“When Mark is at Pine Tree Camp, we have no worries,” said Tammy Fournier.

Her son Mark has been going to Pine Tree Camp since he was seven years old.  He’s now 19 and loves going to camp as much as ever.

“He looks forward to it every single year.  He feels very comfortable,” she continued.  “When he gets there he says ‘I’m a super star, they’re yelling my name.’ He loves going.”

For Tammy and her husband Mark, the biggest gift Pine Tree Camp has given their family is that it has given their son the chance to see that he can be independent.

“Pine Tree Camp has given Mark the ability to see that he doesn’t always need us for everything.  When he’s at camp, he’s allowed to be Mark without Mom and Dad and he’s learned that he can be independent and that he’s capable of doing things on his own.”

When he comes back from camp he always does more things on his own at home without being asked or coached.

“He tells us ‘I can do that. I do that at camp.’  We see the growth in him and develop a new task list as a result.”

For Tammy and Mark, their son’s week at camp also provides them with their only vacation of the year.

“The biggest thing Pine Tree Camp has given us as parents is that it has taught us to trust,” she said.  “It’s the one week of the year when we don’t have any worries.  We know we can rely on the skills and care of the staff and counselors, and that skill and care is evident every year.  We get there to pick him up and he says ‘Camp isn’t done yet, is it?’”

Next year, Mark will start going to adult camp.

“It’s our complete intent to continue with Pine Tree Camp throughout his entire life.”