Pine Tree Society

Pine Tree Society Blog

Sign Tree Camp at Pine Tree Camp

on

Sign Tree Camp at Pine Tree Camp is a unique retreat designed for adults who are deaf 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. Sign Tree Camp 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 opportunities designed to build skills in Visual Gestural Communication with a goal of supporting individuals long after Sign Tree Camp has ended.

When? September 16-18.

Questions? Read our FAQ here.

For further information or to register, call Maura Nolin at 207-386-5971 or (VP) 207-510-4647.

The sky is the limit at Pine Tree Camp

on

Fifteen years ago, Pine Tree Camp opened its doors to Camp No Limits and the sky has been the limit ever since. What started as a retreat for four families has expanded to serve hundreds of people from around the world.

Camp No Limits is a non-profit founded by Mary Leighten, an occupational therapist from Maine. This program serves children with limb loss; providing education, mentorship and support to these children and their families.

Pine Tree Camp’s 285-acre fully accessible campus is the perfect fit for what they need. From the camp’s fully accessible cabins to the dining hall, tree house, nature trails, and fishing and boating on picturesque North Pond, Camp No Limits attendees can actively participate in all the activities for which Maine is famous, experiencing freedom and independence.

The partnership with Pine Tree Camp goes beyond sharing the uniquely barrier-free space. Pine Tree Camp’s staff provides expertise and consultation services for innovative organizations that are making a difference in peoples lives.

Today, dozens of special purpose programs such as Camp No Limits now call Pine Tree Camp home.

“It’s always been our goal to support other organizations’ programming,” said Pine Tree Camp director, Dawn Willard-Robinson. “By doing so, we increase our impact dramatically. We have a fully accessible, barrier-free summer camp with extremely committed staff who work nonstop to make sure campers are actively participating in anything they want to do. We’ve worked with Camp No Limits from the very beginning and they’re at the point now where the program is at full capacity every summer they’re here.”

One of the most rewarding things she has experienced from hosting this program at Pine Tree Camp is seeing the children who came to Camp No Limits at the beginning grow to help others.

“Kids from the original families in the early years are adults now and have grown to mentor other campers.”

Camp No Limits is just one of dozens of retreat groups who call Pine Tree Camp home. In fact, Pine Tree Camp welcomes close to 2,000 people a year through retreats alone. The experience people have at camp has a lasting, positive impact in their lives through the confidence and independence they gain from their experiences.

The sky is truly the limit for how Pine Tree Camp’s team can help other non-profit organizations with the people they serve. Organizations looking for a barrier-free, natural setting will find Pine Tree Camp the perfect fit.

Learn more about our retreats here.

Camp Communicate is one-of-a-kind

on

Imagine that every day you are the only one in your entire school who can’t verbally speak. You have a lot to say, but you need to use a high-tech communication device with a touchscreen, a switch, or even your eyes to say it.

Then, one day, you’re not the only one: you’re surrounded by kids who use similar devices as you. You’re no longer alone: you’re at Camp Communicate at Pine Tree Camp where all the campers use high-tech devices to communicate.

This innovative five-day program is the only one of its kind in Maine, and one of the only in New England, and took place this summer at Pine Tree Camp’s fully accessible 285-acre facility with Pine Tree Society staff and volunteers experienced in accessible recreation, speech language pathology, and augmentative communication and assistive technology.

This one-of-a-kind camp for children who are non-verbal was once again at full capacity. Kids and their families from across New England came to Maine to experience typical camp fun with a specialized twist.

“We aim to help our campers experience multiple language opportunities, past simply requesting or answering yes and no questions; encouraging them to make comments, advocate for themselves and engage in fun, social activities that connects them in deep and meaningful ways with staff, their families and their peers,” said Linda Bonnar-Ivery, Director of Communication Pathways at Pine Tree Society.

Campers spent a week making friends, learning new skills and becoming comfortable and confident in their communication abilities. All activities and programs focused on the independence kids gain when they are able to communicate. Connections are key for these families who often times feel alone and isolated, and those connections made often last well beyond camp. 

Children’s sessions kick off at Pine Tree Camp

on

We’re all smiles as the summer kids sessions kick off at Pine Tree Camp.

From the opening night campfire to sunny afternoons spending time with friends in the lake, our campers enjoy the freedom to do anything they’d like in the great outdoors.

There’s no better way to get to know someone than to go fishing. It’s a one of a kind experience and we always bring back lots of fish stories to share.  Spending time together in the woods is another thing we love to do.  Listening to the birds and enjoying time on the trails is what summer is all about.

Pretty much any time of the day you’ll hear campers singing favorite songs (not everyone waits until the talent show…) and we always have plenty of creative campers doing a variety of different art projects throughout the week, including tie-dye of course!  Because what would a week at camp be without making a new tie-dye t-shirt?

You’ll find many of us on the playground or out playing soccer.

No matter what we do, we do more than we thought we could. 

Having the chance to experience new things creates a positive ripple effect that impacts our young camper’s lives through increased confidence, independence, social skills and the development of new interests that last a lifetime.

Pine Tree Camp seeking volunteers for barn raising

on

Thanks to the Burger-Roy Charitable Trust and Campbell’s True Value, this summer, Pine Tree Camp will become home to a brand new barn.  Pine Tree Camp stands alone in terms of barrier-free access to nature and nature-based recreation for Maine people with disabilities.  Expanding access to learning about farm animals and how food is grown opens up exciting new possibilities for campers.

“It’s much more than just a barn,” said Noel Sullivan, president and CEO of Pine Tree Society.  “Brent Burger has helped us reimagine what a barn at Pine Tree Camp can accomplish.  It’s a proud symbol of our community and a gateway to a whole new world for Maine people with disabilities.  This addition to our campus gives us the chance to expand our programming around farm animals and gardening in ways we would not be able to do otherwise.”

Brent Burger is the co-owner of Campbell’s True Value and has given a hand in designing the structure, and envisioning the community coming together for an old-fashioned barn raising this summer.  The entire project will be funded through the Burger-Roy Charitable Trust, and will be supported by local partners, Higgins Construction will do all of the site work, and Kavestone Construction will oversee the building of the structure.

“Raising a barn is easily accomplished with teamwork,” Burger said.  “And teamwork is what Pine Tree Camp is all about.  Traditional barn raisings create a time to come together as a community to help, and that pays dividends in big, and sometimes unforeseen ways, which is what can make an event like this so special.”

Dawn Willard-Robinson is the director of Pine Tree Camp and explained why the connection to farm animals and an agricultural experience will make a difference.

“People with disabilities need nature as much as people who do not have disabilities.  The reality is, they simply aren’t as able to access the outdoors in their everyday life. Whether it’s learning how to feed and care for animals or getting their hands dirty in the garden, our campers will now have even more opportunities to connect with nature in unique and meaningful ways that impact their lives all year-round.”

The community barn raising will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 28.  Pine Tree Camp is seeking volunteers to help with the barn raising.  People with and without building skills are welcome.  To volunteer, please provide your name and contact information here.

Let’s take a walk at Pine Tree Camp

on

Camp Director Dawn Willard-Robinson took a walk on Pine Tree Camp’s nature trail with long-time camper Linda “Jonesy” Jones Townsend. The two met in 1985 when Dawn began working at Pine Tree Camp. Jonesy has attended camp since the 1970s. Listen to their chat about why Pine Tree Camp is so important to them below.

Major Programming at Pine Tree Camp

on

On opening day of each Pine Tree Camp Session, campers get to sign up for one of our “major programs” that they will participate in each morning. This year, our four major programs are: arts & crafts, music & drama, sportsmanship, and outdoor adventure skills.

Assistant Camp Director Mary Schafhauser shared with us the importance of these activities and the impact they have on our campers. Learn more by watching the video below!

2019 Pine Tree Camp season in full swing

on

Our first campers of the 2019 Pine Tree Camp season rolled down the dirt road to North Pond on Tuesday, June 18th. We captured some special moments between camp staff and our campers to share the excitement! Check out the video below.

 

Pine Tree Camp Staff Fun Day

on

Before camp got into full swing, all staff participated in a day about immersing themselves in the activities Pine Tree Camp offers to our campers. We caught up with Mary Schafhauser, Pine Tree Camp’s Assistant Director to hear more about the Staff Fun Day. Mary shared that it was important for employees to get to know all aspects of camp and to understand that nothing runs smoothly without staff giving 100% effort. Watch what Mary has to say below.