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2009-2010 Three Season Program October 2009-May 2010 Three Season Programs and Applications are Here! Respite Weekends at Camp Merry Heart
Adult Respite Weekends
Youth Respite Weekends
‘Joey’s Gift’ Saturday Respites for Children with Autism A FREE six-hour respite held on various Saturdays, 10 am to 4 pm, at our Camp Merry Heart facility; lunch is included. Provides recreational opportunities for children with autism, allowing them the opportunity to play, socialize and exercise in a supervised setting while care providers can take advantage of the break to catch up on projects, go shopping or spend the day out and about knowing their children are being well-cared for by our compassionate staff.
View and print ‘Joey’s Gift’ Application
Hotel and Travel Respites Our Hotel and Travel Respites are designed to accommodate adults of varying abilities, whom require minimal to mild support and assistance with community based activities. All HTR programs are hotel based, with each consumer getting a bed of their own for maximum comfort and relaxation. In an effort to increase flexibility, we now offer limited transportation for New Jersey residents on some programs, meaning that we will pick-up and drop you off at home or arrange to meet you at the destination hotel for check-in/checkout. Call our office for more details. Safety and comfort are two areas that are of the utmost importance to us. In order to ensure the integrity of these areas, each consumer has a bed of their own throughout the programs duration, we maintain a 1:3 staff to consumer ratio at all times with on-call staff available 24 hours, and provide relevant and current trainings. #1: October 16-18 2009 Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair $825** Journey back in time to experience the Renaissance Era. Tour the village, catch a show or joust, and experience living history like never before. Hotel located in Clinton, NJ. #2: November 20-22, 2009: Rockettes $875** Back by demand, join us for a Saturday in the city and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the renowned Rockettes. Price reflects cost of show attendance. Hotel located near North Bergen, NJ.*** #3: December 11-13, 2009: South Jersey $825** Experience South Jersey with a trip to IMAX theatre, Camden Aquarium and more during this relaxing weekend away.. #4: January 4-15, 2010 (12 day): Disney World $3000 Experience the wonder and magic of Disney and escape the cold in sunny Orlando, Florida!!!! #5: February 19-21, 2010: Broadway Show $875** Everybody loves Broadway!!!! Join your friends for a Saturday Matinee on Broadway!!! Price reflects cost of show attendance. Hotel located in North Bergen, NJ.*** #6: March 19-21, 2010: Medieval Times $825** Experience the jousting and dueling of knights with a visit to Medieval Times for dinner and a show. Hotel located near Lyndhurst, NJ. #7: March 28-April 2, 2010 (6 days): New Jersey Staycation $1500** Who says you can’t have fun at home? Kickback and relax while taking in all the New Jersey has to offer. Take in the “Big Apple,” kickback and relax at the movies, or try your luck in Atlantic City. #8: April 16-18, 2010: Lancaster County, PA $825** Enjoy a relaxing weekend in rural Lancaster County, home to many Amish, terrific shopping, and fresh air. Hotel located near Clinton, NJ #9: April 23-25, 2010: Cooperstown, NY $825 What better way to bring in the spring than a respite to the home of America’s great pastime, Baseball, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame! #10: May 7-9, 2010: Jersey Shore $825** As the weather begins to warm, its time to head out to the shore for that pre-summer weekend get away with a visit to Atlantic City. Hotel located near Atlantic City, NJ. **Indicates Hotel Respites that are eligible for Real Life Choice funding with limited transportation available for New Jersey residents within 50 miles of hotel location. Check-in at hotel is also available. ***Consumers attending this program should be able to sit through a 3 hour show with intermission. Please Note: All Hotel and Travel Respites itineraries are subject to change due to weather and needs of the group. A minimum number of consumers may be required for each respite to operate. Note Regarding Supervision and Safety for All Respite Programs: While staff remain onsite during resting hours, we cannot provide 24 hour supervision for individuals that may wander, act out, or require intensive levels of care at night. Individuals who require a continuous, intense level of care, nurse level medication/medical support, are at risk for elopement , or do not interact well in a community environment, may not be appropriate for certain respites due to safety concerns.
To inquire or register for any of the above Camp Merry Heart programs, please see our contact information at the bottom of this page
Easter Seals Dedicates “Friendly’s Way” at Camp Merry Heart
The Friendly’s Ice Cream Corporation has supported Easter Seals for nearly 30 with over $25 million raised nationwide through its Cones for Kids and Camp Friendly’s initiatives. Nearly half a million dollars have been raised through these campaigns in New Jersey over the past decade, and of that, approximately $24,000 was raised this year alone. Funds raised support Easter Seals Camp Friendly's programs essential to building a sense of independence and accomplishment. Camp provides an opportunity for kids with disabilities to be included in regular camp activities like, boating and canoeing, swimming, archery, ropes courses, horseback riding, hiking, basketball and fishing. Located in the picturesque mountainous area of Hackettstown, Camp Merry Heart is a 123-acre camping and recreation facility that has provided a safe, supervised and beautiful place for over 30,000 individuals with various disabilities and special needs since 1954. The camp’s year-round seasonal programs and activities include swimming, fishing, boating, challenge courses, arts and crafts, singing and karaoke, dancing, nature studies, and a host of other activities in addition to trips and excursions, and weekend getaways that provide fun for the participants and much-needed respite for family caregivers. “Recreational activities are a crucial part in the development of healthy self-esteem for individuals with physical or developmental disabilities,” said Rich Schumann, avp of camping and recreation at Easter Seals New Jersey. “They present opportunities for self-determination and integrated group participation, often through physical exercise, which provides many known health benefits.” Thanks to the ongoing efforts of Friendly’s, Camp Merry Heart continues to expand programs that serve people with disabilities who might not otherwise have anywhere else to take part in these recreational experiences. Because of that support, we are able to create and encourage participation in a variety of activities that promote growth, achievement and independence. “Friendly’s is committed to engaging its employees, restaurant guests and local communities in our cause,” said Brian Fitzgerald, ceo of Easter Seals New Jersey. “The many people who will travel to Camp Merry Heart via ‘Friendly’s Way’ in years to come will experience the long-lasting effects and life-changing impact of their support.” No Damper on the Festivities at Camp Merry Heart’s annual Rotary Service Club Day Each August, volunteers from Rotary Club District 7470 transform the already idyllic and picturesque setting that is Camp Merry Heart, into a carnival-like atmosphere complete with water slides and moon bounces, interactive carnival This year, on Wednesday, August 5th, the weather threatened to interrupt the festivities with its intense heat and humidity and afternoon thunderstorms. But, our Rotarian volunteers were prepared for just such an event — when the skies opened up, everyone ducked under nearest canopies to wait out the rain. Within the hour, the sun was back out… and so was the fun! Each year, the day’s festivities culminate in a bbq for the consumers, which is provided — and cooked — by the Rotary volunteers. Easter Seals NJ also takes the opportunity to present each Rotary Club in District 7470 with a certificate of appreciation in recognition of their efforts. Once again, we thank the Rotarian Volunteers for all that they do — on this day and throughout the year — to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities and special needs and for their ongoing and continued support of Easter Seals New Jersey! Summertime Means Fun in the Sun…. and Recreation of all Kinds! Easter Seals incorporates recreational activities into the curriculums of all of its programs. Whether it’s a holiday party, picnic or BBQ, trips to the mall or dinner out a local restaurant, visits to the state fair, local parks and beaches, or nearby horse farm, outings to theatres and art exhibits, excursions to the zoo or aquarium….or even a trip to Broadway in New York City, there’s always fun and interesting events providing opportunities for community interaction taking place at Easter Seals. At Camp Merry Heart, seasonal year-round programs and activities include swimming, fishing, boating, challenge The Hotel and Travel Respite Program (HTR) provides opportunities to experience travel to destinations both local and abroad that might not otherwise be available to people with various physical limitations, disabilities or special needs. Emily, age 21, enjoyed the opportunity to experience independence and travel with her peers on an excursion to the Grand Ole Opry and aquarium in Nashville, Tennessee, and 26 year old "JM" has traveled to Georgia, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Las Vegas, California, and most recently, Disney World and Daytona Beach, just to name a few! Not only do these trips accommodate campers with various care needs to ensure a safe and enjoyable travel experience, but they also provide much needed respite for family caregivers. But recreation is also an integral part of the other services Easter Seals provides, beyond the traditional camping and recreation setting. In the Community Support Services Adult Day programs, where individuals with various developmental disabilities learn daily living skills, meaningful recreation is also incorporated into the day to day curriculum. “Easter Seals does a great job of coordinating outings and securing activities for the program participants,” says Ricki, whose 37-year old son Frank attends Easter Seals New Jersey’s adult day program. “Frank regularly participates in activities like bowling, trips to the mall, and movie theater visits, and he really enjoyed his summer trips to the boardwalk and picnic at a local park this past summer.” The many holiday celebrations also allow Frank and his family to enjoy music, food, treats and fun together. As a result, Frank began socializing more, and that increased his communication skills dramatically. “Because of his daily activities and interaction with so many people, he has started speaking more in his home environment as well. I noticed he was happier every day and he became more interested in communicating with me,” Ricki added. “Recreational activities are a crucial part in the development of healthy self-esteem for individuals with physical or developmental disabilities,” says Rich Schumann, director of camping and recreation for Easter Seals New Jersey. “They present opportunities for self-determination and integrated group participation, and often through physical exercise, which also provides many known health benefits as well.” What exactly are the many known benefits of meaningful recreation to individuals and families with disabilities and special needs?
Celebrating INDEPENDENCE at Easter Seals New Jersey’s Camp Merry Heart As the month of July rolls in, it brings to mind the meaning of "independence".
For sixty years, the services provided by Easter Seals New Jersey have centered around removing obstacles along the path to independence for people living with various disabilities. Achieving goals and striving for independence is most evident at Easter Seals New Jersey's Camp Merry Heart, which has been providing recreational experiences for people with all levels of abilities since 1954. In addition to building confidence by conquering the fear of trying new activities, meaningful recreation at Camp Merry Heart also provides opportunities to experience independence that might not otherwise be available in mainstream society to people with physical limitations, disabilities or other special needs. Patti, a camper who has been attending camp for nearly 20 years, expresses through poetry at the end of each summer season the new friendships she formed and the opportunities for independence she personally experienced in a place where she has become so comfortable. The smile on Kelli's face is evidence of the sense of pride and accomplishment she experienced at being able to independently complete a challenge course for the very first time. Achievements like these have helped Kelli to gain the confidence to make independent decisions in other areas of her life as well. For campers like Emily and JM, independence takes on the form of travelling abroad via the camp's Hotel & Travel Respite program. These excursions provide opportunities to experience travel to destinations that are specifically designed to accommodate people of varying levels of abilities. Alfred was able to cope with the recent loss of his father and experience independence by overcoming some of his fears and enjoying new and positive experiences, and forming new friendships. True independence is when a person has the skills they need to do things for themselves. And, Camp Merry Heart is proud of its history of providing people with disabilities the chance to accomplish feats both large and small in an encouraging, supportive environment while offering a safe and encouraging camping experience that cultivates a sense of pride, dignity and independence in the campers' everyday lives. At Easter Seals New Jersey, INDEPENDENCE means:
Easter Seals New Jersey thanks all of its supporters for helping us to make independence possible in the lives of so many.
CAMP MARCELLA
Located in hills of Rockaway, New Jersey, Camp Marcella offers a beautiful setting for a variety of programs geared towards youth and adults with disabilities. This past 2009 Summer Season the beginning of our partnership with Camp Marcella to bring you more quaity summer programs. We look forward to continuing this partnership in the coming years and more information will follow regarding programs and events at Camp Marcella. Consumer Handbook, Information, and Forms The forms and information in this section are provided for your convenience should you need to update information or need an extra copy. Please bring any completed forms to your events, do not mail them. *These documents are in the Adobe PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view it. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, you can by clicking on the Adobe graphic below.
Easter Seals Expresses its Appreciation to the following Service Club Organizations for Their Support Throughout the Year: ROTARY CLUBS
OTHER SERVICE CLUBS: Blair Woman’s Club, Elks 128 - Asbury Park-Wall, Elks Crippled Childrens Committee, Elks Union Lodge #1583, Farmers Enterprise Grange #1654, Knights of Columbus Council 3495-Bishop McLaughlin, Knights of Columbus Council 6100-Budd Lake, Order of Eastern Star #107-Stanhope, and the Roxbury Grange #116. About Camp Merry Heart Camp Merry Heart has provided recreational services since 1954, when 26 campers participated in an exciting experience not readily available at the time to individuals with disabilities. Since March 1, 1967, recreation and respite services have been provided to over 30,000 people with disabilities or special needs. Year-round seasonal programs and activities include swimming, fishing, boating, challenge courses, arts and crafts, singing and karaoke, dancing, nature studies, and a host of other activities that build the campers’ confidence and self-esteem through opportunities for self-determination and group participation, along with physical exercise. Camp Merry Heart also offers recreational trips and excursions, and weekend getaways that provide fun for the participants and much-needed respite for family caregivers. Whether one uses a wheelchair, a device to communicate, has a learning disability, or is separated from a sibling in a foster care situation, everyone is at home at Camp Merry Heart and can enjoy the excitement and challenges of camping together since all activities are inclusive. Campers have unlimited opportunities to conquer their fears and reach for their goals in an encouraging, supportive environment. What are the benefits of Camping and Recreation programs to individuals and families with disabilities and special needs?
Camp Merry Heart meets the American Camping Association’s highest standards of quality as well as those mandated by the New Jersey State Health Department. Funding is provided by consumer fees, individual donors, foundation and corporate grants, local Rotary Clubs, the New Jersey State Department of Human Services’ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), New Jersey State Department of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), and the New Jersey State Department of Education’s Summer Food Program, as well as many of the state’s individual counties and local school districts. For Further Information Please Contact: Registration
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Our Adult and NEW Youth Respite Weekends now offer everybody from age 5 to 85+ the opportunity to get away from it all by taking a relaxing weekend in the country at Camp Merry Heart. Dinner on Friday evening kicks off the weekend. Saturday fills with activities ranging from Arts and Crafts to bowling to movies to seasonal parties, animal encounters, local fairs, and much, much more! Come Sunday, its time to wind down with a few activities onsite as everyone gets ready to head home in the afternoon. 
The symbolic dedication of “Friendly’s Way” was held to commemorate the long history of Friendly’s partnership with Easter Seals, and to publicly recognize Friendly’s for its long-time support of helping people with disabilities gain greater independence here in New Jersey through meaningful recreation through Easter Seals’ programs.
games and prizes, a dunking tank, karaoke, cotton candy, popcorn and sno-cones, a bbq to end the day, and more! 
courses, arts and crafts, singing and karaoke, dancing, nature studies, and a host of other activities. 
Independence -- the ability to function without depending upon others for assistance -- is something that most of us take for granted, especially as Americans. But there are many people living amongst us with disabilities or special needs for whom independence is a struggle to attain.
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Easter Seals and its affiliate organizations are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.
