Pine Tree Society

Pine Tree Society Blog

Early Learning Center End of Year Celebration

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“I wanted to thank all of you for everything you do. I know we could go with, ‘it’s our job.’ But, really, you all are so thorough and positive and patient. It’s pretty fantastic.”

That’s an email Karen McClure-Richard, Director of Pine Tree Society’s Early Learning Center in Auburn, received from a mother at the end of the year.

The Early Learning Center provides educational programming for young children with special needs. Sarah Burtchell’s daughter, Makayla, is three and a half years old. She was one of 32 children marking their achievements at the annual End of Year Celebration.

“The End of Year Celebration is our best attended event all year,” Karen continued. “Parents and grandparents are there.  It’s a big day.”

This year, students and their families decorated their own cupcakes, made beaded necklaces and bracelets, enjoyed a temporary tattoo station and viewed a special student art exhibit.

All the parents received a portfolio of their child’s work.

“It’s a gift for parents and it’s also a way for us to assess how far a child has come.”

It includes everything from writing samples, to artwork, to what the child says they want to do when they grow up, to photos of them during the year.

“The portfolio is outstanding. It’s just full of so much stuff,” continued Sarah. “I’m a physical therapist and thought ‘Wow! I should do this too!’ It’s a fantastic look back.”

For some parents, it’s a bittersweet moment because their child is transitioning out of the Early Learning Center to kindergarten or pre-K.

“We are often the very first faces parents see when they are seeking help for their child. We represent the first step they took and they have fear and anxiety about changing the people they work with.  But that’s mixed with happiness, because they know how far their child has come.”

About half of the students are taking the step to attend kindergarten or pre-K.

“We serve eight different school districts so we try to pair parents with each other who have children moving to the same school.”

Makayla will be back for the summer program and will spend another year or two at the Early Learning Center before she’s old enough to transition to her next step.

“Early intervention has made a world of difference in Makayla’s life,” said Sarah. “It’s been a godsend.”

Camp Communicate: An innovative retreat for non-verbal children who “talk” with touchscreens

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Most kids love to chat with other kids…and that’s certainly no different for children who “talk” with touchscreens!

Camp Communicate is an innovative retreat designed specifically for non-verbal children who use computerized devices, known as augmentative communication, to communicate. Camp Communicate offers these children a unique opportunity to spend time with other augmentative communicators in an accessible summer camp environment. During their stay they will learn new skills, meet new friends and become more comfortable and confident in their communication abilities.

Each camper attends Camp Communicate along with a parent/caregiver. Parents will have the opportunity to attend workshops and share information and strategies in a supportive environment. Learning opportunities for parents will support more effective augmentative communication device use at home and will foster more proficient use in school.

Opportunities for fun and learning abound at Camp Communicate. Campers participate in:

  • Small and large group activities led by communication experts and trained volunteers
  • Active outdoor games
  • Swimming and boating
  • Nature walks
  • Team-building exercises
  • Festive social gatherings including a dance

Music & art therapy

Camp Communicate draws upon the strengths of Pine Tree Society’s Pine Tree Camp and Communication Pathways. The program takes place at Pine Tree Camp’s fully accessible 285-acre facility with staff and volunteers experienced in accessible recreation. Program curriculum and activities are developed and led by Communication Pathways staff, all highly qualified Speech Language Pathologists with an expertise in augmentative communication and assistive technology.

To register for Camp Communicate, go to https://www.pinetreesociety.org/camp_communicate.asp

Camp Sign offers a fun, language-accessible camp experience for deaf adults

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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. Camp Sign will take place on September 20-22, 2016.

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.

To register, go to https://www.pinetreesociety.org/campsign.asp

For more information about Camp Sign, call 386-5993.

Dysart’s Snowmobile Ride-in to Benefit Pine Tree Camp Takes the Show on the Road

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Snow was hard to find, but the snowmobiles rode on in Newport at the 43rd annual Dysart’s Snowmobile Ride-in to benefit Pine Tree Camp. The lack of snow was a challenge, but everyone came together to make it work and, thanks to Dysart’s and Q106.5, a spectacle of hundreds of snowmobiles and celebrity riders rode in on a parade of trailers.

The riders continued the tradition of stuffing raw eggs down their snowmobile suits before hopping on the flatbeds. Each egg represented a $50 pledge from Q106.5 listeners and a total of $30,600 in pledges was raised by the Q106.5 Egg Ride for Pine Tree Camp; exceeding the $30,000 goal.

“This year marks Pine Tree Society’s 80th anniversary and this is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Tyler Cary, Development Officer. “This year we have already raised $104,000 and at least another $15,000 is still coming in, bringing the total raised to over $120,000.”

All proceeds from the Dysart’s Snowmobile Ride-in directly support Pine Tree Camp’s Campership Fund.

The top individual fundraiser was Wesley Daly. This 23-year- old Belgrade resident has been a Pine Tree camper since he was eight and he has participated in the Ride-in nearly every year since then. He not only loves the outdoors and coming to Pine Tree Camp in the summer, he loves winter activities too. He’s an avid snowmobiler and also skis and ice fishes.

This year, he raised $4,100. Pine Tree Camp has made a big difference in his life and he’s learned a lot about himself through his experiences there. He works hard to raise money for other campers to be able to attend because it’s his way of giving back.

“It’s a great camp and a great cause and I look forward to seeing people every year at the Ride-in.”

Following the Ride-in, the Dead River Company North Woods Law Meet and Greet took place at Newport Elementary School which drew fans from far and wide.

“We absolutely could not do this event without our volunteers,” said Cary. “They are critical to the success of the entire weekend of events.”

The next big fundraiser for the Campership Fund is the Paddle for Pine Tree Camp on Saturday, June 4. Volunteers and paddlers can get involved by visiting pinetreesociety.org.