Pine Tree Camp’s unique Family Camp is an incredible opportunity for families to stay together overnight in a fully accessible, heated cabin this winter. Kids and adults with disabilities and their families can enjoy time together snowshoeing the trails, ice fishing, sledding, going on themed scavenger hunts, eagle-spotting, doing arts & crafts, cooking, or simply sitting back and enjoying cocoa and s’mores by the cozy campfire.

Family Camp overnights will be offered twice times this winter. Reservations are required, and partial and full tuition assistance is available.

When:

• February 17-20
• March 10-12

Apply today!

Returning campers: Log into your account and select Family Camp you would like to attend.

New campers: Create an account and apply for the weekend that works best for you.

What more can we do for Maine people with disabilities? That’s a question we continuously challenge ourselves with every day.

Today, we’re asking YOU for 15 minutes of your time to take a brief, confidential Statewide Community Needs Assessment survey.

The 15 minutes you take today will help us capture the greatest challenges and needs among people living with disabilities in Maine and map a course for how to meet those evolving needs long into the future.

Your participation will help us learn how we can more effectively address and break down the barriers for people living with disabilities face and how we can help everyone in our community achieve the very best possible quality of life.

Discovering abilities together means just that: working together to find solutions. This survey is a critical part of achieving that goal.

All responses will be kept confidential, and the survey results will be shared this Spring.

Don’t delay; this survey will close Friday, January 27^th at 5:00pm.

Thank you for sharing your voice by taking 15 minutes today to complete our Statewide Community Needs Assessment survey.

Since 1945, Pine Tree Camp has welcomed all campers who could benefit regardless of their ability to pay tuition.

But what does Pine Tree Camp’s “Open Door” tuition assistance policy really mean?

The answer is simple:

It means families tell us what they can afford, and the remainder is funded through Pine Tree Camp’s Open Door Fund. No questions asked.

It means finances are not a barrier, and Pine Tree Camp is truly accessible.

Check out all of Pine Tree Camp’s programs for kids and adults with disabilities and submit your application today. It’s easy!

Returning families apply here.

New families apply here.

Pine Tree Camp’s unique Adventure Day Pass provides a safe and accessible way for Maine people with disabilities and their families to be engaged and active outdoors this winter.

“Whether it’s snowshoeing for the first time or experiencing the thrill of ice fishing, keeping people connected is the very essence of what we do,” said Pine Tree Camp director, Dawn Willard-Robinson. “Adventure Day Pass is a way to safely bring our community together outdoors to experience the freedom of trying something new this winter.”

Pine Tree Camp Adventure Day Pass will be offered four times this winter. Pre-registration is required, and financial assistance is available up to 100%! Activities include:

• Snowshoeing our gorgeous trails
• Ice fishing
• Sledding
• Indoor arts and crafts
• Warming hut
• Cocoa and s’mores by the campfire
• Plenty of surprises

When:

• Saturday February 18, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Monday February 20, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Saturday March 11, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Apply today!

In celebration of the holiday season, Auburn’s Community Support program spent the morning of December 20^th getting into the holiday spirit by building their very own gingerbread houses from scratch.

The group used graham crackers, sticky frosting, and lots of holiday-themed candies to design their masterpieces.

These edible pieces of art were sent home with the group members today to decorate their personal spaces with some holiday cheer.

Happy holidays from all of us at Pine Tree Society!

At Pine Tree Society’s Early Learning Center in Auburn, this holiday season was filled with new experiences and opportunities to learn about traditions like Hanukkah, Christmas, gift giving and helping others. As the students tried new things, they had so much fun they didn’t even realize how much they were learning.

“Spinning a dreidel is not just exciting, it requires fine motor skills to make it happen,” said Karen McClure-Richard, director of the Early Learning Center. “Listening to a children’s book about Hanukkah being read aloud requires practicing skills like sitting still, paying attention and listening.”

When kids are learning through play, unexpected things can happen that take the opportunity even further.

“One of our kiddos doesn’t talk,” recalled Karen. “She sings a little, but we can’t always make out the words. She lit the last candle on the menorah and her face lit up and she spontaneously started singing ‘Happy Birthday’ for all of us to hear. It was wonderful. For her, candles meant ‘birthday’ and she was able to express that clearly with her words.”

The holiday season is also a time for the kids to try new foods with different textures and practice sitting at the table using utensils. Something as simple as removing the foil wrapper from a piece of candy requires patience and determination to see it through.

“Bringing in special activities like holiday celebrations also requires students to experience a change in their usual routine,” Karen concluded. “That’s how they can learn to go with the flow, adapt and participate. Change can cause many different types of emotions, and this is an opportunity for the kiddos to learn how to be resilient in the moment.”

In the spirit of the season, each child was given a book and a pair of homemade mittens to take home. From sharing, to helping others, to learning about different traditions, the experiences gained this holiday season will carry over into many aspects of the children’s lives as they develop and grow.

You can do it.

You got this.

Yes you can!

Those are just some of the encouraging words the half-dozen runners on Pine Tree Society’s Community Support Program team heard from the sidelines at the Santa Shuffle 5K Run/Walk for the Children in Bridgton.

“This was our second 5K of the season,” said Pine Tree Society direct support professional Deb Cote. “We were all at different paces and had a lot of fun supporting each other. After the race we went out for pizza wearing our finisher medals and t-shirts and everyone congratulated our success. It was such a good feeling. It was just delightful.”

Deb is a certified Special Olympics trainer and the head of Pine Tree Society’s Special Olympics delegation in Androscoggin County.

“A lot of our clients take part in Special Olympics,” she continued. “There are so many different sports now. From bowling to tennis to swimming to skiing, there’s something for everyone. We get outside as much as we can. It’s important to stay active in the colder months so you don’t lose your conditioning.”

For Deb, staying active is as much about being together out in the community as it is about staying in shape. Taking part in events like 5Ks and Special Olympics gives people the chance to explore, try new things, learn about each other and make friends that last a lifetime.

Next up, Pine Tree Society’s community support participants are planning a trip to Old Orchard Beach on New Year’s Day for the annual Lobster Dip to raise money for Special Olympics. And, after the winter Special Olympics conclude, this spring they’ll take part in the Bath Savings Paddle for Pine Tree Camp.

“It’s become an annual tradition for us. The Paddle is a particularly good event for people in our group who don’t have a lot of stamina because they can try paddling in a tandem kayak,” Deb said. “It’s the perfect fit for someone to experience something new outdoors for the first time. Once they try it, they love it and want to paddle more.”