Camp Harkness 2010

            The Arc New London County is embarking on its twelfth camp season.  Camp will begin on June 27 and end of August 13.  This year there are five one-week sessions offered for adult campers, beginning June 27 and ending on July 30.  Each week 52 campers enjoy a vacation experience.  Two youth sessions are offered during the first two weeks of August for campers ranging in age from 8 to 21.  This will be the sixth summer offering the residential youth camp, which runs August 1-6.   We are very excited to be offering our second day-camp session in collaboration with the Connecticut Family Support Network.  These campers enjoy the camp experience Monday through Friday during the daytime hours.  Whichever session the camper chooses to attend, the mission of the camp program remains the same: “To offer a quality vacation experience to all our campers.”

            Campers come from all over to Connecticut to enjoy a well-deserved beach vacation.  Campers arrive on the pristine grounds of Camp Harkness in Waterford, Connecticut on Sunday afternoons.  After registering with the camp staff, campers are introduced to their cabins as well as the counselors who will support them throughout the week.  Campers then are taken on a walk to explore camp, where they invariably meet new friends along the way.  The first evening is spent around the campfire as each camper and counselor is given the opportunity to introduce themselves to the camp community.  Each person is asked one specific question, “What is your favorite thing about camp?”  Whether the response is the beach, boats, rides on the sunshine train or the dance, it is always followed by a thunderous roar of cheers and applause.  After each person has been given a turn, the evening continues with camp songs and a tasty s’more treat.
          

            Throughout the rest of the week, campers choose to participate in a variety of camp activities.  Morning choice activities include recreation or arts & crafts.   Recreation activities include boats at the beach, baseball, camp hockey, lawn games, parachute, basketball, kickball and much, much more!  For those campers who choose arts & crafts, there is always time to make a special craft to take home as a camp memory.   These activities include sand art, picture frames, necklaces, door decorations and other projects based on the theme for the week.  Campers enjoy relaxing under the trees and listening to music while being creative and completing the project.  Whichever activity the camper chooses, the camp staff members are always there to lend a helping hand and support the camper each step of the way.
           
            When afternoon rolls around, campers again have a choice of their vacation activity.  Campers choose between going to the beach and staying at camp.  Campers have the opportunity each day to walk down to the sandy shore of the Long Island Sound to enjoy the sun and surf.   Campers enjoy swimming, building sand castles, walking in the water or relaxing under the pavilions.  The campers who choose to stay at camp participate in small group activities.  This may include small arts & crafts projects, board games, walks around camp or any other activities campers may want to do.  Again, the staff members are right by the campers’ side, participating in the activities and lending a helping hand when needed.
           
            The camp fun continues right into the evening hours.  These weekly activities include musical performances, dances, carnivals, fiestas and cookouts at the beach.  There are special activities planned throughout the summer to accompany our weekly themes.  One activity is the

           Mr. and Mrs. Camp Harkness pageant.  This year will mark the twelfth anniversary of this event.  Campers participate in a contestant parade and a talent act.  Three campers judge the event and along with the audience vote, crown the king and queen of camp.  A moonlight dance takes place as the night winds down.  Another special event is Musical Fairytale Skit Night.  Two cabins are paired together and assigned a well known fairytale to create into a 5 minute skit.  Music is given to the participants to include in their act.  Past performances include The Wizard of Oz, The Three Little Pigs, The Three Little Bears, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Cinderella.  The evening ends with an ice cream cast party.  Whatever the evening activity entails, each night ends with a campfire.  Campers and staff enjoying reflecting about the day and looking forward to the next day’s fun!
           

           At the end of the week, the final activity includes an awards ceremony by the campfire.  All campers are given an award at the weekly closing campfire to celebrate a positive quality seen at camp.  Campers enjoy a moment in the spotlight and are shown appreciation and support by their fellow camp community members.  It is wonderful to see the smiles radiating on the campers’ faces.  After all the awards, the campers are given an opportunity to address the camp community one last time.  Many campers express their love of camp and the fact that they will miss everyone.  Most end with the same saying, “But I will see you all next year!”  That message lets us know that the camper had a quality vacation and our mission has been achieved.

For more information, please contact program director Jen Hickey at 860-889-4435 Ext. 101