Summer kicks off at Connoquessing Township’s Camp Apple
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Tension was high in the gaga ball pit on Wednesday, June 11, but in a good way. Everyone was not only having fun, but making sure those around them were, too.
It was only the second day of Camp Apple and already the children from 5 to 12 years old had made new friends.
Sarah Sauers, the camp’s director, said the players in the pit and the rest of the children playing around at the Community Care Connections lawn probably didn’t even recognize one another’s differences.
“What’s so unique about our summer camp … half of our kids have disabilities and half are typical — and that’s how they learn about each other,” Sauers said. “Neither side learns better than the other. They honestly both play off each other and form friendships.”
Camp Apple began in early June and is broken down into three programs: Camp Apple Seeds, for children ages 3 and 4; Camp Apple, for ages 5 to 12; and Teen Camp Apple, for ages 12 to 21. The camp has been around for 40 years and, in 2016, it expanded its operation to include an even split of children with and without disabilities in each session.
This is Sauers’ 10th year directing Camp Apple, and, she said, while she and the counselors make sure children of all abilities are able to participate in every activity, the children themselves never hesitate to help each other.
“The kids all get along, no matter what their ability is,” Sauers said. “Everyone can participate and everyone can make a friend.”
In addition to the gaga ball pit being heavily used on June 11, Camp Apple also offered side-by-side vehicle rides for the children, as well as yoga midday for them to learn stretching and relaxation methods. As some children clambered into the buggies for rides, the ones waiting in line helped one another fasten their helmets in preparation for their turn.
Inside Community Care Connections, where yoga was taking place, some of the counselors helped the children get into and hold the poses being shown by the instructor.
These two activities are inclusive by design, but Sauers explained how other activities, like crafting and sports, are adapted for children who may otherwise have difficulty with them.
“We create a game, then we use an activity inclusive checklist, and it goes through and tells you who can participate,” Sauers said. “If a person can’t participate, what can you do to make them successful?
“We’ll make all those accommodations ahead of time, so when they’re doing the activity with their friends they can all do it.”
Abby Pritchard, who has been a camp counselor for six years, said she recognizes how big a role she and her fellow counselors play in creating an inclusive environment. Over the years, she has seen the children learn more about each other and more about themselves.
“It’s one of the most beautiful camps in Butler County as we are empowering those with disabilities by creating and maintaining an inclusive environment,” Pritchard said. “We hope we can help these kids create beautiful friendships and take what they learn and apply it in all settings.”
Sauers credited her staff with making sure every person at Camp Apple was able to play with everyone else. Several of the counselors are teachers, teachers-in-training or staff members at schools.
When not working at Camp Apple, Pritchard teaches at Freedom Area Senior High School. She said she enjoys the summer because she gets to influence children from an even earlier age to support one another through her work at Camp Apple.
“We never say, ‘Play with this person because they have that,’” Pritchard said. “It’s just a blend.”
Sauers said the other versions of Camp Apple, Camp Appleseed and Teen Camp Apple, all follow similar structures. Camp Appleseed is just three days long and helps its “youngest participants to start developing the basic foundations for life skills and social competencies,” according to its description.
Teen Camp Apple takes place over six weeks and its participants are typically on the road, doing activities at other parks in Butler County and beyond. It is still built for young people with and without disabilities.
“We do swimming at Alameda, picnic days at Moraine,” Sauers said. “They go to the Pittsburgh Zoo for a day trip.”
Camp Apple has a wait list, which, Sauers said, is amazing because it means many people want to sign their children up for the inclusive camp.
“We’re almost at about 70 kids. We had over 100 applications,” Sauers said.
Even though June 11 was only his second day at Camp Apple for the summer, 9-year-old Caleb Yount said he had already made friends.
The camp provided more structured activity than Caleb would probably have at home, but he wasn’t complaining. It still wasn’t as structured as school is.
“It’s not similar to school, which is good,” Caleb said. “It’s better.”
Sauers said that creating friendships between children is the best part of running the camp. Many of the children attending this summer are frequent flyers — campers from past summers. When the children returned to the camp June 9, the ones who didn’t see each other at school throughout the year had happy reunions with one another.
“I actually do love it because they create friendships at different schools,” Sauers said.
Marilyn Rodgers, a board member for Community Care Connections, said she always looks forward to the summer, because she gets to see the friendships unfold right before her eyes.
“Having kids around is such a good thing,” Rodgers said.
Collin Hodgkiss, 11, was playing basketball on the court, as other children took rides in the side-by-side vehicles. He said he was happy to be back at Camp Apple and not sitting at home.
“Way better than school,” Collin said. “I’d probably rather be here (than at home).”
