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Easter Seals' Camp Merry Heart Kicks Off Its 2005 Season
Easter Seals Camp Merry Heart means different things to different people. Some campers attend to provide respite to their families, while other campers attend so they can relax and be themselves many work so hard during the year just trying to fit in that they need a vacation to relax and be themselves.
Over the course of Easter Seals’ history, one supportive group Rotary International -- has donated both its
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Easter Seals New Jersey's president and ceo, Brian Fitzgerald, explains to Rotarian donors why Camp Merry Heart is such an important part of our participants' lives." | time and money to the development and growth of Easter Seals New Jersey’s Camp Merry Heart.
Easter Seals New Jersey’s president and CEO Brian Fitzgerald, and Camp Merry Heart’s director, Alex Humanick, joined together to honor the Rotarians -- who have traditionally proven to be one of the camp’s major supporters -- at the camp’s summer 2005 kick off on the campgrounds in Hackettstown, N.J., on May 12.
Approximately fifty Rotarians joined them for the occasion. Easter Seals has a long and wonderful history with the Rotary. Founded by Rotarians, the Easter Seals organization aligned itself with Rotary Clubs developing services for children with disabilities throughout the country.
Our history together began in 1919, when the U.S. Rotary Club was formed in Elyria, Ohio. And it dates back to a friendship between two innovative and compassionate men -- Edgar Allen, Easter Seals’ founder and Paul Harris, founder of the Rotary -- each of whom had a vision of how to change our nation and our world.
Paul Harris and Edgar Allen met because they shared a passion for service and volunteerism and a desire to improve their communities and other communities like their own.
Easter Seals appreciates the Rotary and other supportive donors of Camp Merry Heart. Campers eagerly look forward to Service Club Day -- a day where our loyal Rotary Clubs provide an array of games, activities and food for the camper’s enjoyment. And, the computer lab added last year by the Madison and Florham Park Rotaries has been a welcome addition and a wonderful learning tool for both campers and counselors.
Easter Seals Camp Merry Heart meets the needs of so many unique individuals and supports the ever-growing needs of families, group homes, individuals with disabilities and special needs every summer.
Brian’s parents, for instance, were hesitant about leaving their five year old son a very active, non-verbal child -- at camp. He required an intensive level of support and his parents needed a rest. Cautiously, they sent Brian to Camp Merry Heart last summer for two sessions. His stay at camp was so successful that, in spite of his family’s move to Texas later in the year, they want to try to send Brian to camp again this summer.
David, a young man with cerebral palsy who uses an augmentative communication device, attends camp programs regularly residential, TREC and respite. When his dad was diagnosed and dying of cancer, David attended the safe and supportive environment of camp. It was there that compassionate staff members, whom he knew he could trust, helped him through his grieving process.
When Camp Merry Heart opened in 1954, twenty-six campers participated in an experience that was not readily available to individuals with disabilities. Since March 1, 1967, Easter Seals' Camp Merry Heart has provided camping, recreation and respite services to over 30,000 people with disabilities and special needs.
Easter Seals' Camp Merry Heart was designed over fifty years ago to serve fifty individuals with physical disabilities for eight weeks each year. Last year, Camp Merry Heart provided services to a total of 2,183 campers over fifty weeks. Providing fun, friends and activities to the many campers whose needs cannot be met elsewhere has taken a toll on our facility. Our campers have significant needs that have impacted the stability of our septic system.
In addition to camping and recreation, Easter Seals’ services have grown throughout the state -- providing housing, employment, day programs, and outreach and support to people with disabilities through contracts with the State of New Jersey, Easter Seals’ Brian Fitzgerald told the crowd.
“Because these contracts provide reimbursement for expenses and do not permit funds to be transferred to, or utilized for, other services within the organization, we continue to need your ongoing support and the support of others -- to keep meeting the vast needs of our participants here and throughout the state,” Fitzgerald emphasized.
“Our septic system is old and weakening quickly,” added camp director Humanick “We were forced to take immediate measures to have a camp season. This camp season we will send our laundry off-site and rent portable restrooms to reduce the strain on our septic system.” Estimates have ranged as high as $1.2 million to replace the existing septic system with a waste management system.
“Camping and recreation services are fundamental to the Easter Seals mission,” Humanick continued. “Easter Seals believes that all individuals have the right to live, work and play in their community with equality, dignity and independence. We need your help to continue to make a difference for the people with disabilities that attend Camp Merry Heart.”
If you would like more information about Camp Merry Heart, or would like to make a donation, please contact Alex Humanick, camp director, at (908) 852-3896, or Karen Kaufman, director of corporate development, at (732) 257-6662.
Camp Merry Heart's TREC Program
 Camp Merry Heart's TREC Programs Offer Variety of Fun Whether you enjoy the fun and sun of Florida or the rush of racing down the ski slopes of Vermont, Easter Seals' Camping and Recreation has the programs for you. Our TREC Sun and Snow Camp offers consumers travel programs to many great destinations. For example, fourteen TREC campers recently returned from visiting Florida's Disney's Magic kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Universal Islands of Adventure and Sea World, where they had a blast. Then, with just a few days rest, Easter Seals' camp travel team turned around and headed north to Vermont for an adaptive ski week. In addition to the travel programs, Camp Merry Heart offers weekend respites and additional travel trips, including a two week vacation to Texas in March.
2005 Camp Schedule and Application within the Next Several Weeks
The camp has planned an exciting summer schedule, as well as some great new TREC travel camp destinations, so if you know of any one who'd like to attend one of our camp programs, please contact the camp office at (908) 852-3896.
Camp Merry Heart Wish List
· New Vans to Replace TREC Bus
· Blacktop Replacement to Ensure Accessibility
· New Snowplow and Truck
· Centralized Fire System Completion
· Mountain Bike Trail
· New Cabin and Shower House Roof
Camping and Recreational Services
Camp Merry Heart isn’t any ordinary camp. It’s a place where kids get to be kids, where children and adults with disabilities experience recreational adventures, and where foster siblings reunite.
Camp Merry Heart provides an eclectic mix of programs that cater to different groups of people all of them brought
together in northern New Jersey’s rural Warren County to enjoy its fresh air and sunshine.
One of the summer’s most outstanding weeks occurs when foster children and their siblingssome who’ve been separated for weeks and some for years—reunite on the grounds of Camp Merry Heart.
Two summers ago, two sixteen year old campers attending the foster sibling camp week had such a good time that they decided to apply as junior counselors for the following summer.
Working this past summer as junior counselors, they assisted other counselors in working with campers with and without disabilities. While these two lively, energetic and enthusiastic teenagers entertained fellow campers, and helped to cook, serve, clean up, play with and assist campers, they became role models for other foster children, many of whom have become keen to work as junior counselors themselves.
While gaining valuable insight into the lives of people with disabilities, these two youngsters have shown themselves and others that they can make a difference.
The camp features many sessions throughout the summer, set up specifically to provide rewarding experiences for adults with disabilities, children with disabilities, adopted and foster children, and local day campers with and without disabilities.
Easter Seals Camp Merry Heart's travel camp ( TREC ) offers year-round travel opportunities for people with disabilities. Its goal is to provide recreational camping experiences to as many individuals as possible, while visiting locations such as Orlando and Las Vegas.
“My child loved the summer day camp so much that he wants to be a junior counselor.”
“All activities are well organized and hold our child’s interest—I’m impressed!”
“Thank you for all that you folks do—to use a popular phrase, you’re ‘priceless!’ Thanks...”
“Summer camp experience was my child’s first time away from home and his family. He had a great time and is looking forward to next year.”
“The staff is always courteous and caring. They always make my child feel welcome. My child always has a great time and looks forward to returning.”
“My camper attends Camp Merry Heart and goes on TREC trips. It is the highlight of the year and she plans the next year as soon as she gets home.”
“Just keep doing what you’ve been doing—a good job! Thank you so much...”
Easter Seals Camp Merry Heart Announces Summer Travel Agendas
Camp Merry Heart’s TREC program will feature a travel schedule that includes some new and existing locations, while it revisits some very successful sites.
Beginning in June, a group of campers will make a trip to Cape Cod, where adventures will include whale watching and other seaside activities. Later that month, campers will take off to see New Orleans, the jazz capital of the world. Sightseeing will include the French Quarter, a tour of the Bayou and Cajun cuisine.
Camp Merry Heart also offers a Daily Adventures program in June, which includes a stay in a local hotel and visits to local attractions and amusements.
In July, Canada is on the agenda, with planned sightseeing in Quebec, Montreal and Toronto. Another TREC first will begin in July in Atlanta, where visitors can tour civil war battlefields and take in a Braves game, among other fun activities.
The camp is scheduled in August to host another Daily Adventures program, since this agenda has proven most successful in the past. And, Þnally, a trip to Chicago is on tap for the middle of the month. This will include a tour of Lake Michigan, attendance at a baseball game, and other famous sights of the Windy City.
Easter Seals Camping & Recreation Three Season TREC Schedule 2005
TREC #5 Texas YEE HAH! Come along all you cowpokes for our first trip to the great state of Texas. We will visit the Alamo, enjoy the Riverwalk of San Antonio, and see a live rodeo. Fourteen days ~ March 3-16, 2005
TREC #6 New York City Bright lights, big city! So much to do in a weekend. See a Broadway show, visit Times Square, enjoy a stroll through Central Park. Three days: April 8- 10, 2005
TREC #7 New Hampshire Scenic views and the great outdoors. Enjoy a relaxing retreat to the White Mountains. Six days: April 17-22, 2005.
TREC #8 Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Tour the Civil War’s most decisive battlefield. Come along for a candle light ghost tour. Enjoy a scenic weekend in the country. Three days: May 6-8, 2005.
TREC Summer Schedule 2005
Trec #1 Williamsburg, VA Come see where America began, join us as we visit Jamestown, historic Williamsburg, and an exciting trip to Busch Gardens. Enjoy the fun and sun as we visit the world’s largest boardwalk at Virginia Beach. June 12-17, 2005
TREC #2 Daily Adventures Concerts, amusement parks, sporting events, day trips to the shore. This is our famous day trip program with a summer’s worth of fun rolled into six days. June 19-24, 2005
TREC #3 Kentucky & Tennessee Bluegrass and country music fans will love this trip. Join us as we travel the highways and byways of scenic Appalachia. We will make stops in Cave City KY and Pigeon Forge, TN, visiting Dollywood and other great attractions. June 26-July 7, 2005
TREC#4 Daily Adventures Always too popular for just one trip, so we will offer a second this summer. Come along for a whole new set of adventures, you will never experience the same thing twice. July 10-15, 2005
TREC #5 Wisconsin & Illinois - Our TREC Coordinator Que-ena is taking us to see her home state of Wisconsin. Come along as we see the world famous Tommy Bartlett’s Amazing Thrill Show, tour beautiful Wisconsin Dells. This great vacation includes Illinois cheer for the Cubs or the White Sox. We will visit the Sears Tower and shop in downtown Chicago. July 17-28, 2005.
TREC #6 Daily Adventures So Popular!!! It had to happen, Summer 2005 we will be offering a third trip of daily adventures. Just a few things we will guarantee the trip will be fun and it will not include any of the activities from the first two daily adventure trips! July 31-August 5, 2005
TREC #7 Lancaster, Pennsylvania This is a TREC for those who would like to slow down and enjoy the country life. We will be visiting Pennsylvania Dutch Country, the Dutch Apple Dinner Theater and bring some extra money we will be shopping at the great outlets that Lancaster offers. August 7-12, 2005
TREC #8 Maine and Vermont Our final trip of the summer takes us back to two of our favorite destinations, Maine and Vermont. Enjoy all the scenic wonders they have to offer. In Maine we will visit Freeport and Bar Harbor, and stop in at Ben and Jerry’s for some great ice cream. August 14- 25, 2005.
For an application or additional information call: 908-852-3896
**Space Is Limited. Early Enrollment is Encouraged**
Anyone interested in supporting Easter Seals New Jersey's Camp Merry Heart programs and services, or donating funds toward its wish list or projects, please contact camp director Alex Humanick at (908) 852-3896.
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