Pine Tree Society

Pine Tree Society Blog

“I’d go back in a minute”

on

“I’d go back in a minute,” Joan McDonough just turned 83, and that’s how she feels about Pine Tree Camp. “It was home to me almost every summer.”

She starting going in 1946, just one year after camp first opened, and went every year until 1951.

“I had curvature of the spine and had been in the hospital for two and half years wearing various braces to straighten me out.  I was home from the hospital for no more than two weeks before I went to camp.  It was great after being stuck in the hospital.”

Originally, Pine Tree Camp campers had polio, cerebral palsy, curvature of the spine like Joan, or had lost a limb during childhood.  Back at that time, campers went for the full summer.

“When I hit camp’s gate and came down over the hill, I knew I was home.  We were there for July and August and we had a good time.  We did everything.  And I made a lot of friends.”

In 1948, Joan had to have spinal surgery and was in a full body cast.

“I said ‘I can’t do that, because I can’t go to camp.’  And they said ‘Oh yes you can.’  And I went to camp in a full body cast.  I was in Cabin 11 that year. The day before I knew I was going home I walked down into the water all the way and got my cast soaking wringing wet.  Nobody gave me a hard time because they knew I was having it off the next day.” 

When she goes back to visit camp, it brings back so many good memories.

“A lot of things have changed.  Most of the cabins at the time I was there were on the right of the dining hall.  Now they’re on the left hand side closer to the water.  The dining hall has changed quite a bit, but the waterfront is just about the same.  They’ve done a lot to it and I’m so glad they do.  I give what I can.  More than willing to give what I can every year.  I’m having trouble with my back again now, but they can’t do any more for it.  I’m 83 and I guess I’ll make out all right.”

Camp Communicate making things possible

on

14 years ago, Linda Bonnar, Director of Communication Pathways at Pine Tree Society, founded Camp Communicate, a retreat designed specifically for children who are non-verbal and who use computerized devices to communicate.

Being the Camp Communicateonly one in school who uses a computer to communicate can be isolating. At Camp Communicate, our campers are just one of the gang. They have the unique opportunity to spend time with other kids communicating with their devices in an accessible summer camp environment. This allows them to meet friends and be more comfortable and confident with their devices.

Camp Communicate is made possible by Pine Tree Camp and Pine Tree Society’s Communication Pathways team. Our Speech-Language Pathologists and Assistive Technology Practitioners have designed an amazing curriculum that encourages natural communication opportunities for our campers – as well as education and relaxation for their parents.

Ladan Iman

on

Ladman Idan“Working here made me change my entire career path.” 

22-year-old Ladan Iman from Auburn has been working at Pine Tree Camp for the past four years. She started out as a counselor and has worked her way up to staff liaison, where she assists campers and their families/caregivers whose personal care needs exceed those that can be provided by camp staff.

Before declaring her sociology major as an undergraduate, Ladan wanted to study international business. However, after working her second summer at Pine Tree Camp and having “the best summer of my life,” Ladan found her passion.Ladman Idan

“Pine Tree Camp changed my perspective on how I want to help others. I want to help others in a more specific population.”

Ladan received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and is currently working towards her Master’s degree in Social Work at Springfield College.

Accessible treehouse and nature trails

on

Wednesday, June 27th 

“I’ve never been in a treehouse until now.”Treehouse trail

Pine Tree Camp gives people with disabilities the opportunity to immerse completely in nature.

In 2010, Pine Tree Society partnered with The Treehouse Guys—a non-profit organization formally known as Forever Young Treehouses— to build the first fully accessible treehouse in the State of Maine right here at Pine Tree Camp.  Since then, thousands of campers have enjoyed spending time high in the trees.

The treehouse is one of the many aspects of camp that campers absolutely love. It and the surrounding naTreehouseture trail is designed for people who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices. While there, campers can participate in the nature program, where they learn about the Maine woods and the plants and animals that live there.

Having the treehouse and nature trails accessible gives every single camper a chance to experience nature activities to the full extent, regardless of their disability.

Marie Preston’s Spirit Lives On

on

Marie Preston was the second Executive Director of Pine Tree Society – or Easter Seals as it was known — and was instrumental in establishing Pine Tree Camp in 1945.

Her son, Jim Preston, was eight years old at the time and recalls that it was after the war that his mother became executive director.

Newspaper articles from the time reveal Mrs. Marie I. Preston as a tireless advocate for people with disabilities.  From spearheading conferences to leading fundraising efforts to running Pine Tree Camp and the Hyde Home in Bath, the Lewiston Daily Sun and Evening Journal made frequent mention of her efforts and accomplishments.

She achieved much before she died in December 1956 at the age of 56.

She opened Pine Tree Camp.  She opened the Hyde Home.  She was instrumental in the passage of Maine legislation providing for education of children with disabilities through the Department of Health and Welfare.  Just a year before her death she completed plans for an adult rehabilitation program and workshop at Hyde Home.

When asked what spurred her passion, Jim is sure it was her personal experience with polio that drove her.

“When she was five she had polio. She couldn’t walk and was wheeled around in a baby carriage until she was cured at age eight.  After that, she was physically all right but I’m sure it impacted her.”

When Pine Tree Camp first opened Jim describes it as typical of the time.  There was a main lodge where everyone came together for dining and there were individual cabins in the surrounding woods.

He and his father, Burton Preston, worked together to get ten cabins ready for the first year.

“We planted a big victory garden and grew all the vegetables to feed the campers and counselors.  Originally, the campers had polio and cerebral palsy and there were some who had lost a limb in farm accidents.”

Jim spent five summers there with his mother.  His father died when he was nine.

“I always loved camp.  I have many memories of the kids and of working at the camp as a family.” 

He has particularly fond memories of the early years when there were just 15 to 20 small cabins.  “We’d all have dinner together every night and after dinner people would sit around and visit.”

He recalls how it was always a big deal to put the docks in at the start of the summer and that everybody helped out.

“I’ve always been gratified by the experience,” he said.

Mrs. Marie I. Preston instilled the spirit of Pine Tree Camp in her son and in all of us who carry on her legacy today.

Thanks to her, thousands of people of all ages have been gratified by their experience at Pine Tree Camp.

Overnight Camping

on

Pine Tree Camp June 21, 2018

“I wish I could stay here forever.”

“I wish I could make a friend.”

Every session campers have the opportunity to sign up for an overnight camping experience at the breathtaking southerly shore of North Pond.

At the end of free swim, the campers and their counselors head over to the campsite where they make their own dinner and s’mores at the fire, sing songs, learn about the outdoors, and make “wish boats.”

For over 30 years, campers have been decorating and writing wishes on wooden boats. As the sun sets, campers and counselors light candles in the center of the wish boats and set them afloat to drift out onto the water. Campers love to sit on the shore and watch their boats float farther and farther away, waiting for their wishes to come true. Pine Tree Camp

Our wish boats are a tradition that the entire North Pond community loves. Neighbors from all over the pond receive the wish boats on their shore where some keep them, nailing them on their walls, sheds, or fences. The North Pond Association has labeled these people as “wish keepers”, honoring the camper’s wishes for years after their wish boats set sail.

Pine Tree Society staff and Pine Tree Camp staff working together

on

Wednesday, June 13th

After nearly two weeks of intense staff training, Pine Tree Camp officially opened its gates yesterday.

Before the first session of Pine Tree Camp even begins, 60 staff and counselors from all over the world participate 13 jam-packed days of training with topics ranging from camper care and lifting and transferring to supporting camper’s in programming and communication styles.Pine Tree Camp training

Pine Tree Camp was able to pull from internal Pine Tree Society experts to assist in training.  Shelley Zielinski, the Director of Pine Tree Society’s Adult Support Services and Stephanie Bell, led a five-hour NAPPI training.  This verbal de-escalation training empowers frontline staff to address behavior challenges the moment they surface.

“It’s so valuable to pull in our Pine Tree Society colleagues to be a part of our training at Pine Tree Camp,” said Dawn Willard-Robinson, Pine Tree Camp’s Director.  “We had two successful weeks of training and it showed opening day.”

This is what I like to do

on

“I do a little bit of everything,” that’s how Teresa Davis describes her day.  She’s a Direct Support Professional at Pine Tree Society focused on providing the support people need to live independently.  “From helping with chores to doing errands to paying bills and balancing the checkbook, my day includes it all.”

Teresa has worked in this field for over 15 years.  She started as a job coach before transitioning to independent living support.

“This is what I like to do!”

You can hear it in her voice.  This is the job she was meant to do.

Every day, she helps people live fuller, more socially connected and independent lives.  No two people are alike and the support services she provides are tailored to meet the unique needs and desires of each individual.

“Everyone I work with has grown a lot.  For example, one woman I work with wanted to become her own representative payee so she could handle her own finances.  We worked together to accomplish that goal.”

Another person Teresa works with wanted to become her own medical guardian as well as handle her own finances.  “I advocated for her and we got the job done.”

She also helps people find new apartments when they aren’t comfortable with their living situation.  Oftentimes an individual’s living situation is tied to other challenges so there are multiple problems to solve.

She recalls two male individuals who each came to her separately needing services.  One man was homeless and the other was living with a family member and having an issue with how his money was being managed.

Teresa introduced them to each other and they ended up being roommates so they could get caught back up financially.  She’s proud to say that they both have savings accounts now.

“I’ve been busy!  There’s such a need for home support services, and the folks I work with have community support services too.  I need a bigger van!  I want to see this grow.”

Join Teresa and the rest of our team. Apply today!

Career Open House

on

“Every day is different, but every day I go home knowing that I have made a big difference.”

Pine Tree Society invites you to grow with us. We are looking for new team members who want to use their talents to help Maine people with disabilities discover lives of passion and purpose as Direct Support Professionals and Behavioral Health Professionals, as well as Teacher’s Aide positions at our Early Learning Center (including possible substitute opportunities).

Join us on Wednesday, June 20 from 10 AM to 3 PM for a Career Open House at our Auburn location (589 Minot Ave, Auburn, ME) to learn more and participate in an instant, on-site interview.

No experience is necessary. Pine Tree Society provides training. Please bring your resume. Refreshments will be served.

Pine Tree Society has a really big impact in the State of Maine. Be a part of the impact!

Here are benefits that can be included—
• Sign and stay-on bonus
• Generous paid time off
• Competitive hourly wage plus Incentive Hours
• 401 K with 2% match after year of employment
• Annual pay increases
• Health, Dental and Vision Care Insurance
• Flexible spending and an Health Reimbursement Arrangement to offset deductible cost
• Employer paid Group Life and Short Term Disability Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement available after six months of employment
• Experienced program supervisors. High quality training.
• Commitment to your professional development. Opportunities for advancement

Please contact Trish Hansen, HR Assistant, at 386-5926 or send an email to thansen@pinetreesociety.org with any questions.