with similar therapy goals. The program runs for 8 weeks, and campers must be able to attend 6 of the 8 weeks. This year's camp dates are June 8th - July 31st.
Camp Chit Chat Curriculum:
Our weekly themes transform our center into a wonderful setting for your child to develop his/her imagination while working on speech, language, social, cognitive, and motor skills. We also target early literacy skills and early handwriting skills during camp. Each weekly session builds upon the previous session and focuses on helping each child in acquiring a foundation of the following communication skills: improved articulation due to speech delays such as apraxia and phonological delays, social communication with peers and staff, receptive language skills (questions, vocabulary, concepts, grammar), expressive language skills (sentence length, vocabulary, categories, grammar, questions), and fluency of speaking.
Enrollment: Applications open March 2nd and are due by April 15th.
Please contact jtorresabundis@casrf.org for an application.
SERVICES PROVIDED
Individual Speech & Language Therapy:
This program is for children aged 3-6 who are having difficulty with speech and language skills. We evaluate and treat the following disorders: articulation, phonology, apraxia, mild-moderate receptive or expressive language delays, fluency (stuttering), and social communication. Children attend one 60-minute session per week, and parent training and home programming are provided to continue learning at home.
Reading & Writing Intervention (Brain Lab):
This program is for children in 1st - 6th grade who are delayed in their reading, spelling and writing skills. We utilize the Orton-Gillingham approach to reading intervention and students practice phonemic awareness, phonetic rules, blending and spelling through various activities. Students also work on overall fluency, vocabulary, reading comprehension, basic editing skills, and basic paragraph writing. Students attend two 90-minute sessions each week where they participate in both explicit, individual lessons and carryover lessons in group activities.
Camp Chit Chat:
This program is our summer speech therapy program for children aged 3 ½ to 6. It is an 8-week program where children attend one 60-minute session each week to work on speech and language skills with a peer in a fun "summer camp" environment. Please see the Camp Chit Chat section below for more information.
INTAKE PROCEDURE
Once we receive your online submission for an interest in our services, one of our clinicians will call you to gather more information. If your child has never received a screening or evaluation, we aim to schedule a time within 30 days for a screening of speech and language skills to see if our clinicians think therapy is warranted and to make appropriate referrals while your child is on our wait list. If your child is currently receiving therapy through a school service IEP or through a private therapist, we will not need to bring your child in for a screening until they are toward the top of our wait list. If your child has been evaluated and did not qualify for services, they can still be eligible to receive therapy at our center.
Screenings and Evaluations
Once your child is placed on our screening waitlist, we will contact you within about a month’s time in order to set an appointment at the Language Center. This evaluation appointment will take place with one of our licensed Speech-Language Pathologists and determine his or her place on our waitlist based on need.
A thorough assessment of your child’s current speech and language skills will be completed in order to determine his/her current levels of communicative abilities. Background information, medical history, educational services, parent interviews, and testing will be conducted in order to identify the specific needs of your child.
This process serves a dual purpose in determining not only if your child requires treatment but more importantly, it guides the therapist in determining the specific goals and course of your child’s therapy. Our clinicians are dedicated to providing a highly individualized therapy program to each child at our center.
OUR PROGRAMS
In operation since 1984, the center is a philanthropy of the Scottish Rite, a concordant body of the Freemasons. One of 170 RiteCare Centers across the U.S., our Center is located in downtown Santa Barbara on the 4th floor of the Masonic Center.
Improving your child’s speech and language communication is our ultimate goal and it all starts with providing individual therapy services each week. This type of therapy is a vital element of your child’s weekly program and allows your child maximum opportunity to work on his/her communication goals.
More importantly, it provides parents all the tools and essentials necessary for carrying out the skills learned in therapy each week. Each of our therapy sessions is also dedicated to speaking with parents and demonstrating specific strategies that are crucial to each child’s progress. Parents will be provided an opportunity to sit in on each session with their child or to observe through a two-way mirror and listen in on their child’s session through a speaker system. In either case, we encourage parent involvement in order to ensure steady progress and success.
— Parent of Private Therapy Client
You Can Make a Difference!
“I am so thankful for Scottish Rite and the work that they do for children that need help with speech. Julie and Summer are both so fun, patient, kind, encouraging, and loving with the children. It is truly a blessing to have this resource available to our families here in Santa Barbara!”
Speech-Language Pathologist, Center Director
Julie DeAngelis
Julie has been a Speech-Language Pathologist for over 20 years since graduating from Northern Arizona University and the University of Texas-Dallas. She holds both a Bachelor's and Master’s degree in Communicative Disorders and brings to the Center her expertise in pediatric speech and language therapy.
Julie has been at the Language Center since September 2007. She has worked in the public school system in the U.S. as well as abroad for a non-profit agency in Australia. Her passion for global work continues to take her around the world as she generously volunteers her professional time with Operation Smile. In her free time, Julie attends ceramics class, enjoys keeping fit, and loves to travel and explore different cultures.
Speech-Language Pathologist, Program Director
Summer Calvert
Summer has been a Speech-Language Pathologist for more than 20 years, earning both of her degrees in Speech-Language Pathology, graduating with her Bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and with her Master's degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. Summer also has a Dyslexia Certification in the Orton-Gillingham approach and a Dyslexia Advocate certification. Summer gained her expertise in pediatric speech and language therapy through working for the SB County Education Office for 7 years and has been a clinician at our center since 2011. She loves the connections with families and parent involvement during the sessions that center-based therapy at RiteCare provides. In her free time, she enjoys camping, hiking, cooking, rollerskating, and traveling anywhere and everywhere.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Alexa Dell
Alexa has been practicing as a speech-language pathologist for over a decade after receiving her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from San Diego State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Disorders with a Minor in Music from the University of Redlands. She has worked with children from birth through adolescence across the home, school, and clinical settings. Alexa gained a foundation of experience working eleven years within the public school system, specializing in preschool assessment and intervention. She has also provided therapy, parent coaching, and professional collaboration for the early intervention population through California's Early Start program. Alexa’s philosophy is that therapy for children should be fun and motivating! She believes that progress is made and maintained when children are engaged in meaningful interactions and play. In her free time, Alexa enjoys hiking, traveling, and baking. As a Santa Barbara native, she is grateful to support families within her home community.
Administrative Assistant
Jaclyn Torres Abundis
Jaclyn graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a B.A. in Linguistics, with an emphasis in Speech Language Sciences and Disorders and Spanish. Seeing the enthusiasm and creativity of the Speech-Pathologists at the Santa Barbara, Rite Care center drew her to the center, which led her to begin volunteering as a coach for Brain Lab. Jaclyn aspires to be a Speech-Language Pathologist to help the voices of future leaders and role models. In her free time, Jaclyn likes to watch sunsets with her friends, weightlift, and cook new recipes.
Personal Representative of the Language Center
Maurice Sourmany
Maurice has been a Mason since 1968. He previously served as our language center's Assistant Personal Representative and as Chairman of the Board for the Language Center. With various offices, Maurice was elected Master of the Magnolia Lodge #242 in 1977 and has been a member of the Scottish Rite since 1969. He received his 32° and also joined the York Rite and the Al Malaikah Shrine in 1969. Appointed as Grand Lodge Committeeman for 9 years, Maurice became affiliated with Carpinteria Lodge #444 in 1980 and was elected its Master in 1982. Working his entire life at Victor The Florist starting when he was 14, became manager at 35 and eventually became owner when his father passed away. Retiring at 64, he sold the business to his daughter in 2006 who is now a third generation florist.
STAFF
DONATE NOW
You Can Make a Difference….
The commitment and generosity of our benefactors – people like you – have been a source of strength and growth for the RiteCare Childhood Language Centers of California, a program of the California Scottish Rite Foundation for over 60 years. No matter the size or type, all gifts are meaningful and provide important support for the children we serve.
You can touch someone’s life and make a difference right now. Your gift today can make a difference and will help change a child’s life!
Frequency
One time
Monthly
Yearly
Amount
$25
$50
$100
$250
$365
$500
$1,000
$2,500
$5,000
$10,000
$25,000
Other
0/100
Comment (optional)
DONATE
The RiteCare Childhood Language Centers of California, a program of the California Scottish Rite Foundation provides speech, language, and literacy treatment of childhood language disorders at the RiteCare Childhood Language Centers in 19 communities across California, free of charge. The RiteCare Childhood Language Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, totally reliant on philanthropy from individuals, foundations and corporate partners. We do not receive any state or federal funding. The commitment and generosity of our benefactors – people like you – have been a source of strength and growth for the RiteCare Childhood Language Centers of California, a program of the California Scottish Rite Foundation for over 60 years. No matter the size or type, all gifts are meaningful and provide important support for the children we serve. You can touch someone’s life and make a difference right now. Your gift today can make a difference and will help change a child’s life!
DONATE NOW
To make a contribution by cash or check, please send payments to:
RiteCare Childhood Language Center of Santa Barbara
16 E. Carrillo St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Please make checks payable to the California Scottish Rite Foundation, and include “RiteCare CLC Santa Barbara” in the memo section.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
No events at the moment
Our Supporters
Let’s Talk about the generosity of our business and foundation supporters who help Give the Future a Voice.
Contact Us
The RiteCare Childhood Language Center of Santa Barbara
16 E. Carrillo St
4th Floor
Santa Barbara,
CA 93101
Phone: (805) 962-8469
© 2026 by the California Scottish Rite Foundation, a 501c (3) organization. The Federal Tax Number for the California Scottish Rite Foundation is: 94-6078728.