What if...

there was a summer camp at the Jersey Shore for blind and visually impaired children?

What if...

the camp activities included boat rides and bike rides and a trip to an amusement park and miniature golf and music instruction with the Bay Atlantic Symphony?

How about...

eating at local restaurants and enjoying an ice cream cone from the many ice cream parlors?

Wouldn’t it...

be exciting to bunk overnight in dormitory style rooms and wake to a good breakfast in the dining room with fellow campers?

How about...

taking a dip in the Atlantic Ocean and walking on Avalon’s pristine beaches or participating in talent night with your other campers?

What if...

all of this was included in a one week all expense paid summer camp? Do you have or know of a child that would enjoy such a camp?

Blind and visually impaired children have been enjoying an all expense paid one week summer vacation at the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children since 1972. For eight weeks each summer, between mid June and mid August, the Home operates a camp that offers many of the campers their first experience of feeling sand in their toes or tasting salt water on their lips. The campers range in age from seven years in age to fifteen years in age and the Home can accommodate twenty campers each week. We are located in a residential community, two blocks from the Atlantic Ocean, in Avalon, New Jersey.

While the campers enjoy many recreational adventures to places like Morey’s Pier, boat rides and the Cape May County Zoo and Park they are also exposed to community living through dining experiences at local restaurants and ice cream parlors, cultural events at Veterans Plaza and the Bay-Atlantic Symphony, lending audio books from the library and events at the community center.

Each child receives a great deal of attention as the counselor-to-camper ratio is never greater that one-to-five. The facility is a three story home that comfortably houses campers in semi private rooms. There is an activity room equipped with TV, games, and a piano. A fully equipped kitchen is staffed to provide wholesome meals and the daily menu is in both print and Braille. There are some physical limitations that restrict camper eligibility for the camp;

1. campers must be able to feed, clothe and bathe themselves with limited assistance,
2. the Home is not equipped with an elevator therefore the campers must be able to go up and down stairs,
3. campers ages are from 7-15 years.

PS: There’s lots to do on Saturday October 10, 2009 in Avalon.
Annual Seafood Festival with great seafood, entertainment and crafters at 30th Street and the beach.
Cape Express Soccer is hosting one of the largest soccer tournament in South Jersey at 12th Street.
Check it out at www.avalonboro.org bring the family and enjoy the festival and excellent club soccer after touring the home.

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