Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.One of the children in Camp FRIEND climbed up the chain steps to get to the top of the equipment on Aug. 26 at Boardman Park.
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.One of the children climbed in the tire tunnel at Boardman Park during the last day of Camp FRIEND on Aug. 26.
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.The children in Camp FRIEND spent their last day of camp on Aug. 26 at Boardman Park playing on the equipment after a picnic.
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.One of the leaders at Camp FRIEND helped one of the children walk up a piece of equipment at Boardman Park on Aug. 26.
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Two children in Camp FRIEND walked down the playground equipment together at Boardman Park during the last day of camp on Aug. 26.
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
Children with autism had the opportunity to enjoy a week full of summer camp activities Aug. 22-26.
Camp FRIEND - Finding Rewards in Every New Day, offers children with autism who are within the age of 3-17 the experience of a summer day-camp to help them with socialization skills and several other characteristics. This is the third year that the Mahoning Valley Board of Autism has offered the program to families with autistic children.
Tracy Marciano, camp coordinator, planned several activities throughout the week with the help of camp director Rachael Dobson. Marciano is a member on the board of the Autism Society and Dobson is a behavior analyst at the Rich Center for Autism.
“This is teaching them life skills to be able to go out into the community and really enjoy things,” said Marciano.
The fee to register for the camp was $150, but with the help of several sponsors, children received scholarships for camp. The camp allows families to help their children stay in a schedule and keep a routine while on break from school.
This is the only camp like this in the area for children. Twenty children participated in the summer camp and 14 peers helped out.
“Our peer role models are acting like models for what the children should be like,” said Dobson.
The community has been helpful in helping out with the camp. The New Middletown Police Department came to visit the children, an art instructor came in to teach an art class and several other community members came to teach the children and create a natural environment for them.
“We’re hoping to expand it down the road if we can, maybe do it a couple times a year, but for sure it will continue to be a summer camp,” said Marciano.