Pine Tree Camp to You is, quite simply, a virtual summer camp experience for Maine people with disabilities.
Pine Tree Camp’s team of professionals has designed a fully accessible curriculum that connects campers and creates opportunities for staying active and trying new things through a series of six, week-long remote summer camp sessions.
Register today at this link.
Here’s how Pine Tree Camp to You summer sessions work:
Select Your Session
There are six week-long, themed sessions to choose from. Campers are welcome to register for more than one week.
Open Your Activity Box
Registered campers will receive a curated activity box containing everything they need for the week including materials, instructions and a step-by-step story board for each self-guided activity; including favorite Pine Tree Camp traditions such as Wish Boats, tie-dye, s’mores and keeping a journal.
We took careful consideration when developing materials and each box includes instructions with examples of modifications that can be made for every ability, such as using hand grippers for journaling.
Click on the Website
In addition to the Activity Box, campers will gain access to a password protected page on the Pine Tree Camp website where they’ll find pre-recorded videos, downloadable materials and other resources to help complete each activity in the box.
All pre-recorded videos are interpreted, have closed captioning and the option to turn on audio to describe.
Throughout the videos, there are specific examples provided for how to modify activities if campers need to do things in a different way. For example, Zumba, backyard golf and obstacle courses can all be done standing or seated in a chair.
There are crafts and games planned for each week, but a special emphasis is placed on getting outdoors. For example, to play tic tac toe, campers are encouraged to find rocks, paint them, then create a board with masking tape on a table outside.
Sidewalk chalk drawings lead to hop scotch, complete with modifications, and creating handprints that involve physical activity to create, such as bending over and practicing balance.
One video series will take campers on a walk at Pine Tree Camp highlighting the plants, trees and animals seen along the way. In another video, campers will take a boat ride around North Pond observing an eagles nest and catching fish. Campers are then encouraged to get outside near their own homes and discover new things in nature they might not have observed before.
See Your Friends
Throughout the week, campers will come together via Zoom to connect for group cabin activities with Pine Tree Camp staff and other campers, providing the chance to get to know each other and share experiences, such as talking about what people saw on their nature walks at home or which new birds came to their handmade pine cone bird feeder.
Teach Your Family
Because our programming consists of both self-guided activities as well as programming that will happen over Zoom, we are asking that there be someone there to support campers when needed. This is also an opportunity for campers to share their favorite Pine Tree Camp activities and create new family traditions by sharing these experiences together.
Pine Tree Camp to You begins in July. Registration is open and filling fast. Register today to reserve your spot.