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RINGWOOD - Autistic children's camp building on success
(by Teresa Edmond - Staff Writer - August 27, 2008)
RINGWOOD - The staff and parents of the Frogs, Flowers & Friends Summer Day Camp have watched both the camp and its participants grow since its establishment in 2004 to meet the needs of local autistic children.
Not only has the camp’s membership expanded from 20 children last year to 30 this year, the camp’s activities have also blossomed to better address the children’s needs. The camp introduced swimming lessons this year and increased the music courses from weekly to daily.
When the camp was first launched, the Debrowskis ran it out of their borough home. But the Debrowskis are grateful that the Mount St. Francis Convent on Sloatsburg Road, for the second consecutive year, is lending its facilities, which include a swimming pool and a conference center for all indoor activities.
“We’re enjoying the growth and looking forward to expanding,” said Kim Debrowski, who co-founded the camp with her husband Mark to meet special education needs during the summer when most school district programs are closed.
In 2006, they established the Ethan Foundation for Autism, named after their young autistic son, to fund the camp.
The Ethan Foundation has been able to live up to its fundraising goals. On Thursday, Aug. 21, staffers and parents celebrated the Ringwood Woman’s Club donation of $750 to the Ethan Foundation. This money came from the $12,000 the club’s annual fashion show raised this year.
According to Mark Debrowski, the camp could use that donation for occupational therapy equipment like gymnastic mats.
The Ethan Foundation also raised almost $10,000 this year from two triathlons, one in Wyckoff and the other in Lake Placid, N.Y. The fundraisers are “what keeps us going,” Mark said.
All of this feeds the mission at the Frogs, Flowers & Friends Camp to keep children from falling behind during summer vacation.
“We provide a structured environment so their routine isn’t off when they go back to school this September,” said Stephanie Schaefer, a lead counselor at the camp. She is Ethan Debrowski’s former teacher.
The camp’s variety of activities includes arts and crafts, reading and circle time, swimming, music therapy, nature walks, and outdoor games.
Autism is a spectral disorder that affects a person’s social and communication skills in various ways. Mark explained that even though some of the camp’s kids aren’t verbal communicators, they could convey their ideas in other ways like playing instruments, memorizing lyrics and making hand motions.
Although the camp is in its final week of the summer, the Debrowskis are already thinking about various ways to develop the camp for next year. Such developments include an extended camp schedule, searching for a more permanent camp location and setting up an after-school autism program, which Mark called “a lofty goal.”
Parents like Howie Abraham have shown their gratitude for the Frogs, Flowers & Friends Summer Camp’s ability to take on their children’s autism. This is his son Ian’s first year in the camp. Abraham is so grateful for the program that he had his company, Inflatable Party Adventure of Congers, N.Y., donate inflatable obstacle courses for the camp.
“I love him for who he is… and I don’t focus on it (his son’s autism),” said Abraham. “The camp’s owners care. Programs like this are important because people don’t understand what it’s like to be the parent of special needs children. You’re on call 24/7.”
Donation checks can be made payable to the Ethan Foundation for Autism and mailed to the Ethan Foundation for Autism, P.O. Box 43, Ringwood, N.J. 07456. The foundation’s Web site, ethanforautism.org, features fundraiser announcements and more information on the camp.
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