The Academy
Activities
We offer a variety of experiences throughout the day for individuals to work on developing peer relationships. Direct Support Professionals work with individuals to create friendships, initiate and engage in conversation with others, and develop appropriate social skills.
Download Calendar
Through the various activities we offer on campus, individuals get to practice these skills with their peers in a natural setting.
Field Trips
Pine Castle field trips focus on enhancing and reinforcing life skills learned in the curriculum in a more natural, community-based setting. We have developed partnerships with various businesses in order to provide hands-on experiential learning.
Field trips may include visiting the bank to open a checking account, getting ingredients at the grocery store, job shadowing, volunteering, or recreational activities such as bowling or other sporting events.
Music
The Flashbacks are Pine Castle’s band and chorus that play hits from the 1960’s -2000’s, ranging from R&B, folk, rock, and more. Music Director, Abigail Gruber teaches the band members, made up of our participants, how to read music, connect in harmony, play musical instruments, and perform in front of live audiences.
Our music program is sponsored by The Clinton Family Fund.
Listen to the band
Schedule the band for your next event.
Social
We offer a variety of experiences throughout the day for individuals to work on developing peer relationships. Direct Support Professionals work with individuals to develop friendships, initiate and engage in conversation with others, and develop appropriate social skills. Through the various activities offered on campus, individuals then get to practice these skills with peers in a more natural setting.
Radio & Podcast
At one time, Pine Castle’s radio show was broadcast across our campus via walkie talkies. Now, we broadcast from the state-of-the-art Terry G. Clark, Jr. Studio, located on campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. on WPCR 1700 AM. The show is currently only available near campus.
Listen to Podcast
Pine Castle Radio is the first radio show written and produced with contributions by adults with IDD in the State of Florida. Our show includes daily activities, weather, sports, a joke of the day, a ‘This Day in History’ segment, and a daily motivational quote. In addition to the radio program, the Pine Castle Radio crew hosts a podcast called Pine Castle Connection that is available online. The team focuses on topics related to living with differences, examining their own experiences and interviewing other participants, Pine Castle staff, and members of the community.