Campus Experience

Shrub Oak is a community defined by a common sense of purpose, a community committed to excellence, and above all, a community committed to supporting one another.

Guided by our core values of inclusivity, support, collaboration, and friendship, we approach each day with the belief that everything is possible.

Shrub Oak International School offers autistic children, adolescents, and young adults a rich and varied campus experience. Activities are integrated into each student’s individually designed transdisciplinary curriculum developed with a team of educators, clinicians, and campus life staff along with the student, caregivers, and school districts when appropriate. This individualized approach supports each student’s developmental goals and needs, while incorporating personal interests and fun into the design of their experience at Shrub Oak.

Recreational Activities and Clubs

Recreational activities and clubs play a vital role in the holistic development of our students. These activities provide opportunities for students to explore their interests, develop new skills, and build meaningful relationships. Clubs foster a sense of community and belonging, while recreational activities promote physical health, emotional well-being, and life skills. Students are empowered to advocate for activities that they are interested in. See below for a sampling of what Shrub Oak International School has to offer:

Activities

Bear Mountain Zoo

Bowling Trips

Cooking Classes

Creative Movement

Granite Knolls Park

Ice skating (seasonal)

JV Mall Trips

Karaoke

Meditation & Yoga

Movie Night

Museum trips

Pumpkin and apple picking (seasonal)

Shrub Oak Pool

Spa activities

Spins on the Hudson

Trivia Night

Veterans Memorial Lake

Weekly Shopping trips

Wings Over Water & Aquabilities

Clubs

Art Club

Baking Club

Book Club

Film Club

Gaming Club

Hiking Club

Music Groups

Newsletter Club

Photography Club

Pokémon Club

Running Club

Student Council

Tech Safety Club

Health and Wellness

Shrub Oak International School maintains a 24/7, year-round Health & Wellness department to care for the medical and nursing needs of all students. Our program is supported by a full-time pediatric nurse practitioner, as well as a team of psychiatric nurse practitioners and a consulting psychiatrist. Our nurses are experienced in medication administration, emergency first aid and treatment of minor illnesses and injuries, and management of chronic medical conditions. We work closely with all our families to ensure that our students receive the most appropriate nursing and medical care for their unique individual needs and are equipped to manage medically fragile students including students with complex medical conditions. Our Health & Wellness team also works diligently to make sure that all our students can see local specialists sensitive to our student population and provide transportation and support for all off-campus appointments. Additionally, we are proud to partner with Sedgwick Pharmacy to help manage students’ medication needs.

To further enhance our comprehensive care, Shrub Oak employs a full-time nutritionist who works in the Health & Wellness department. The nutritionist collaborates with our health and wellness team and dining staff to ensure that our students receive balanced and nutritious meals that support their overall health and well-being.

Our entire health and wellness team is dedicated to the health and safety of every student at Shrub Oak that goes well beyond the call of a traditional school nursing department.

Dining

At Shrub Oak International School, the dining experience for our students is thoughtfully designed to be both nurturing and inclusive. Understanding the unique sensory and dietary needs of autistic children, adolescents, and young adults, we provide a variety of nutritious and delicious meal options that cater to the diverse preferences and requirements of our students. We are happy to accommodate specific dietary restrictions including gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, Halal, Kosher, etc. Additionally, our campus is entirely nut-free. Our culinary team works closely with our staff nutritionist to ensure each meal supports the overall well-being and development of our students. Additionally, we encourage student participation in meal selection, fostering a sense of independence while teaching life skills essential for their future.

We are proud to partner with AVI Foodsystems, known for their innovative approach to food service and their commitment to excellence. In addition to kitchen and dining management, AVI Foodsystems provides rotating monthly menus, recipes, nutritional information to keep our community well-informed, access to two hot food options for lunch and dinner, and a variety of protein-based, healthy snacks. Additionally, our dining program features a fully equipped teaching kitchen used for life skills training and culinary internships.

Therapeutic Horsemanship Program

Shrub Oak is proud to partner with local equestrian centers to provide our students with equine therapy.

What is Therapeutic Horsemanship?

Therapeutic horsemanship involves various activities with horses, such as grooming, leading, and feeding. These activities help build a bond and develop a relationship with the horse. This approach can be especially beneficial for autistic individuals, providing a safe and supportive environment for interaction and learning.

Therapeutic horsemanship also offers significant emotional, social, and sensory benefits including building trust and confidence, enhancing emotional regulation, reducing anxiety and stress, improving communication skills, fostering teamwork and compassion, and improving fine and gross motor skills.

The Shrub Oak Farm Program

The farm program at Shrub Oak International School is a special one. The students not only enjoy being outdoors, but they learn important skills while participating in farm activities. Hands-on learning allows students to apply what they have learned in the classroom, to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and to practice important social skills. The farm also represents Shrub Oak’s transdisciplinary approach at its very best. Students learn a lot about horticulture at Shrub Oak: from germinating their first seed all the way to enjoying the delicious vegetables it will bear. They also learn a lot about life. As all avid gardeners will attest, it’s truly a rewarding experience. It teaches that hard work, careful attention, and patience can develop into something extraordinarily gratifying. Our students also learn practical lessons with transferable job skills by working on the farm. For example, our students operate Shrub Oak’s Little Oak Farmstand, bringing farm-fresh produce to our very own on-campus market, and learning about marketing, sales, and customer service in the process.

We also have a host of animals on our farm including a miniature horse, donkey, pigs, goats, rabbits, tortoise, chickens, and ducks. Students deeply enjoy just spending time with our animals, reaping many therapeutic benefits. Our clinicians collaborate closely with our farmers to identify appropriate farm-related activities for students to participate in.