| Camp Cornpanter - Where Happiness Is .................
|
| Perri Foster-Pegg In Allegheny, August 14, 1971
|
| The sign on the swimming pool gates asks for those going swimming not to enter unless they wear a smile.
The same sign could have been placed at the camp entrance because smiles abound and one word adequately sums up the whole of
Camp Cornplanter—happiness.
|
| From what is called the "valley", the central area of the camp, and the nature glen, to the cabins atop the
hills and the swimming pool, its campers are happy, their laughter ringing out amidst the trees and blue sky. However, Camp Cornplanter is more
than just an ordinary camp—it is therapy for the hearts and bruised egos of the mentally retarded.
|
| Camp Cornplanter is many things, all of them good. It is a place where retarded children can feel loved by all,
equal to their peers, and at peace among the Allegheny Forest. It is also the product of a long quest by its director, Mrs. Clifford Bollinger of
Warren. Eleven years ago, Mrs. Bollinger was searching for an area where she could start a camp for the mentally retarded. After much experience
working at summer camps while in college, Mrs. Bollinger that only a true summer camp could provide a rewarding and skill- developing experience
for children like her mentally retarded son.
|
| She discovered Camp Cornplanter, located near the Kiasutha Campgrounds and built by the Civilian Conservation
Corps during the depression, and, in 1959, opened its doors for the mentally retarded, under the direction of the Warren County Association for
the Mentally Retarded.
|
| Now in its 11th year, the camp is run by a non-profit board of directors from Elk, McKean, Warren, Cattaraugus,
Chautauqua, and Erie counties. Campers come form nine states, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio,
Massachusetts, and the state of Maine, just added this year.
|
| Having children come from all over the east helps the campers, Mrs. "B.", as the director is affectionately
called by campers and staff alike, stated. "Retarded children are so limited in experience," she said. "Here they can meet kids from
all over-otherwise they would be thrown in again with the kids they go to school with all year. They like to talk about the different places
they come from."
|
| Over 100 children come each week to be loved, to share, and to have fun during the eight week period which begins
June 20. This week, 110 children are campers, and Polk State Institute near Franklin will send 100 campers for the next and final week of camping.
|
| They are grouped according to their age and abilities in cabins, four for the boys and four for the girls. The
required ages for the campers is six through 50, since, as Mrs. B. stated, "They are still children at heart."
|
| She smiled during the tour around the camp. "I think one of the biggest thrills I ever had was seeing a
30 year-old girl go down a slide," she recalled.
|
| The six programmed activities, nature, sports, crafts, music, swimming and creative dramatics all aid in some
way toward the emotional growth, social adjustment, and skill development of the children. The emphasis is on praise, encouragement and recognition,
and even disciplinary problems are handled with love. "They’re just acting out their feelings," Mrs. B. explained.
|
| Mrs. B. showed and offered additional information about how each of the activities that were in session are
handled at Camp Cornplanter. All take place in the valley and the children rarely return to their cabins on the hill except for their daily rest
periods. "These hills are great", she said, since the kids lack muscular ability.
|
| As she passed tumbling, which the younger boys were practicing, Mrs. B. reported proudly that almost all the
children can do handstands and forward rolls. One boy suddenly darted from the group and started running as fast as he could through a grassy
expanse.
|
| "Gary likes to run," Mrs. B. said, "so we let him." Soon he stopped and collapsed in a heap, beaming from ear to
ear at the counselor who followed. He lifted his arms to be picked up and together they walked back to the group.
|
| "I don't care what their I.Q. is- academically they are retarded, but physically they are great," she laughed on her
way to nature.
|
| Over a small bridge and a brook is the campfire area, felled trees in a ring. Every Sunday, after camper arrival
from 2 to 4 p.m., the children go to their first campfire. At this time, Chief Cornplanter and two braves appear to the delight of the children.
|
| "We have a lot of tradition here," Mrs. B. said after the cries of "Hello Mrs. B." stopped echoing her arrival at
the area. "That's what makes us different from other camps. We're a real camp."
|
| And indeed, "Chief Cornplanter" in all his tradition starts the week with a surprise, for after he finishes his
ceremonial speech, he lights the fire with "magic."
|
| At the playground area, in which children aged six to eight were playing, Mrs. B. said proudly, that they are
her co-ed cabin, since every institution has to have co-ed quarters. These children sleep segregated by sex in a two wings of a cabin joined by a
day room.
|
| She also explained that every member of her staff of 80 sleep in the same areas as the children. The ratio of
counselors to campers is one to three and sometimes one to one if necessary. "We have never turned down a child and some have needed extra help,"
she said.
|
| All of her staff are extremely qualified, since she experiences a high rate of return for directors and counselors,
as well as campers. There are five waterfront directors, two craft directors, and one for each of the other activities. These staffers, usually young,
are all college graduates or college students, and plan and direct their respective activities.
|
| Junior counselors, in-training counselors and the kitchen and maintenance staff are high school graduates and
undergraduates and they, too, sleep in the camper areas. For this reason, Mrs. B. says that they often make the best counselors in the following
years.
|
| There is also a registered nurse on duty at all times and Dr. L. J. Borger is on 24 hour call during the eight
week period which begins with a three day training session for the staff.
|
| Since the philosophy of the camp is development of the individual, there are three programs per week reserved for
recognition of the individual campers. At each, the campers show what they have learned and receive applause from campers and counselors.
|
| "They’re all hams," Mrs. B. said affectionately. "Almost every child shows progress, and when you praise them, it's
like the whole world is opening up."
|
| One night is Junior Olympics for sports, and Thursday afternoons are devoted to the watershow since almost every
child swims and dives.
|
| Friday is the big show of the week, oriented this year around a Disneyland theme. With 100% camper participation,
this extravaganza coordinates music, dramatics and crafts, since the campers make their own costumes and sets. According to Mrs. B., the final
result is "excellent."
|
| Mrs. B.'s own job as director is year round. Not only does she direct and supervise the entire program, and deal
with special problems, but she is the catalyst that makes the camp run smoothly. Living proof of her ideas and love for the mentally retarded is
Camp Cornplanter.
|
| "It's not a clinical program," she said. "They get enough of that during the year. It's just a real
camping program."
|
| From 7 a.m. 'til 9 p.m., for $50 a week , Camp Cornplanter is a real bargain for what the children receive and
take home with them.
|
| And what has been titled the "Camp Cornplanter Smile" which after praise and affection, extends from ear to ear,
is only one of them!
|