Unique camp gives kids (and parents) a break
ASSISTANT EDITOR
A unique camp made its debut in the Albany Diocese last week: Camp Pius X for Exceptional Children, a week-long day camp for kids with special needs, held at St. Pius X Church in Loudonville.
The camp was open to grammar-school-age children; about 16 campers, ages five through nine, with various disabilities, spent the week one-on-one with counselors, doing arts and crafts, playing games, participating in sports, and performing in a talent show with the theme "The Sound of Music."
The campers also celebrated the Feast of the Assumption with a special Mass at which they did the readings and brought up the Offertory gifts -- something director Tracy Coffey says children with disabilities don't often get to do.
Life's work
Camp Pius is the brainchild of Ms. Coffey, a native of the Albany Diocese who recently moved back to the area from New Hampshire.
Her family helped to found Camp Fatima for Exceptional Children in her adopted state during the 1950s. She's helped to run the camp ever since. One week of the summer is devoted to serving campers with special needs.
"I've been doing it so long -- and driving to New Hampshire is a long drive!" she said of her decision to start a similar camp in the Albany Diocese.
Volunteers
She applauded Rev. Michael Farano, pastor of St. Pius, who supported her idea, and provided both space at the parish and a $500 grant to help get the idea off the ground. A $1,000 grant from IBM and donations from individuals provided the rest of the funding.
Campers didn't pay to attend Camp Pius, and all of the counselors -- many of them teachers -- were volunteers. A doctor and nurse were on-staff, but each camper was also matched up individually with a counselor for the entire week.
"For some children, it's the only time in the whole year someone gives them full attention," said Ms. Coffey, noting that at other camps, kids have to wait until a counselor comes around to help with an activity.
Scheduling
Camp Pius was also unique in that the campers themselves chose how to spend their time. While there was a schedule, it was not mandatory; if a child wanted to spend the entire day on the swings, that was accepted.
At Camp Fatima, Ms. Coffey recalled, all one child "wanted to do was sit in a boat all day. So that's what he did -- the whole week!" She admitted that while it was probably a little frustrating for the counselor, it gave the child the power of choice.
In addition to a talent show featuring tunes from "The Sound of Music," an "Un-Birthday Party" was a big event at Camp Pius. Campers sang "Happy Un-Birthday" to each participant, and ate cake and ice cream. Ms. Coffey said the party was one of the most popular events at Camp Fatima.
Break for parents
The children weren't the only ones enjoying the camp. "It gives the parents a break," Ms. Coffey said. Beforehand, "one mother said, `I never have a full day to myself. I can't wait to plan a day to go up to Manchester and go shopping; it's the only time all summer I'll have that.'"
The director understands the feeling. "I had a child [who had] special needs when he was in grammar school. He's outgrown it, but I would have given my right arm to have someone say, `I'll take care of your child for a few days.'"
Ms. Coffey hopes the camp becomes a yearly event in the Diocese. "It's just a super feeling," she said of her life-long involvement in Camp Fatima and the start of Camp Pius. "It was the best experience of my life."
(For information on Camp Pius X for Exceptional Children, call 465-6845.)