Cooperative Living September 2019 - 8

Amy has made many
friends during her
20 years at camp.
Fast forward to 2019 and the mission
remains the same for the 500-plus campers
who visit Camp Easterseals annually. No
illness or disability is singled out; the kids
are accepted for who they are and what
they can do.
" They get increased independence, so they
get to spend time away from home, " Barge
says. " They get to do a lot more things on
their own that they might not have gotten to
do at home. They get increased socialization,
so they're in an environment where their
counselors and other campers are supportive
and accepting of all of them so they're able
to practice socializing and be more social. "
The camp operates for about 10 weeks
in the summer with weekend gatherings
in the fall and spring. Barge says Camp
Easterseals UCP spreads the word through
disability fairs, affiliated organizations and
online advertising.
But there is no better recommendation
than word of mouth. About 85 percent
of the participants are returning campers.
One just celebrated her 50th summer on
the flat parcel nestled between the Craig
County highlands.
Yes, a golden anniversary.
" She still swims. Most folks in their fifties
and sixties will do horseback riding and
shoot archery or canoe or fish, " Barge says.
" We call it a retreat and make it a little
more adult. It's a little slower pace than
our kids' sessions. "
When it's over, it's not unusual to see
the flow of tears or other emotional
outpourings. " We've had one camper
lock himself in the bathroom because he
didn't want to go, " Barge says. " But other
campers are excited to see their parents,
which is kind of neat, to see them run
and hug their parents. "
Commitment to Camp
Amy started at camp in 1999 when she
was 9. It was a bit scary for her and perhaps
more so for her parents since they were leaving
their younger daughter in an unfamiliar place
with a bunch of college-age strangers.
In time, they came to understand that while
the camp was built on hard ground, its true
foundation was compassion. The trained
counselors, nurses and professionals, devoted
to providing the best level of care and
attention, won them over.
" Once the parents become comfortable
with the whole camp culture, they just kind
of get sucked into it, " Feuerberg says. " We've
heard many stories over the years of first-time
parents who, after they have such a great
positive experience with their kids, end up
donating or supporting the cause. "
For the Feuerbergs, that meant finding
a way to defray the cost for other campers
attending Camp Easterseals UCP. They have
been at it for 18 years. They don't run a huge,
sophisticated operation; nothing formal, no
walks or marches. It's a personal letter to a
friend, a solicitation here or there to an
extended family member, or an email to a
business associate.
6 | Cooperative Living | September 2019
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Cooperative Living September 2019

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