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Directors Message
Another wonderful summer season has ended with many reasons to celebrate. “Camp Connect,” our first specialized summer camp program for children with High Functioning Autism and Aspergers, was a great success. Combined with our “I Can, I Will” Summer Camp, we provided 647 weekly camper slots and the Riding Center provided 567 riding lessons! Our staff was excellent and worked very hard to provide all of the children a great summer experience.
Our new activity elements were thoroughly enjoyed. In addition to hours filled with laughter in the new water playground, our “Water World” was complete with a 27 foot above ground pool and a double water slide!
Another great addition to our camp this summer was our Low Ropes Course. With five different ropes elements located throughout the camp, the children explored new places, challenged their physical skills, developed better communication and made many new friends.
We continued to receive extraordinary support from organizations such as the Grand Lodge of the Knights of Pythias, Eastern Bank, Citizens Bank, Bank of America, Liberty Mutual, the J.E. and Z.B. Butler Foundation, CVS Caremark Charitable Trust, Associated Grant Makers, Agnes M. Lindsay Trust, the Sandra Anne Foundation, The Ronald McDonald House Foundation, Sean McDonough Foundation, the many generous members of “Lenny’s Club” and so many other individuals and corporations. In addition the annual Handi Kids Golf Classic Tournament was one our most successful ever!
Our fall programming promises to be one of our best! Saturday Camp will now include a fitness and movement class, along with low ropes, music, sports and art. We’ve added Social Skills groups for after school and Saturday, and our new “fine motor skills” sessions will help children who need to work on these critical skills in a small, supportive group. Of course making friends is a lot of what Handi Kids is all about and our new “Hangin’ with the Girls” and “Hangin’ with the Boys” Saturday groups will be a great addition. Look too for our parent support classes!
In these busy times, some families cannot commit to long term programs. In response we’ve expanded our program to include several one-day events. We’re truly looking forward to ‘Halloween Fest,” when families with special needs children can trick-or-treat in a safe and comfortable environment. Please check the Handi Kids website often at www.handikids.org as new events are posted.
As the leaves start to fall, summer umbrellas have been put away and children are back in school, we’re busy planning ways to continue providing children with special needs the joys of play and the measurable benefits gained by therapeutic recreation.
I encourage you call us and schedule an opportunity to visit the Handi Kids campus. Let us show you why so many people say, “There’s no place like it”.
