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Every child deserves to experience the magic of summer camp

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“When he was born, he was diagnosed with cancer and we knew then he would be paralyzed from the waist down.”  That’s the story Elizabeth, mother of now six-year-old Kellen, recently told us.  She remembers thinking, “We’re in the middle of Maine, there’s not going to be anything for this kiddo.”

Then his physical therapist told Elizabeth and her husband Dan about Pine Tree Camp.

“She said there was a wonderful place in Rome called Pine Tree Camp and, when he was old enough, he was going to love it,” recalled Elizabeth.

His physical therapist was right. Kellen Pine Tree Camp

Kellen went to Pine Tree Camp last year.  For the first time, being in a wheelchair did not matter.  He was immersed in Maine’s beautiful outdoors participating in activities that we may take for granted…swimming in North Pond’s cool waters…exploring our network of accessible nature trails…fishing for a prized bass and swinging on our custom wheelchair swing.  He was just one of the gang.  He made friends…friends that will last a lifetime.

It’s true…Pine Tree Camp’s sessions are six-days, but the impact on our campers lasts forever.

Today, Kellen is counting down the days to go to Pine Tree Camp again.

I know that you share our belief that every child should be able to experience the magic of summer camp.  Together, we can ensure that all children are able to experience the magic of Pine Tree Camp this summer, regardless of their families’ ability to pay tuition.  Pine Tree Camp receives no state or federal funding.  We rely on the generous support of friends like you.

Won’t you please consider a donation to Pine Tree Camp today?  Your gift will make such an impact in the lives of our campers this summer.  We thank you!

Sincerely,

Pine Tree Society CEO Noel Sullivan
Noel J. Sullivan
President and CEO

P.S.  Click here today to give your tax-deductible donation securely on-line.

Keeping the drive for Camp alive

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Linda Bonnar of Brunswick started paddling for Pine Tree Camp 22 years ago at the very first paddle.  She was a  counselor supervisor at the time.

“I was just out of college and thought I had the world by the tail,” recalled Bonnar.  “I learned so much about myself at Pine Tree Camp and that there were so many more things important in life besides just myself.  I learned my work ethic there.”

It was while working at Pine Tree Camp that she developed her love for working with people.

“I saw how important Pine Tree Camp was to so many people,” she continued.  “Campers live for camp.  There are no barriers and it’s a place where they are immersed in activities and feel just like everybody else.  When camp ends, they can’t wait to come back next year to see their friends.”

Bonnar earned her master’s degree while working at Pine Tree Camp and knew that Pine Tree Society is where she wanted to have her career.  “They had a mission that met who I was as a person.”

She spent 16 years working at Pine Tree Camp. Today, she is the Director of Communication Pathways, Pine Tree Society’s speech language and Assistive Technology program, and has been with the organization for over 30 years.

Bonnar paddles for Pine Tree Camp for a lot of reasons. Linda Bonnar Paddle for Pine Tree Camp

“It’s one way to give back to a place that gave me so much.  I know how important it is and how challenging it can be for families financially.  We’ve always very much believed in an open door policy.  No one is ever held back due to an inability to pay.  The paddle is one way I can give back to help keep that open door policy in place.”

Bonnar’s goal is to raise $1900, enough money to send one camper to Pine Tree Camp this year.

This year’s paddle is also particularly meaningful for her personally.

“This year is very special for me.  A person at camp who I was very close to when I was young died this year.  He was a mentor who did a lot for me.  I feel very blessed to have known him.  He was a person who made us realize why camp was important and that the campers always came first.  I’m paddling in his memory to celebrate knowing him and to keep his drive for camp alive.”

Pine Tree Society partners with Portland Stage for ASL interpreted performance

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ASL Interpreted performance at Portland StageIn April, Pine Tree Society’s Interpreting Services team partnered with Portland Stage to provide American Sign Language interpreting for their performance of The Niceties.

“Imagine watching TV without sound. That’s what watching this play without ASL interpretation would have been like for me,” said audience member Lisette. “I would have been looking at the actions and just hoping to understand.”

Lisette enjoys going to live theatre and finds that plays are more focused on dialogue than action, which makes it very hard to follow without interpretation.

“The Niceties was an intense play that hit on many hot button issues around racism and discrimination,” noted Maura Nolin, Director of Interpreting Services at Pine Tree Society. “The interpreters worked to interpret those issues and ideas effectively to be sure the nuances were carried through.”

The interpreters prepare by studying the script and attending performances. When possible, they also watch video or listen to audio recordings of the production.Pine Tree Society sign language interpreters at Portland Stage

“They make sure they understand the goals of the play first, then they begin to build an interpretation,” Maura continued. “For example, there are two signs for the United States Constitution. They discuss each sign and determine which is the best fit so both interpreters are using the same sign.”

For Lisette, the theme of racial oppression and the discussion back and forth between the two characters left her thinking about discrimination in a general sense and the parallels with what people with disabilities and people who are Deaf face in society.

“These were the two best interpreters I have ever seen doing a play,” she said. “I really enjoyed that.”

According to Noel Sullivan, Pine Tree Society’s President and CEO, the partnership with Portland Stage aligns with the organization’s vision of providing opportunities for Maine people with disabilities to connect with the community.

“Pine Tree Society works every day throughout Maine to help people with disabilities live fuller, richer, more socially connected lives,” said Noel. “Our work to bring performing arts to those who otherwise would not have the opportunity is another example of this commitment.”

Campers and staff count down the days to Pine Tree Camp

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“She loved Cabin Wars!”

That’s what Kylee’s father, Donald, said was her favorite part of camp last summer.

“It was Super Hero week and Cabin 4’s theme was Wonder Woman,” he said. “They earned points for decorating, and her cabin won.”

For Donald, the highlight of the week is seeing the absolute joy she experiences and how much fun she has.Kylee at Pine Tree Camp

“This week is about Kylee,” he said.

Kylee will soon be 15 and has been attending Pine Tree Camp since she was eight years old. As soon as camp is over, she is already counting down the days until the following summer. With every passing day, Kylee’s countdown is getting shorter and shorter.

Pine Tree Camp’s application season is in full swing and Dawn Willard-Robinson, director of Pine Tree Camp says campers like Kylee can expect a few enhancements to programming this summer.

“Our campers have been telling us that they would like opportunities to build more skills in specific areas,” said Willard-Robinson. “Based on that feedback, we added a new aspect to our programming that will allow campers to spend more time in areas that are of interest to them and set goals around that activity. For example, if a camper chooses to focus on outdoor camping, they can focus on skills like building a fire, cooking a one-pot meal and building a shelter. In drama, they can act or direct a play. In music, they can learn chords on an instrument and write their own song.”

According to Willard-Robinson, for campers like Kylee, learning new skills and exceeding expectations at Pine Tree Camp has a dramatic impact that gives them the confidence to try new things when they return home.

“People try things at Pine Tree Camp that they may not be willing to try at school,” said Willard-Robinson. “Pine Tree Camp offers a safe place to try new things alongside friends who understand and support each other. Our campers then take that skill they’ve learned or a new love of an activity and translate that into something they can do when they aren’t at camp, like joining the drama club at school or participating in Special Olympics. Pine Tree Camp’s impact is more than just the length of the session. The experience impacts our campers for a lifetime.”

Pine Tree Society awarded grant from LACF

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The Lewiston Auburn Children’s Foundation awarded an $800 grant to Pine Tree Society to help with improvements to their Early Learning Center, located at 589 Minot Avenue.

LACF awards grant to Pine Tree Society

Gretchen Rosen of the Lewiston Auburn Children’s Foundation (center) presents a check to Noel Sullivan, Pine Tree Society President & CEO and Karen McClure-Richard, Director of the Early Learning Center.

 

The Early Learning Center, which serves children with disabilities from age three to six, will use the gift to purchase new floor mats for the indoor gross motor play area where the children can participate in active play, regardless of the weather.

Pine Tree Society President and CEO, Noel Sullivan said, “The Lewiston Auburn Children’s Foundation has supported a number of initiatives at the Early Learning Center over the years. Their longstanding financial support has made a direct impact on the positive outcomes we see for our children and their families. We are grateful for their generosity.”

View the press release in the Lewiston Sun Journal here.

Read more about the renovations at the Early Learning Center here.

Renovations planned to transform Early Learning Center

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“We are so happy you’re here!”

Those words echo the hallways as children arrive at Pine Tree Society’s Early Learning Center, a unique preschool for children with disabilities who have experienced significant trauma in their young lives.

“Our number one goal from the moment our children step through the door is to make sure their basic needs are met,” said Karen McClure-Richard, Director of the Early Learning Center. “This looks quite different herEarly Learning Center puzzle timee than it does in a typical preschool. The reality for our children is such that we work to first ensure their physical needs are met. We make sure they have warm clothes and enough food to eat. Simultaneously we work to make sure they feel safe, loved and that they belong. We know that these pieces must be in place for the children we serve before learning can take place.”

While the preschool team is essential in ensuring that the needs of the children are met, the building that is home to the program – and children – is just as important. According to President and CEO, Noel Sullivan, Pine Tree Society is focused on making major upgrades to the aging building.

“The building has been cited as the number one challenge for Pine Tree Society as it works to have a deeper impact on the children and families in the community,” said Sullivan. “Our plan addresses critical issues around health, safety, functionality and comfort of the children we serve.”

Additionally, the plan calls for more program space to expand the Early Learning Center.

“There is a significant need in the community for our trauma-sensitive approach to early intervention,” said Sullivan. “Renovation of the building will allow us to expand our programming to meet the unmet need in the Lewiston/Auburn community and beyond.”

 

Community support participants honored for volunteer service

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Individuals from Pine Tree Society’s Auburn Community Support Program attended Maine Wildlife Park’s Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on March 29, 2018. Individuals who volunteered for 20 hours or more throughPine Tree Society Community Service at Maine Wildlife Parkout the 2017 season were recognized for their hard work and dedication to the Maine Wildlife Park. Individuals received a certificate, Maine Wildlife Park hat and print as a sign of appreciation from the staff of the park. Peter Pinette, DSP at Pine Tree Society, received “The Friend of the Friends Award”. This award is presented to the member of the professional park staff who best represents and fulfills the goals of The Maine Wildlife Park. We couldn’t be prouder of Peter and the Pine Tree Society Team that dedicate so much of their time giving back to the park and the animals that live there.

This is not the first time the Community Support participants have been honored for their volunteer work at Maine Wildlife Park.  You can read more about their experience here.

Pine Tree Society to provide ASL interpreters for Portland Stage production in April

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Pine Tree Society is pleased to partner with Portland Stage to make the arts more accessible to the Deaf community by providing American Sign Language interpreters for the performance of The Niceties taking place on Thursday, April 19 at 7:30 pm.

In this riveting two-person drama Zoe, a black student, and Janine, her white professor, meet to discuss their differing views on Zoe’s paper about slavery and the American Revolution. This polite clash of ideas soon landslides into an explosive discussion of race, history, privilege, and social justice.

Seating for this ASL-interpreted performance is located in the orchestra, house right. There will be two interpreters seated in front of the stage, house right, for the duration of this performance.

A limited number of complimentary tickets are available via Pine Tree Society, and advance reservations are required. Please contact Tim Wilbur at twilbur@pinetreesociety.org or call 207-386-5974 (voice) or 207-510-4647 (VP)  to reserve seats.

For more information about The Niceties, visit https://www.portlandstage.org/show/the-niceties/.

Pine Tree Society helps people in Maine with disabilities lead richer, more socially connected lives. Too often, people with disabilities feel left out, even isolated. With the help of Pine Tree Society, they’re not alone. We share a spirit of innovation and desire to discover new ways to break down barriers that many find insurmountable. It started as a bold new idea in 1936 and it continues every day.

In her own voice

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Imagine for a moment knowing that within months you will lose your voice forever. This is the reality for Lisa.

Lisa’s voice is weaker than it was in 2014 when she was first diagnosed with ALS. Commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, ALS affects the parts of the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement, including the ability to speak.Pine Tree Society Communication Pathways

The team at Pine Tree Society is working with Lisa to set up tools that will allow her to communicate in her own voice after she loses the ability to talk.

Pine Tree Society’s speech language pathologists are recording Lisa’s voice into a message bank. Because she is losing the ability to use her arms and hands, we are teaching Lisa to use eye-tracking technology. Eye tracking is a perfect fit for people who are unable to physically use a computer mouse or type on a keyboard. A special camera picks up light reflections from Lisa’s pupils and translates that movement into the movement of her mouse cursor. Lisa can then select the item by staring at the screen for a length of time and blinking. Through the use of eye motion, she’ll be able to select words, letters and icons on a device to communicate what she wishes to say from her personalized message bank.

For someone who has lost the ability to speak, being able to have a way to communicate in their own voice is very empowering and is also irreplaceable for loved ones. After she’s lost her voice, her family will still be able to hear her say “I love you,” ask how their day was and Lisa will be able to let them know what she needs.

The funding Pine Tree Society receives through reimbursement for services only covers a portion of our expenses. We need your help to continue to offer these innovative, life-changing services to people like Lisa. Your donation will be put to work immediately to impact the lives of Maine children and adults with disabilities and their families. This year, we project we will impact more than 8,000 people throughout the State of Maine. We cannot do it without you.  Together, we can transform lives. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Pine Tree Society CEO Noel Sullivan

Noel J. Sullivan
President and CEO