May 29, 2026
East Texas Baptist University’s Department of Speech-Language Pathology program recently hosted “Camp Chit Chat,” a summer speech and language day camp designed to support communication and literacy development for children who have completed kindergarten through third grade.
Held May 26–29 at the Family Life Center of First Baptist Church Marshall, the camp offered morning and afternoon sessions in an engaging, language-rich environment focused on speech clarity, vocabulary, literacy, and communication confidence through interactive activities.
Led by ETBU graduate student clinicians under the supervision of licensed speech-language pathologists, Camp Chit Chat combined evidence-based clinical practices with hands-on learning experiences that encouraged creativity, collaboration, and meaningful connection.
“Camp Chit Chat is designed as a natural extension of ETBU’s mission to develop Christian servant leaders within our community,” Clinical Director of Speech-Language Pathology and Assistant Professor of Speech-Language Pathology Rebecca Smith said. “We have intentionally kept the camp’s focus on serving our campers and integrating faith with clinical practice.”
Throughout the week, campers participated in activities tailored to strengthen communication and literacy skills.
“By the end of the week, we anticipate that our campers will have deepened their understanding of the significance of both the words they choose and the manner in which they express them,” Smith said. “We also desire that each camper leave this week feeling genuinely cared for and seen.”
Graduate student clinicians worked closely with small groups during each session, allowing them to apply classroom knowledge and clinical strategies in a natural, activity-based setting.
“Camp Chit Chat reflects ETBU’s mission by combining hands-on clinical learning with our commitment to developing Christian servant leaders,” Assistant Professor of Speech-Language Pathology Vanessa Johnston said. “We want our graduate students to not only grow in their clinical knowledge and skills, but also in compassion, humility, and a desire to serve others well.”
Dr. Johnston explained that graduate students spent 2.5 hours with one to two campers during morning sessions before working with another group in the afternoon, giving students opportunities to adapt activities and think creatively while supporting communication development.
“This structure allows them to apply the knowledge and clinical skills they have gained in the classroom and at the William B. Dean Center for Language and Literacy in a more natural and collaborative environment,” Dr. Johnston said. “Experiences like these are valuable in preparing students for the dynamic nature of clinical practice in speech-language pathology.”
Reflecting on her experience at Camp Chit Chat, graduate student clinician Macy Leonard shared how the experience helped strengthen her clinical skills when working with children in a dynamic learning environment.
“Camp Chit Chat has allowed me to think on my feet and change the plan quickly based on the variety of the campers’ strengths and weaknesses,” Leonard said. “This experience has given me the confidence to work with groups and be able to individualize each child's learning outcome.”
In addition to supporting student learning, ETBU faculty emphasized the camp’s broader impact on the East Texas community.
“Serving families through programs like Camp Chit Chat is central to investing back into the community,” Smith said. “Fostering connection, belonging, enrichment, and skill-building supports the long-term growth of a region. These programs also strengthen community trust and cooperation, both of which are vital to collective growth.”
The camp served as an extension of ETBU’s newly established William B. Dean, M.D. Center for Language and Literacy Development, which provides no-cost speech-language pathology services to families throughout the East Texas region while serving as a clinical training site for students in ETBU’s MS-SLP program.
For more information about clinic services, contact:
Rebecca Smith, Clinical Director
rpsmith@etbu.edu | 903.923.2315