The Arc of Essex County Wraps Up a COVID-Free 2020 Camp Season

The Arc of Essex County, a 501c3 organization dedicated to providing services and supports to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families, wrapped up its 2020 Camp Hope season in mid-August with zero cases of COVID-19 in campers and counselors. Marked by the unprecedented pandemic, the tireless effort, safety precautions, and enhanced cleaning procedures enabled 95 campers and staff to enjoy a summer filled with traditional camp activities including supervised swimming and outdoor fun with modified sports, arts & crafts, and music.

“In the face of an unprecedented health crisis, I am proud of the extraordinary efforts of our Camp Hope team to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for our campers,” said Linda C. Lucas, Chief Executive Officer, The Arc of Essex County. “Children and adults with I/DD have been disproportionally affected by the virus and government restrictions. We welcomed the opportunity to provide our campers and their families with a sense of normalcy and opportunity to reengage with peers.”

Featuring themed days and weeks, Camp Hope’s activity specialists planned out a schedule of activities to create a fun camp atmosphere. The 2020 season featured Wacky Water Week, Spirit Week, and Superhero Week to name a few. Campers especially enjoyed swimming in the zero-entry pool, water balloon baseball, wacky science experiments, and relay races that focused on building teamwork and camaraderie.

“I wanted to thank you so much for allowing Garrett the opportunity [to attend] these past four weeks at Camp Hope! It made an incredible difference in his overall state of mind. His depression and anxiety from the months prior were replaced with fun physical activity, socializing, learning, and happy memories,” said Christine Smith, a parent of a teenage camper. “I drove away Friday morning after drop off, full of emotion. It's organizations like The Arc that understand the crucial need of having our children fulfill their lives to their highest potential and seizing all the opportunities of what's offered to them, despite the circumstances that are currently surrounding it. Congratulations to your staff, they did an incredible job!”

About Camp Hope:

Camp Hope is, traditionally, a seven week summer day camp for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities located in East Hanover (modified to 5 weeks due to the ongoing pandemic). Operating since 1956, Camp Hope provides campers with traditional camp activities including supervised swimming and outdoor fun with modified sports, arts & crafts, and music. While enjoying these activities, attention is also given to daily living skills, peer interaction, socialization skills, and developing appropriate behaviors.

About The Arc of Essex County:

The Arc of Essex County is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to helping children and adults with intellectual and development disabilities participate in every level of our society and enjoy fuller, more independent lives. Founded in 1948, The Arc of Essex County provides more than 40 unique programs and services that support nearly 1,500 people throughout Essex County from birth to their senior years. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.arcessex.org.