We don’t ever say the word “can’t.” We say “how can we?”

A long-time member of the Pine Tree Society team recounted a story of working with a young child who was considered nonverbal. As an experienced speech pathologist, she knew that little girl wanted to use verbal speech.  After working with her for a period of time, she received the most amazing feedback from the child’s father.  The young child, for the first time, said “I love you” to her parents.

People with disabilities are used to hearing the word “can’t.” Pine Tree Society opens a new world to the people we serve.  Whether it’s a child whose speech is impacted by cerebral palsy, a young adult with autism who wants a meaningful job or a young child who uses a wheelchair simply wanting to swing at the playground – we find a way to make it happen.  We break down barriers.  And we are able to do this thanks to your support.

Discovering abilities together. It takes all of us.  You play a critical role.  You make stories like this a reality.

The funding Pine Tree Society receives through reimbursement for services only covers a portion of our costs. Families caring for loved ones with disabilities have fewer and fewer resources to turn to for help.  We need your help to fulfill the promise of our mission, a mission that has been in place for more than 80 years. Your donation will be put to work immediately to impact the lives of Maine children and adults with disabilities and their families through critical programs.  We cannot do it without you. Together, we transform the lives of Maine children and adults with disabilities.  Thank you.

Congratulations to Carole Hoyle from Hampden!  She was the winner of the Labor Day Sweeps drawing at Pine Tree Society.

Pine Tree Society Sweepstakes raises money to help Pine Tree Society transform lives. For information about the sweepstakes, call us at (207) 443-3341.

For 50 years, Pine Tree Society’s holiday cards have featured quintessential Maine art showcasing the beauty of winter. What a difference a card makes!  Three million dollars in card sales has had a tremendous impact and transformed the lives of people with disabilities.

When you send your holiday cards this year, you can do so with pride knowing that Maine artists are helping you help Maine people, one card at a time.

This year’s cards feature work by Richard Hasenfus of Georgetown and Marieluise Hutchinson of Cushing. Both artists have designed cards for Pine Tree Society in previous years.  In fact, Richard Hasenfus’ first card design, titled “Peaceful Harbor,” was in 1969.

“Big Red Barn”

Marieluise Hutchinson brings us a captivating painting featuring everything we love about winter in Maine.  A fresh blanket of snow has covered the ground and the earth is still except for the smoke wafting from the chimney.  The big red barn is adorned with a simple wreath and a vintage truck holds the perfect Christmas tree waiting to be decorated.

“Schooner in the Harbor”

The rugged nature of the people of Maine shines through in this painting by Richard Hasenfus.  Cold, wind and waves will not stop this sailor from delivering a Christmas tree to the keepers of this coastal island lighthouse.  The crew of the tall ship watches as the sailor makes the special delivery.

You can order your cards by calling (207) 443-3341; stopping in to the 149 Front Street, Bath location between the hours of 8:30 and 5:00, Monday through Friday; or online at https://app.etapestry.com/cart/PineTreeSociety/default/index.php

On the weekend of September 2-4, the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center partnered with Pine Tree Camp to put on the first Water Sports Weekend. It was a two day event held at Pine Tree Camp and there were a total of 17 participants and 20 volunteers. The participants had the chance to try kayaking, paddle boarding, rowing, sailing and adaptive cycling. The weekend events also included pontoon boat rides, fishing, swimming and a campfire both nights. It was a great chance to try out new activities in a supportive environment. There were plenty of volunteers around to make all of the activities accessible to each participant’s ability level.

This was the first time paddle boarding and rowing have ever been offered as activities at Pine Tree Camp. The rowing team had participants start out doing training in technique on land first, using a rowing machine and then progressing to a boat with an instructor with them. It was amazing to see how quickly people were able to improve their skills!

Pine Tree Camp Director, Dawn Willard-Robinson said, “Paddle boarding was such a huge hit that we are going to offer it as an activity during our camp sessions next summer. We were able to adapt the boards by adding a seat to them. This allows people to be able to use them in a variety of different ways depending on their comfort level, sitting, kneeling or standing.”

She adds, “The big highlights of the weekend were seeing participants try new activities even if they were hesitant or even nervous being in the water! They all made new friends and we had a beautiful sunset cruise on the last night. We are already starting to plan for next year. The group is committed to adding more participants and also to add water skiing to the list of activities.”

To see more photos, go to https://www.facebook.com/pinetreecamp/

On Friday evening, September 16, Pine Tree Society in Bath opened its doors to the public during the Bath Art Walk.

Art enthusiasts viewed “A Maine Retrospective,” a large collection of Maine art representing paintings selected as annual  holiday card designs over a span of more than 50 years.  There were over 60 paintings on display, representing all aspects of Maine in the winter – country scenes, woods and fields, the coast and lighthouses.  The earliest paintings in the collection date back to the 1960’s.

Featured were the paintings chosen for Pine Tree Society’s 2016 Holiday Cards.  Big Red Barn, by Marieluise Hutchinson and Schooner in the Harbor by Richard Hasenfus. Those holiday cards are on sale now and will support Pine Tree Society’s full range of services designed to help Maine people with disabilities lead active, more socially connected lives.

The annual holiday card campaign has had an amazing impact on the people served by Pine Tree Society.  It is estimated that collectively the artwork showcased during the Art Walk represents about $3 million in holiday cards sales over the past 50 years.  Those funds have gone directly to transform the lives of Maine people with disabilities.

On Wed., July 20, Pine Tree Society honored the 2016 recipients of the Spirit of Pine Tree Society award.  The profile below is the story of posthumous honoree Marie Preston.  Learn more about the other honorees: Priority Learning of South Portland and Dave Johnson, owner of Kennebec Electric of Waterville.

Marie Preston was the second Executive Director of Pine Tree Society – or Easter Seals as it was known — and was instrumental in establishing Pine Tree Camp in 1945.

Her son, Jim Preston, was eight years old at the time and recalls that it was after the war that his mother became executive director.

Newspaper articles from the time reveal Mrs. Marie I. Preston as a tireless advocate for people with disabilities.  From spearheading conferences to leading fundraising efforts to running Pine Tree Camp and the Hyde Home in Bath, the Lewiston Daily Sun and Evening Journal made frequent mention of her efforts and accomplishments.

She achieved much before she died in December 1956 at the age of 56.

She opened Pine Tree Camp.  She opened the Hyde Home.  She was instrumental in the passage of Maine legislation providing for education of children with disabilities through the Department of Health and Welfare.  Just a year before her death she completed plans for an adult rehabilitation program and workshop at Hyde Home.

When asked what spurred her passion, Jim is sure it was her personal experience with polio that drove her.

“When she was five she had polio. She couldn’t walk and was wheeled around in a baby carriage until she was cured at age eight.  After that, she was physically all right but I’m sure it impacted her.”

When Pine Tree Camp first opened Jim describes it as typical of the time.  There was a main lodge where everyone came together for dining and there were individual cabins in the surrounding woods.

He and his father, Burton Preston, worked together to get ten cabins ready for the first year.

“We planted a big victory garden and grew all the vegetables to feed the campers and counselors.  Originally, the campers had polio and cerebral palsy and there were some who had lost a limb in farm accidents.”

Jim spent five summers there with his mother.  His father died when he was nine.

“I always loved camp.  I have many memories of the kids and of working at the camp as a family.”

He has particularly fond memories of the early years when there were just 15 to 20 small cabins.  “We’d all have dinner together every night and after dinner people would sit around and visit.”

He recalls how it was always a big deal to put the docks in at the start of the summer and that everybody helped out.

“I’ve always been gratified by the experience,” he said.

Mrs. Marie I. Preston instilled the spirit of Pine Tree Camp in her son and in all of us who carry on her legacy today.

Thanks to her, thousands of people of all ages have been gratified by their experience at Pine Tree Camp.

On Wed., July 20, Pine Tree Society honored the 2016 recipients of the Spirit of Pine Tree Society award. The profile below is the story of honoree Dave Johnson, owner of Kennebec Electric in Waterville. Learn more about the other honorees: Priority Learning of South Portland and Marie Preston.

“Freedom. The ability to do any activity you want. Freedom from pity. Freedom from being looked down upon.”

That’s how Carol Brunjes Weaver describes Pine Tree Camp.

Carol is David Johnson’s daughter and she began attending Pine Tree Camp when she was eight-years-old. “Pine Tree Camp restored my faith in myself.”

“What Pine Tree Camp did for Carol was amazing to me,” said David. “She came back from Pine Tree Camp a totally different person and, from that time on, she excelled.”

Carol was born with cerebral palsy.

“Coming out of second grade, I was broken. I’d just turned eight. I had a horrible second grade teacher who didn’t think someone with a disability of any kind should be in her class. That summer I went to camp and it healed me. People just treated me normal.”

For David, the spirit of Pine Tree Society is what Pine Tree Camp does for kids. “What it does for kids’ confidence levels is amazing.”

David is the owner of Kennebec Electric in Waterville. Thirty years ago he was hired to work on an electrical job at Pine Tree Society’s office in Bath. He had never heard of the organization before and when he asked what they did, he knew camp would be a perfect fit for Carol, but he didn’t think their family could afford to send her.

When he learned that no camper had ever been turned away due to their ability to pay, there was nothing that could hold them back from giving it a try and they decided to enroll her. She attended camp for the next 10 years before going to college and becoming a math teacher.

“I will always be grateful for what Pine Tree did for Carol.”

When he learned that Pine Tree Society was building two new cabins as part of its Master Plan for Capital Improvements, he jumped at the chance the help out and offered to wire the buildings for free.

“It’s my way of giving back for what they did for her.”

When asked to describe her father, Carol said, “He is generous to a fault. We were talking the other day and he said he tries to do a good thing for someone every day.”

She and her dad were very close when she was young and they grew apart when she was a teenager.

“Pine Tree Camp brought up back together. It’s something we have in common. It means a lot to me that he puts so much into something that means so much to me.”

David is very humbled by the Spirit of Pine Tree Award.

“Pine Tree Society is one of the greatest organizations in the state of Maine. I love and appreciate them and this award makes me feel grateful and honored at the same time.”