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Easter Seals Camp Fairlee makes campers feel like family

August 26, 2014

Each camper who attends Easter Seals Camp Fairlee becomes a part of the Fairlee family, but some members have been a part of the family for a lot longer than others. Jamal, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, looks forward to coming to camp each year and has been coming for 26 years. Starting at the age of 6, Jamal has made his mark on the camp well into his adulthood and enjoys every minute of his experience.

“I wish camp was every day of my life. For me, camp is about doing things I’ve never done before like the zip line,” Jamal says. “I love Camp Fairlee. It is designed for people in wheelchairs. They don’t discriminate against any disability. Camp gets better each year.”

Like most parents, Jamal’s mom, Bernadette, was nervous the first time she dropped him off, but it has become a tradition. Now, she is comfortable planning trips knowing that he is swimming, taking part in activities and socializing with friends he will continue to keep in contact with throughout the year on Facebook.

“The first time I dropped him off I was a nervous ninny, but at the end of the week when he didn’t want to leave I knew he was fine, so I was comfortable,” Bernadette recalls. “I usually enjoy my time of respite. I have somewhere to go while he is away so my mind is not on him.”

Along with other campers, Jamal is looking forward to Camp Fairlee’s 60th Homecoming event Saturday, Sept. 6, where he will be able to reconnect with friends he has made through years at camp. The public is invited to this free event. For more information go to www.de.easterseals.com or contact Ford Waggoner at FairleeReunion@esdel.org.

“Camp Fairlee has changed my life and helped shape who I am. They make me feel at home,” Jamal says. “I love that place to death.”

Celebrating its 60th anniversary, Easter Seals Camp Fairlee, outside Chestertown, Md., is the only camp in the region that provides a typical residential camp experience for children and adults with disabilities year-round. Fairlee offers week-long camp sessions throughout the summer, travel trips throughout the year, and weekend respite/retreat programs from August through May. Learn more about Camp Fairlee services at www.de.easterseals.com/fairlee.

 

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