Seven Weeks Of Smiles
by Keith Landry
Now that spring is finally here, is it too early to think about basking in the hot summer sun and having summer fun at camp? Many parents have already made camp arrangements for their children with special needs. One camp tucked in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania offers a unique venue for fun, friends, learning and seven weeks of smiles. It’s Camp Lee Mar.
It’s not just about fun. Camp Lee Mar offers speech and language therapy, academics, computer lessons, perceptual training and daily living skills. Older campers take part in the job preparation program.
And fun times aren’t hard to find. The campers participate in swimming, baseball, football, basketball, drama, hikes, nature study, arts and crafts, dancing, movies, campfires, painting and music. There’s a prom for older campers, overnight trips to Canada and Hershey Park, Olympics and a Hawaiian night.
Individual development is continuously monitored and campers receive guidance on proper habits of appropriate social behavior, team and group cooperation, and the ability to assume simple and varied responsibilities. There’s also a modern, fully-equipped health center with four nurses in attendance at all times, and a doctor on call. Daily checkups and medical service are provided for each child when needed.
Ariel J. Segal is the Executive Director of Camp Lee Mar. He came to Lee Mar after years of experience as the assistant director of The Guided Tour, Inc. It’s a special program that provides travel and socialization opportunities for adults with developmental and physical challenges. Ari is a licensed social worker and keeps abreast of changes in the field through active participation in conferences and post graduate work. Ari has extensive experience working with persons with special needs, including plenty of personal experience.
Segal says, “five years after purchasing Camp Lee Mar, my first childe was born with special needs. I feel fortunate that he will have the opportunity to grow up with the benefits of Lee Mar and afterwards, The Guided Tour. No one can ever tell you what it’s like to be a parent of a child with special needs.”
Lee Morrone was the founder and original owner of Camp Lee Mar, and she is now the director. In 1953, when Ms. Morrone started Camp Lee Mar, she was a teacher of special education in the New York Public Schools and colleges. Parents expressed their frustration with having few options for children with special needs to go to camp. Mrs. Morrone suggested a piece of property in the Pocono Mountains, and parents rallied around her to make the camp a reality. Since 1953, some six thousand children have enjoyed a summer escape to fun and laughter at the camp.
Segal credits Morrone for making the camp what it is today, and he says it’s the philosophy of the people who run Camp Lee Mar, that brings smiles to their campers’ faces. “Every child should have a camp experience. As life gets more technological and fast paced, camp is a place where kids can be kids. It’s a place to learn the skills from which they will draw on for the rest of their lives- a place where friendships are made that often last a lifetime.”
Parents always have questions about the quality of the camp staff before signing up their children. The staff has been carefully selected for its knowledge, training and practical experience with the special needs child. Parents sometimes mention how the counselors call, write and visit the children after camp is over.
Segal says the directors are really careful about they hire. “This year, I traveled to Australia, New Zealand and Europe to personally interview prospective staff. Many camps hire staff from a resume without ever meeting them. We feel strongly that whenever possible, we want to meet them face to face. Their job is too important to be taken lightly.”
Camp for the Lee Mar staff actually begins one week before the children arrive. Although many counselors and other staff members return season after season, all are required to participate in an intensive pre-camp orientation program. New approaches, innovative activities and varied program adaptations are continually incorporated into the Lee Mar experience.
The camp keeps building on its offerings for the future. In the last five years, the directors have added air conditioning, an amphitheater, therapeutic horseback riding, new bunks, and an expanded dining hall. While camp Lee Mar continue to add services, it will hold the line on the number of campers each year. Segal says, “I believe that our number of campers (160) will stay where it is, because we feel it is appropriate and optimal. We believe a larger number of would take the intimacy out of our unique program.” The staff doesn’t want to do anything to stop seven weeks of smiles for each of its happy little campers.
Visit the Camp Lee Mar website at www.leemar.com
Visit The Guided Tour online at www.guidedtour.com
You can email Ari Segal at gtour400@aol.com | |