Pine Tree Camp is a finalist in the Summit Natural Gas of Maine 2017 Community Giving and Sponsorship Program.

CAST YOUR VOTE FOR PINE TREE CAMP TODAY!

http://summitnaturalgasmaine.com/community-sponsorship/

This is an easy one-click vote…you are not asked to fill out a contact form.

Your vote can help Pine Tree Camp win a $4,000 grant to benefit the Campership Fund to send people to camp! Each year, we must raise $1 million keep our Open Door promise in place for our campers and their families.  Since 1945, no camper has ever been turned away due to inability to pay tuition.  At Pine Tree Camp, the barrier-free setting, along with an amazing staff, ensure that activities like swimming, fishing, kayaking, hiking, and boating are completely accessible to all.  Participating in activities that take people beyond their disability has a tremendous impact.  It builds self-esteem and self-confidence.  That experience coupled with meeting friends who understand and experiencing the feeling of acceptance is transformational.

Tell everyone you know to vote! Thank you for your support.

Dear Friends:

Someone recently asked me to sum up Pine Tree Camp in one word. I thought for a minute and replied “inspirational.”

Every time I visit Pine Tree Camp I leave feeling inspired. Watching campers who use wheelchairs experience the freedom of kayaking around North Pond.  Seeing the wonder on our campers’ faces as they hike down our accessible nature trail to the accessible treehouse and see a deer for the first time.  Experiencing a camper catch “the big one” on Pine Tree Camp’s accessible pontoon boat.

Something magical happens when our campers come together in a natural environment where barriers have been eliminated and there is free access for participation in the recreational activities for which Maine is famous. From the moment they arrive, campers are immersed in nature with friends by their side.  Friends who understand.

You see the impact immediately, but look closer and you see something more — you will see campers inspiring campers. One camper recently told me about his experience at Pine Tree Camp saying “If they can do it, I know I can do it.” They inspire each other to move beyond their disability.  Campers gain self-confidence.  They are ready to take on the challenges ahead with a positive outlook and hopes and dreams for the future.  It’s incredible to think that Pine Tree Camp’s impact has only just begun when campers leave North Pond after their summer camp experience. Pine Tree Camp transforms lives.

We are proud of our promise to welcome all campers regardless of their ability to pay the $1900 tuition and we couldn’t do it without you. Each year, Pine Tree Camp provides 99% of our campers with full or partial tuition assistance.  This translates into the need to raise $1 million each year to keep our Open Door policy firmly in place.  Pine Tree Camp receives no state or federal funding.

Pine Tree Camp opens its gates for the summer season on June 13. Your help is more important than ever.  Your support of Pine Tree Camp will make a big impact – a lasting impact to our campers.  You give your gift securely online here.  Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

Noel J. Sullivan
President and CEO

Pine Tree Camp and the Pine Tree Society Interpreting Services team are pleased to announce that Camp Sign is accepting applications for the Fall 2017 session.

Camp Sign will welcome campers during the week of October 2-5, 2017.

Camp Sign at Pine Tree Camp is a unique retreat designed for adults who are deaf or use sign or gesture and have an intellectual disability.

Many of our “campers” live in communication isolation as the only deaf person living in group homes scattered throughout Maine and beyond. Camp Sign offers a fun, language-accessible camp experience in a barrier-free environment.

Pine Tree Camp is set on 285 fully accessible acres of woods, fields and more than a mile of waterfront on North Pond in Rome, Maine. During their stay, campers will have the opportunity to connect with a peer group and benefit from participating in a full range of recreational activities all adapted to meet their needs. Campers will stay in beautiful new fully accessible camper cabins with breathtaking views of North Pond.

Hearing staff who work with and support campers will benefit from workshops and training opportunities designed to build skills in Visual Gestural Communication to better support individuals long after Camp Sign has ended.

Click here for more information or to Register for Camp Sign

Pine Tree Camp and the Pine Tree Society Communications Pathways team are pleased to announce that Camp Communicate is accepting applications for the Summer 2017 session. (Update: 5/18/17 – Camp Communicate enrollment has reached capacity for the Summer 2017 session.  Please contact Lori Chesley at (207) 386-5990 or ptcamp@pinetreesociety.org to be placed on the waiting list.)

Camp Communicate will welcome campers who “talk” with devices from around Maine and beyond during the week of June 27 – July 1, 2017.

Camp Communicate is an innovative retreat designed specifically for non-verbal children who use computerized devices to communicate. The children enjoy a unique opportunity to spend time with other augmentative communicators in an accessible summer camp environment. During their stay, they learn new skills, meet new friends and become more comfortable and confident in their communication abilities, all while enjoying traditional summer camp activities such as art and crafts, drama and swimming. Their family members also attend camp to enjoy a week of networking, enrichment activities, and respite time on the beautiful 285 acre campus on North Pond.

Click here for more information

Camp Communicate caught the attention of the local media during the Summer 2017.  Reporters from WLBZ2/WCSH6 and WABI TV5 spent time with campers and their families and shared their stories. Here are the reports from Summer 2016:

WLBZ2/WCSH6

WABI TV5

Dysart’s commitment of Pine Tree Camp is remarkable.  Since 1998, they have been transforming lives of Pine Tree campers by supporting the annual Snowmobile Ride-in.  All fund raised through the Dysart’s Snowmobile Ride-in to benefit Pine Tree Camp go directly to Pine Tree Camp’s Campership Fund.  This ensures that all who can benefit from the Pine Tree Camp can attend regardless of their ability to pay tuition.  Pine Tree Camp’s gratitude to Dysart’s runs deep.

Noel Sullivan, President and CEO of Pine Tree Society, recently presented Dysart’s with a plaque illustrating Dysart’s deep impact to Pine Tree campers.  The generosity of the Dysart’s team has helped send hundreds of Maine children and adults to Pine Tree Camp for a transformative, barrier-free summer camp experience.

Pictured left to Right: Tyler Cary, Pine Tree Society Development Officer, Amy Judson and Tim Dysart of Dysart’s and Noel Sullivan, President and CEO of Pine Tree Society

Registration is now open for the Bath Savings Institution Paddle for Pine Tree Camp on Saturday, June 3. That day will be here before we know it! We’d love to have you join us on the Kennebec!

All paddlers who register by noon on April 17 will be entered into a drawing for a $50 Gift Card to the Bigelow Brewing Company! 

There are two registration options this year (choose one)

If you prefer to raise money either fully online or partially online, and like to use email and social media to help you meet your fundraising goal, register at https://www.firstgiving.com/pts/paddle-for-pine-tree-camp-2017

If you will be raising your funds totally offline and do not want your name to show up as a participant on the Firstgiving Paddle for Pine Tree Camp event page, register at https://pinetreesociety.wufoo.com/forms/2017-paddle-for-pine-tree-camp/

For more information about the event, go to https://www.pinetreesociety.org/events/paddle-for-pine-tree-camp/

If you have any questions or any trouble registering, please get in touch with Lori Manson at (207) 386-5915 or lmanson@pinetreesociety.org.

“Limitless.” That’s how Shelley Zielinski describes Pine Tree Society’s new service: The Hub.  “It’s like nothing people have ever seen before.”

Zielinski is the Director of Adult Support Services at Pine Tree Society.

“So often I hear people say ‘I wish I could’ or ‘I want more,’” said Zielinski. “Now, with The Hub they can.”

The Hub is a service designed for people to be able to do the things they want to do, when they want to do them. Unlike a typical day program where activities are organized during program hours, the concept behind The Hub is that individuals choose what they want to do in their community.

“The Hub is completely community based and Pine Tree Society staff simply facilitates,” said Zielinski. “Someone might want to go to a town meeting to have a voice about a topic that’s important to him or her.  Or maybe they want to take an evening yoga class.  They tell us what they want to do, and we help them achieve what they want.”

Through The Hub, people’s interests, goals and desires are what bring them together out in the community.  Everybody is included; doing everything they want to be doing, when and where they want.

For example, if someone wants to take a yoga class, they do the legwork to locate where to go, find out what they need to do to get there and take part, and Pine Tree Society staff helps facilitate and support them to ask questions and find the solutions.

“The ultimate goal is for individuals to build natural supports so our staff can step back and allow relationships to occur,” said Zielinski. “A lot of day programs focus on community outings. The Hub focuses on people building relationships so they won’t need us anymore.”

Zielinski says she’ll know The Hub is a success when she sees the satisfaction a person has doing what they want to do and making meaningful relationships in their community.

“I love it when someone comes to me and says they did something for the first time,” said Zielinski.

With The Hub, she will be hearing those words a lot.

Congratulations to Michele Prince from Winslow!  She was the winner of the St. Pat’s 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.

Spring. It’s a time of promise, new beginnings and new life.  It’s a season that defines the impact of Pine Tree Society.  We wanted to share two stories with you that illustrate this perfectly.        

“I already feel great confidence.”

That’s what Annique (pictured) said days after she started a short-term supported work experience at Pine Tree Society last year. Annique went through a typical hiring process (complete with an application and interview), was matched with a job coach and earned a market wage.  Annique uncovered skills and built tremendous confidence.  The experience transformed her life.  And she made a tremendous difference at Pine Tree Society, so much so that she is now employed on a part-time basis taking on clerical tasks.

“No offense, but I don’t need you anymore.”

These words were music to the ears of Lillian Scenna, manager of Pine Tree Society’s Career Development Services. After just a few days, her client Kim had settled into her new job as Assistant Swim Instructor at the YMCA and was ready to go it alone.  When Lillian first met Kim just a few months before, she could see right away that she had a higher skill set than she was able to use in the types of jobs she had done in the past.  Lillian worked closely with Kim to uncover her interests and skills.  Together they learned that swimming was one of Kim’s priority areas.  And she had more than 36 Special Olympics swimming medals to prove it.  Lillian arranged for Kim to job shadow with a children’s swim instructor at the Portland YMCA. Right away, the YMCA Director could see Kim was a fit.  They were looking for an assistant swim instructor and asked Kim to apply.  Today she is thriving as the assistant swim instructor and, in turn, she is transforming the lives of the children she is teaching to swim.

Last year we were able to launch our Career Development Services, thanks to your support. Look at the impact you have made.  These are two of hundreds of stories – and we have just begun.  Amazingly, these stories are not unique.  From Pine Tree Camp and case management to the Early Learning Center and speech services, the life stories of our clients are altered thanks to Pine Tree Society’s innovative, individualized commitment to our clients.  And we have you to thank. Your help continues to be critical as we work to expand our impact.  We cannot do it without you, our donor.  Your gift will immediately be put to work to help people with disabilities live fuller more social connected lives.  Your support will transform the lives of thousands of individuals like Annique and Kim.  Thank you for your generosity.

You can make tax-deductible donation securely on-line by clicking here.