At Summer Camp, Play Becomes a Path to Healing
By Tanya Dev
On a bright summer morning, laughter floats through the air like music. Inside a cozy room, paintbrushes swirl across canvases, cardboard swords transform campers into pirates and superheroes, and a circle of children bursts into giggles as friendships take shape. It feels like summer camp—but something more meaningful is quietly blooming beneath the surface.
At the Lukin Center’s Therapeutic Creative Arts Camp in Chatham, play becomes a path to healing.
Created by licensed therapists Courtney Medina, LPC, LPAT, ATR-BC and Lauren Bomberg, LPC, BC-DMT, this week-long morning program is a blend of creative freedom and emotional support. It offers all the hallmarks of summer fun—art, dance, games, and laughter—with the added bonus of therapeutic intention. Through thoughtfully crafted activities, children learn to navigate their emotions, build confidence, and develop vital social skills in a setting that feels safe, supportive, and playful.
“We wanted it to feel like the summer camps we loved growing up, ” says Medina, “but with a thoughtful foundation rooted in the healing power of creative arts. Kids leave here not just smiling—they leave stronger, more self-aware, and emotionally ready for what’s ahead.”
In today’s world—where children are navigating academic pressures, social challenges, and a constant stream of stimulation from an early age—the need to prioritize mental health has never been greater. The Lukin Center recognized that need—and responded with a camp that makes therapy approachable, joyful, and effective. With each day structured around a thoughtful rhythm of movement, painting, storytelling, group games, and reflective time, children are gently guided to express themselves, learn emotional regulation, and connect meaningfully with fellow campers.
Perhaps what truly sets this camp apart is its small size. With only 4–6 campers persession, the atmosphere feels more like a close-knit community than a typical camp. This allows therapists to form genuine relationships with each child—creating a space where kids feel not only safe, but seen.
This close connection also allows for remarkable flexibility. Activities are thoughtfully adjusted to reflect each child’s emotional needs and developmental goals. Whether a camper is navigating anxiety, struggling to connect with peers, or beginning to find the words for their feelings, therapists meet them exactly where they are, offering compassion, encouragement, and individualized support.
At the heart of it all is a mission to give children tools they can take with them beyond camp: the confidence to speak up, the language to express how they feel, and the ability to self-regulate their emotions.
“These are essential social skills that help children be successful personally and socially,” Medina explains. The magic of this closeness extends beyond the therapist-child bond.
“This small group setting helps campers feel not only seen and understood by us as therapists, but also by one another,” Medina adds. “That comfort level gives them permission to really let loose, be themselves, and open up in a way that’s hard to do in bigger groups.”
This level of attunement is no accident. Medina and Bomberg bring years of specialized training in Dance, Movement, and Art Therapy—fields rooted in the transformative power of nonverbal expression.
Since opening its doors in 2014, the Lukin Center has supported communities throughout New Jersey through therapy, psychiatry, psychological testing, and family support.
The Therapeutic Creative Arts Camp is an extension of the center’s mission—to support the whole child by blending clinical expertise with creativity and play.
The result is a refreshing alternative to traditional programming: a place where children are encouraged to be themselves, where emotional growth is part of the fun, and where healing feels natural, not forced
To learn more about the camp or the Lukin Center, please call 201-409-0393.