August 19, 2006 5:54 PM
Camp Easter Seals
Here's the story of our big adventure at Camp Easter Seals. In addition to running camps for kids with all sorts of disabilities, they finish the season with a special Down Syndrome Family Camp each year. There were about 14 families there this year and we met some great people - on staff and among the families.
Just Jesse, Daniel, Justin and I went because everyone else in the family had other stuff going on. Tripp just changed jobs a couple months ago so he couldn't get off. Ben and Zach were working - at Loudoun Parks and Rec Adaptive Camp for kids with disabilities - right up to the minute they left for school Friday. Sophia, Jonny and Maddy are in rehearsal for another play - Into the Woods. So it was just me and the three guys.
There are lots of pictures, so I will out just a few on the main page - to see them all, be sure to click Continue Reading at the end.
The camp is a five hour drive from us, so we had to make a bathroom/gas/chips stop:
The boys waited while the van was filling up. I brought them out so they could see it, but kept them from darting around by gluing them to the island. Just kidding. They were so good! Note the license plate for those of you who don't know this about me. If you can't see it, it says MEGAMOM.
You have to be patient when you're the only adult with three kids. This stop probably took 25 minutes, start to finish. Here we are back in the car, refreshed:
When we arrived at camp, we got a big welcome from the counselors, who'd cared for the boys plus Jonny back in July when they went to sleepover camp for a week. Word was that they were awaiting the Curtis family with walkie-talkie code: The Eagle has landed. The boys were happy to see the familiar faces, but Jesse was very worried I was going to leave and clung to me like a wet bathing suit. The counselors were sad that Jonny wasn't with us, but they got over it.
Each family had a counselor assigned to help them with activities. Ours was Adele, a wonderful young woman from Australia. She helped us get settled in our cabin, which was one of the regular camper cabins with 16 bunkbeds on either side of a long room with big multiple bathroom/shower set up. Then we went to dinner:
After meals there are some rituals that families who'd been there before were familiar with. One is a song called "Kiss the Moose" which involves a lot of clapping and selected people coming up to well, kiss the moose. Here is Jesse:
Then outside for play, singing, campfire, S'mores.
Tuesday: at the playground:
Jesse coming out of a teepee:
And the boys inside:
We made birdfeeders from pine cones rolled in peanut butter and then bird seed, then hung them from the trees for the birds:
We swam in the pool, then rode horses:
We found some tiny frogs:
And we tried to skip stones on the creek:
A long day with lots of fun.
The next day we went to the rifle range. That's right, I said the rifle range. After all, we live in Virginia. The day before one of the dads skipping stones at the creek had me in stitches as he was highlighting how it must seem to the counselors who come from other countries - New Zealand, Britian, Ghana, Wales, etc - "Welcome to America, where we give even our children guns! And even kids with disabilities! Not only that, but we put a man in a wheelchair in charge of the rifle range!" Pretty funny. But the rifle range is really safe and it does bring out the focus and concentration which is always good to see in kids as they load one bullet, cock the gun, aim, and pull the trigger. Needless to say, the boys loved it. And I shot too:
In the afternoon we embarked on a canoe trip the counselors had planned especially for us. I didn't take my camera because I was too worried it would get wet - how grateful I was for that decision! We drove some way up the river so that we could take a nice. leisurely trip back down. I was in the front of a canoe with the three boys in the middle and a counselor named Candice in the back. The trip went somewhat awry in that there were so many shallow places where we had to get out and drag the canoe along the rocks to reach a part where there was enough water to give it another go. Over and over, while each time we reassured ourselves thinking that once we got over this little problem, it would be smooth sailing.
We were on one of the smooth sailing - or rowing - parts when we encountered about 50 cows on the bank and in the river. I was scared we were going to get stampeded, but we didn't. As we rowed by, the cows looked at us and we looked at them. On to the next shallows. The trip ended up taking three hours. But I got a great workout and had fun.
The next day Adele and the boys and I hiked up to what was billed as a water fall. It was a challenging climb for the boys:
I found walking sticks for them. Justin instinctively knew how to use his. Daniel used his kind of like a trapeze artist. Jesse finally came around:
Justin sustained an injury. Look very closely and you might see a smidgeon of red on his right knee. Here he is waiting while Adele unwrapped a bandaid from the firstaid kit in her backpack:
Daniel, the seasoned Mountain Man:
Here we are, having conquered the climb to arrive at the "Fall" - a hole in a wall of rock that emitted a small stream of water similar to a faucet someone had left running (just kidding - it was still fun):
Here are the boys outside our cabin:
And inside (there's another row of bunks on the other side):
And one last hug from Adele before coming home:
A week of wonderful memories! Thank you Camp Easter Seals and all the wonderful staff! You rock!
Posted in Down syndrome, Family | Permalink
Comments
That's great that you all had that opportunity. Lots of good memories were made.
Posted by: Julana | August 19, 2006 9:20 PM
Looks like you all had a blast! Thanks for sharing your pictures.
Christy :)
Posted by: christy | August 19, 2006 9:44 PM
It sure looks like everyone had a wonderful time. What a blessing to be able to attend this camp!
~Karen
P.S. My sister has Downs and I love seeing the pictures of your boys. Downs kids are so special!
Posted by: Karen | August 20, 2006 12:21 PM
Hi Barbara! Camp WAS great, wasn't it? We had fun looking at your pictures; they brought fond memories. Not much about the canoe trip, though. haha. It's your turn to kiss the moose.
Signed, Dian, aka Camille's mom
Posted by: Dian | August 20, 2006 1:18 PM
Hey! Your van is just like our van, right down to the color!
Posted by: Jennie C. | August 20, 2006 4:57 PM
great story and photos Barbara. I thought your license plate said "Veganom" at first glance but I know you're not a vegan ; )
Posted by: floorplan | August 20, 2006 7:39 PM
These are wonderful, Barbara. Thank you for the pictures.
Posted by: Holly | August 20, 2006 11:38 PM
I've just found your blog, it's great. I read the piece about guns aloud to my husband as it was so funny ( we're British )
The camp sounded wonderful, I would love something like that over here for my two youngest who are both on the autistic spectrum.
Posted by: Sue | August 21, 2006 6:03 AM
The picture of Justin made me want to cry. He looks SO sad! You are such a blessed mother. But then again, we all are blessed to be mothers.
Posted by: Mrs. DMG | August 23, 2006 12:07 PM
Hi Barbara...
Wow... just found your blog page and you've almost got me crying in the internet cafe!!
Those photos of the boys are beautiful!! I'm glad you all had such a fantastic week, I know I enjoyed it immensly. Hope you are all well, give the boys a great big hug and kiss for me!!
Adele
Posted by: adele | September 10, 2006 9:33 AM
I've volunteered with Easter Seals Virginia for a long time and your story told through photos is beautiful. You are as special as your sweet children. Thank you for sharing...
Posted by: Jerome golfman | September 18, 2006 9:25 AM
