Benjamin McKinney, 4, sprays his chalk drawing with water at Camp Appleseeds on Wednesday morning, June 7, at Community Care Connections in Franklin Township. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle
FRANKLIN TWP — Sarah Sauers, camp director at Community Care Connections, couldn’t tolerate the thought that children of all ages did not have an opportunity to attend summer day camp at the organization’s facility off Route 422.
“It seemed like there was an open area for 3- and 4-year-olds,” Sauers said, “so I went to Brenda (Cole, CEO).”
Cole explained that Camp Apple, a free day camp program for school-age children, has been in existence for almost as long as the 50-year-old Community Care Connections itself.
Until 2016, Camp Apple was open only to children with disabilities, but exactly half of all campers in the program are typical children.
“That way the kids with disabilities could have peers they could role model, and the kids without disabilities could learn there are things to do and people to play with, regardless of ability,” Cole said.
She said by the end of the six-week camp, it is difficult to tell which children are typical and which have disabilities, as so many friendships have been formed.
“And that’s our goal,” Cole said.
When camp counselors learned that the teens enrolled in Camp Apple did not want to socialize with the younger campers, the camp was divided into Camp Apple for those age 5 to 12 and Teen Camp Apple for those age 12 to 21.
Community Care Connections also offers an infant/toddler therapy program for children from birth to 3 years old.
“But this year, Sarah, who is always full of energy and bringing new ideas, said we need to offer a camp for 3- and 4-year-olds,” Cole said.
The weeklong Camp Appleseeds pilot program was carried out the first full week of June, where 3- and 4-year-olds could be seen cooling off by squirting one another — and the program’s adults — with squirt bottles in the outdoor play area at Community Care Connections.
The five children with disabilities and five without were chosen for the three-day camp on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sauers, who is spending her eighth summer at the camps, said the waiting list for the program is long.
“My phone is ringing off the hook,” she said.
Sauers said continuing the 50/50 enrollment of children with and without disabilities was imperative, in her opinion.
“It’s important for them to see differences in kids, and they can learn from each other,” she said.
Sauers hopes to expand Camp Appleseeds to a six-week, five-day camp next year.
Abby Pritchard, camp leadership assistant at Community Care Connections, said that the earlier a child is taught to accept and include children with disabilities, the more likely they will be to carry that mindset into adulthood and through their lives.
“It’s been very successful,” Pritchard said of Camp Appleseeds. “It allows the kids to experience kids with many unique differences and can expand their mindset as they grow older.”
She said offering a camp to younger children such as those in Camp Appleseeds promotes kindness and introduces friendship skills to the tots.
“They see everyone can be friends with everyone,” Sauers said.
She said the indoor area used for campers was outfitted with new, age-appropriate toys and activities.
The new Camp Appleseeds playroom offers a play kitchen set, block center, Play-Doh center and dress-up station.
“It actively engages all their senses,” Sauers said.
Three staff and one volunteer oversee the 10 tiny campers as they play with one another and enjoy the programs and toys involved in the camp.
Most of the 10 campers who attended Camp Appleseeds were family members of Camp Apple campers or heard about it from a family who patronizes Camp Apple, Sauers said.
Cole said all camps at Community Care Connections are free through the generosity of the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania and Butler County Human Services department.
Funds also are raised through the organization’s annual Ruckus for All festival.
This year’s Ruckus for All will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on Aug. 20 at 11th Frame Bar & Grille on Fairground Hill Road.
The free, family-centered event will offer food trucks, a magician, balloon art, face-painting, emergency vehicles, raffle baskets and more.
Some of the children attending Camp Appleseeds draw with chalk on a sidewalk Wednesday morning, June 7, at Community Care Connections in Franklin Township. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle
Some of the children attending Camp Appleseeds draw with chalk on a sidewalk Wednesday morning, June 7, at Community Care Connections in Franklin Township. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle
Clara Haas, 4, center, plays a game with other children at Camp Appleseeds on Wednesday morning, June 7, at Community Care Connections in Franklin Township. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle
Gavin McGuirk, 4, plays a game with other children at Camp Appleseeds on Wednesday morning, June 7, at Community Care Connections in Franklin Township. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle
Camp counselor Trevor Gahahan, center, plays a game with some of the children at Camp Appleseeds on Wednesday morning, June 7, at Community Care Connections in Franklin Township. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle
