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Camp Merry Heart
Easter Seals New Jersey's Camping and Recreation Department is very proud to announce two new programs for children with autism, their siblings, and their entire family.
In New Jersey, one in 94 children is diagnosed with a form of autism and Easter Seals recognizes the key role families play in caring for their loved ones with special needs. In order to help meet the needs of the caregivers, Easter Seals Camp Merry Heart recently introduced two new weekend programs designed to provide a supported recreational experience for families affected by Autism. Our staff meets with the family to learn about the child's routines, likes and needs prior to attending one of our 24-hour supervised weekend outings.
These weekend programs will take place at our Camp Merry Heart facility located in beautiful Warren County. The programs are designed so families and siblings can enjoy new outdoor activities and sports, and relax with the support of caring and compassionate Easter Seals Camping and Recreation professionals. Twenty-four hour supervision is provided with a camper to staff ratio of 1:1 for each child with autism and no greater than 3:1 for the families.
Our 'Sibling Weekends' bring brothers and sisters together for a weekend of pure recreation. We'll play Guitar Hero and Dance Revolution, go snow tubing and mountain biking, camp out under the stars, learn about local legends and lore, and many other great family activities. These weekends also provide friendship opportunities for all involved. All activities are adapted for just about anyone's participation.
Our 'Family Weekends' are designed for the entire family to have a great supported weekend away. We'll participate in the same great activities as mentioned above plus a few others. These weekends will also let parents get away for an evening to enjoy some of the great local restaurants. If camping is a little too rustic for mom and dad, there are some great local inns and motels nearby.
Upcoming Spring 2008 Sibling and Family weekends are:
Family Mountain Bike Weekend: April 4-6, 2008
Sibling Camp-Out Weekend: May 2-4, 2008
Family Hike Weekend: May 2-4, 2008
Family Camp-Out Weekend: May 16-18, 2008
For more information regarding these programs, please call Colin Wiseman, Coordinator of Camping and Recreation, Autism Programs, at 908 852-3896 or visit our website at www.eastersealsnj.org
Since 1954, Easter Seals' Camp Merry Heart, located on 123 beautiful acres in Warren County, has provided a recreational setting otherwise not readily available to individuals with disabilities. Since 1967, the facility has provided camping, recreation and respite services to well over 30,000 people with disabilities or special needs. Camp Merry Heart meets the American Camping Association's highest standards of quality as well as those mandated by the New Jersey State Health Department.
Our camping and recreation programs build confidence in those with disabilities, who are so often overlooked in mainstream society. Individuals -- with and without disabilities -- enjoy the excitement and challenges of camping together, since all activities are inclusive. Whether one uses a wheelchair, a device to communicate, has a learning disability, or is separated from a sibling in a foster care situation, a multitude of activities is available for everyone's participation.
Camp Merry Heart provides people with disabilities and special needs the opportunity to accomplish feats both large and small in an encouraging, supportive environment.
Our mission is to help people and families with disabilities live, work and play in their communities with equality, dignity and independence. For 60 years, our services have been geared toward helping individuals remove obstacles along their path toward independence, inclusion and full community-integration. Presently, the comprehensive services and programs provided by Easter Seals include rehabilitation, residential and transitional services for people with physical, developmental and behavioral disabilities, case management and education, adult training day programs for the developmentally disabled, in-home personal assistance, camping, recreational and family respite services, employment services for senior citizens and adults with disabilities, interim housing and services for the homeless, and after school educational care and summer enrichment programs.
Through the assistance of individual donors and corporate sponsors, along with support from county, state and federal agencies, Easter Seals New Jersey continues in its commitment to creating solutions and providing programs that produce tangible results in the lives of the people we serve. For more information on Easter Seals New Jersey and the services provided, please contact us at 732-257-6662, or visit on-line at www.eastersealsnj.org.
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