Our Mission
Our Mission: Using the art of improv to advance equity and belonging for neurodivergent youth, while equipping educators and helping professionals with affirming, evidence-based practices to better serve the students, clients, and communities in their care.
Our model has always been designed to give young people a space for connection, self-expression, and fun - while simultaneously giving the adults in their lives a meaningful shift in perspective and practice.
Our approach has been honed through the last 11 years of Camp Yes And, the Yes And Project carries this model forward, beyond a single camp week, into the wider work of changing how neurodivergent youth are taught, supported, and seen.
Our Story
In 2015, Lacy and Jim met at an Applied Improvisation conference, and recognized that improv held power to support communication, cross-neurotype collaboration, and understanding. They launched Camp Yes And - the flagship program of the Yes And Project around that idea, initially hosting it through Indiana University. Camp Yes And has been going strong since!
The Yes And Project was founded in 2026 to carry the work forward. Alongside Camp Yes And, the Yes AndProject offers trainings and continuing education for educators, therapists, SLPs, OTs, arts professionals, and other helping professionals who want to bring affirming, improv-based practice into their own classrooms, clinics, and communities.
What is Improv?
Improvisational theatre, or improv, is theatre made up on the spot. During a show, most or all of the performance is unplanned and unscripted, and the performers create the characters, story, and setting spontaneously and collaboratively as they go.
Though people tend to associate improv with comedy, it's performed in many styles and used far beyond the stage. Applied improvisation brings the methods, activities, and underlying philosophy of improv into non-theatrical settings like consulting, training, teaching, leadership development, and team building.
Why Improv?
In short, improv is a great way to practice useful skills in a really fun way!
Improv is, at its core, a relational practice. It asks participants to stay present, attune to one another, and build something together in real time without a script or a predetermined outcome.
Improv helps both youth and adults:
-Build genuine rapport and attunement
-Respond fluidly to another person
-Collaborate and co-create
-Expand their deep listening skills
-Learn to both follow and lead
-Stay in the moment with others
-Develop a climate of safety and risk-taking
-Strengthen social emotional communication skills
-And so much more!
"Life-changing and inspiring. I feel renewed creatively and emotionally." - Past Adult Participant
"Camp just perfected the way I talked and the way I connected with other people, and I felt like I wasn’t shy here. And it gave me a safe home, a safe haven.” - Past Youth Participant