FOX 22 ABC 7 Bangor and WABI5 both came to Pine Tree Camp on Thursday, July 5 to see what Camp Communicate is all about.

Linda Bonnar, Director of Communication Pathways at Pine Tree Society, founded Camp Communicate 14 years ago. It is a week of summer camp dedicated to non-verbal children who use augmentative and alternative communication devices.

FOX 22 ABC 7 interviewed Carolyn Sweet, the mother of camper Jaclyn. Listen to Carolyn and Jaclyn’s experience here.

WABI5 spoke with Wayne and Kathleen Parker, parents of camper Kaylie Parker, about the impact Camp Communicate has had on their daughter and family. Watch their story here.

Click here to learn more about Camp Communicate.

Camper Kylee Thorndike can’t wait to drive down the dirt road to Pine Tree Camp this summer.

FOX 22 ABC 7 Bangor spent time with Kylee’s family to talk about their experience at Camp.

“Everybody is normal,” said Don Thorndike, Kylee’s father. “No one is treated differently.”

Learn more about why Kylee returns to Pine Tree Camp year after year here.

Support campers like Kylee today!

Recently, camp director Dawn Willard-Robinson and Tyler Cary from Pine Tree Society sat down with Craig Colson on FOX 22 ABC 7 Bangor  to talk about the Paddle for Pine Tree Camp on June 2.

“Pine Tree Camp in Rome is really a magical place where children and adults with disabilities can get a great summer camp experience just like anyone else. But of course it takes money to run the camp and that’s why people will soon take to the water. They’re getting ready for the annual Paddle for Pine Tree Camp,” said Colson.

Watch the full segment here.

Get more information and register for the Paddle here.

Pine Tree Society, a statewide organization serving Maine children and adults with disabilities, recently named Joseph Drago to its board of directors.

A native Vermonter, Drago graduated from The College of the Holy Cross with a BA in Political Science. and completed an MA in Political Science at Wichita State University.   He served six years as an Air Force officer and flight crew member. Following active duty, he completed the Professional Accounting Program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and became a CPA. He spent eight years with Ernst and Young in Chicago and twenty years as a C-level corporate officer in a variety of growing firms and non-profits. He completed his career in the Air Force reserve as an Air Force Academy Admissions Officer.

His volunteer service includes positions on Boards of Directors of community service organizations, and as a volunteer to his local parish and alma mater. In 2017 he received a certificate in Philanthropy and Non-Profit Organizations from Northwestern University.  He is a member of The Union League Club, Council on Global Affairs (Chicago), the CFO roundtable and the AICPA.

Pine Tree Society is pleased to announce that James Belanger has joined the team as the new Finance Director.

Belanger has worked with nonprofit organizations, including Head Start, in leadership positions for most of his career. He grew up in Maine and relishes the opportunity to return to his home state.  Belanger is a CPA licensed by the State of Maine.

Pine Tree Society announced that Employment Specialists Michelle Girard-Lynds and Sherri Go have been awarded national certification by the Association of Certified Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE), a national membership organization for trainers and educators who work in the field of employment for people with disabilities. Girard-Lynds and Go work with job seekers in the Career Development Department of Pine Tree Society. Girard-Lynds works out of the Scarborough office and Go is based in Auburn.

Employment Specialists from Pine Tree Society support people from Androscoggin, York, Cumberland or Sagadahoc county in seeking meaningful employment.  For more information about Career Development Services for adults, click here.  For more information about Career Development Services for teens, click here.

Pine Tree Society recently named Zachary Brandwein and Stephen Butterfield to its Board of Directors.

Brandwein, an associate at Bernstein Shur, received his BA at Occidental College, his MPP at the University of Southern Maine, and his JD at University of Tulsa College of Law.

Butterfield, Emeritus Professor at the University of Maine, received his B.S. from Springfield College, a M.Ed. from Keene State College and his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University.

Pine Tree Society helps people in Maine with disabilities lead richer, more socially connected lives. Our Board of Directors sets the vision that serves as a guide for every aspect of Pine Tree Society.  While members have diverse expertise and backgrounds, they do have one thing in common: a passion for Pine Tree Society.  Our board members are champions, advocates and they are invested in the impact that Pine Tree Society makes in the lives of Maine people with disabilities and their families each and every day.