Be sure to tune in to WABI-TV 5 on Friday, February 5 at 5 p.m. as they feature Pine Tree Camp’s work to transform the lives of Maine people with disabilities and their families during this challenging time. They’ll feature stories on our new winter programming and host a telethon live from Pine Tree Camp. Join us!
From the team at Pine Tree Camp, our campers and their families, thank you WABI-TV 5 for your on-going support of Pine Tree Camp’s impact.
Last week journalist Deirdre Fleming of the Portland Press Herald made a visit to Pine Tree Camp for a tour of the campus and an interview with director Dawn Willard-Robinson and assistant director Mary Schafhauser. In the article that followed her visit, Fleming details the ways in which programming has been adapted to impact Maine people with disabilities and their families while also overcoming the ever-changing difficulties posed by COVID-19. The story highlights the great success of Pine Tree Camp’s Adventure Day Pass, a program which served over 1,000 people between June and October – and has now expanded to winter. Read the article here.
Made possible, in part, by L.L.Bean.
For 76 summers, Pine Tree Camp has been the place Maine people with disabilities return to experience a barrier-free summer camp filled with traditional Maine outdoor activities.
For the first time ever, this winter people can experience Pine Tree Camp like they’ve never seen it before: under a blanket of snow!
Pine Tree Camp Adventure Day Pass provides a safe, physically distanced and accessible way for Maine people with disabilities and their families to get outdoors and experience the restorative benefits of nature. Activities are supported by experienced staff following covid-19 protocols to keep our guests safe.
“We will offer snowshoeing, ice fishing, nature exploration and, of course, s’mores by the fire,” said camp
director Dawn Willard-Robinson. “We can’t wait to welcome our community to see North Pond in the winter.”
The Harold and Bibby Alfond Dining Hall will be open as a warming hut complete with safe, physically distanced tables where families can picnic and take part in craft breaks at separate, assigned tables; providing
the chance to stretch their imaginations in addition to exercising outside.
Pine Tree Camp Adventure Day Pass activities include:
“Accessible access to the outdoors has never been more important and Pine Tree Camp is committed to filling that need,” Dawn continued. “Keeping people connected is the very essence of what we do, and, during this time of physical distancing, that’s more important than ever.”
Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Register for Pine Tree Camp Adventure Day Pass at this link: Pine Tree Camp Adventure Day Pass Registration.
Made possible, in part, by L.L.Bean
This week News Center Maine featured a story on a creative way that Dysart’s is continuing to raise funds for the Snowmobile Ride-In to benefit Pine Tree Camp in this unusual year.
How do they do it?
This year you can enjoy one of Dysart’s classic chicken pot pies and for every pie sold $5 will be donated to Pine Tree Camp. This fundraiser is truly delicious!
Check out the story, featuring an interview with camp director Dawn Willard-Robinson, at this link.
Dear Pine Tree Camp family,
As 2020 is quickly drawing to a close, we are approaching 2021 with excitement and flexibility.
To that end, we moved the Pine Tree Camp summer overnight program applications release date from January to March. This change will allow for strong decision making on what our summer programming looks like. Please stay tuned, and we will let you know when applications are ready.
I also want to share some exciting news with you about program expansion and new opportunities. Pine Tree Camp Adventure Day Pass has been a tremendous success. We are thrilled to expand Adventure Day Pass to winter starting in February 2021. We will offer programming like adaptive snowshoeing, ice fishing, exploration and of course, s’mores by the fire. I hope your entire family will come and visit North Pond this winter. More details to come.
Until then, please accept my sincere best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season.
In the 1960s, Pine Tree Society, headquartered in Bath, had the idea that a Maine-themed holiday card would be a perfect fundraiser. More than fifty years later, that tradition is still going strong and annual sales have raised over $3 million dollars to support and transform the lives of Maine people with disabilities.
Bath artist Sandy Crabtree’s paintings have been featured on Pine Tree Society’s holiday cards 12 times. This year, Pine Tree Society went back to its archives to offer a special, limited edition rerelease of a customer favorite featuring her painting of Pemaquid Lighthouse.
Crabtree is a noted children’s book illustrator and a longtime Bath resident who taught at Morse High School for nearly 30 years.
Her painting “Winter Sunlight’ captures one of Maine’s most photographed lighthouses and its keeper’s cottage on Maine’s rocky coast. A crisp winter day serves as the backdrop for a snow-covered landscape of twinkling lights with a festive balsam wreath adorning the cottage.
“Pine Tree Society’s art collection is wonderful and I love being a part of it,” she said. “You never know how it strikes people’s hearts. The holiday cards evoke feelings of nostalgia for Maine as a place where you grew up or visited.”
One hundred percent of proceeds from annual holiday card sales support Pine Tree Society’s programs. Cards are available in two formats, folding and postcards, and each purchase has a very important purpose: to help Maine people with disabilities lead richer, more socially connected lives.
Holiday cards can be ordered online here or by calling 207-386-5912.
The holiday season might look a little different this year, but many traditions remain the same, such as the simple joy of sending – and receiving – a special card from a friend or family member.
“We are getting orders from all over the country,” said Erin Rice, chief development officer for Pine Tree Society. “We are seeing first-hand how people are getting back to basics and realizing how much a hand written card means and how it forges connections with loved ones during this time of physical distancing.”
Pine Tree Society’s holiday cards have been a Maine tradition for 50 years. In the 1960s, Pine Tree Society had the idea that a Maine-themed holiday card would be a perfect fundraiser. Since that time, annual sales have raised over $3 million dollars to support and transform the lives of Maine people with disabilities.
One hundred percent of proceeds from annual holiday card sales support Pine Tree Society’s programs and help Maine people with disabilities lead richer, more socially connected lives.
This year, Pine Tree Society brought back two of its most popular cards, Sandy Crabtree’s “Winter Sunlight” and Carlton Plummer’s “Dover-Foxcroft Village.” These cards are beautiful renderings of one of Maine’s most photographed lighthouses and a quintessential Maine village during the holidays.
Sandy Crabtree’s paintings have been featured on Pine Tree Society’s holiday cards 12 times. She is a noted children’s book illustrator and a longtime Bath resident who taught at Morse High School for nearly 30 years.
Plummer, who passed away in February, was born in Brunswick and spent his childhood on his grandparents’ farm outside Augusta before attending art school in Boston. He served as a combat artist during the Vietnam War before going on to become a full-time painter and professor of art.
Holiday cards can be ordered online at here or by calling 207-386-5912.
Bath, Maine (November 16, 2020) – The holiday season might look a little different this year, but many traditions remain the same, such as the simple joy of sending – and receiving – a special card from a friend or family member.
Pine Tree Society’s holiday cards have been a Maine tradition for 50 years. One hundred percent of proceeds from annual holiday card sales support Pine Tree Society’s programs and help Maine people with disabilities lead richer, more socially connected lives.
This year, Pine Tree Society brought back one of its most popular cards featuring Maine artist Carlton Plummer’s painting “Dover-Foxcroft Village.”
“Dover-Foxcroft Village” is a captivating rendition of this quintessential Maine village during the holidays with neighbors coming together to share a sunny and brisk winter’s day amidst the snow-covered roads, trees and homes.
Plummer, who passed away in February, was born in Brunswick and spent his childhood on his grandparents’ farm outside Augusta before attending art school in Boston and becoming a full-time painter and professor of art.
Holiday cards can be ordered online at here or by calling 207-386-5912.
“She makes everyone feel at home the moment they walk through the door.”
That’s how Noel Sullivan, president and CEO of Pine Tree Society describes Robin Galleher, MSPA-A, CCC-A.
Robin has been the Director of Audiology at Pine Tree Society since 1999. This October, she is retiring after 21 years of service.
“Robin built Pine Tree Society’s Audiology Department into what it is today: a premier provider of audiologic services,” Noel said. “She enjoys getting to know her clients and understanding their needs. The audiology program she developed blends the highest standard of audiologic care with comprehensive education; allowing each client to find the right solution for their hearing loss.”
Robin has been an audiologist for 41 years and has a diverse background.
“My first job was working with people with developmental disabilities. I then worked at a hospital for many years with my husband, who is also an audiologist,” she recalled. “When I first started at Pine Tree Society, the audiology program had been successfully operating for some time and they were looking for new ways to grow the program. There was a true need in the community and there was a lot of room for growth. I’m proud of what we’ve done and what I’ve accomplished. I’m glad I chose to become an audiologist.”
As past president of the Maine Academy of Audiology, Robin worked to enrich and improve audiology in the state of Maine by helping organize statewide conferences featuring leading experts in the field.
“In the 19 years I have known Robin, I have always been impressed by the thoughtfulness she brings to her work,” said Terry Berkowitz, Chief Operations Officer of Pine Tree Society.
Robin brought that same care and thoughtfulness to her succession planning. In 2017, when recruiting for an opening in the audiology program, Robin was looking for her successor. After a careful search, Rich Bothfeld, Au.D. CCC-A, F-AAA was selected to join the team.
Upon Robin’s retirement, Rich will become Pine Tree Society’s new Director of Audiology.
“Rich believes in the mission, vision and values of Pine Tree Society,” Robin said. “I am confident he will continue to put the needs of our clients first and successfully grow the program.”
Rich looks forward to the challenge and to the opportunity to build upon Robin’s legacy.
“Even though the field of audiology is ever changing, the core of the department that Robin both professionally and personally worked so hard to create, will not only carry Pine Tree Society’s audiology department into the future, but allow it to grow and flourish to provide the best audiologic care to the residents of Mid-Coast Maine,” he said.