Summer camp provides activities for kids with multiple handicaps

HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Nearly 70 special-needs children are attending the annual Sun Summer Camp at Artman Elementary School this week.
The monthlong program, launched in 1996 as part of the youth services offered by The Arc of Mercer County, provides a weeklong summer camp for children with multiple handicaps.
There are 66 campers between the ages of 6 and 21 attending this year's program, which ends Friday.
"Our philosophy is that all kids deserve the opportunity to learn, socialize and have fun," said Mike Jones, co-director of this year's camp. "We strive to provide traditional childhood experiences for all campers, regardless of their abilities."
Jones and co-director Tim Magnotto have worked at the summer camp since 1997 and both have degrees in special education/elementary education from Slippery Rock State University.
Jones is a special-education teacher in the Hermitage schools while Magnotto is a recent Slippery Rock graduate.
Camp counselors are college students majoring in education or area teachers with backgrounds in special education.
Special activities
Some of the special activities this summer camp included are a Golf Cart Madness Day in which campers rode golf carts provided by the Hickory VFW Golf course, a field trip to Deer Park in Jamestown, a Carnival Day with cotton candy, Sno-Cones and games, Christmas In July with a visit from Santa and a two-day stay at a hotel in Sandusky, Ohio, with a visit to Cedar Point.
Friday will be awards day.
The Arc of Mercer County is a nonprofit advocacy organization for individuals with cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities.
It's the parent company for Mercer County Association for the Retarded, which each year provides direct services to more than 500 people who are mentally retarded.