Feature Article May 1, 2003
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeLanark Childrens Haven CampOn Saturday, May 3, just outside of beautiful downtown Poland, Lanark Children's Haven will host its 3rd annual Bike-a-thon / Hike-a-thon. The timing of this event is highly strategic. It's that tiny window before the blackflies rise up, an ideal time to explore the woods. Both cyclists and hikers can experience the wilderness and help raise money for Lanark Children's Haven, a summer camp for special needs children and adults. Every summer this camp is home to hundreds of campers, who learn outdoor and waterfront skills, art and music and enjoy the incredible beauty of a wilderness setting. A BBQ feast with food donated from community stores and farmers is part of the lure, and there are also many prizes for participants, ranging from mountain bikes to food baskets.
This year on the Hike-a-thon naturalist Ted Mosquin will lead an interpretative nature tour through the trails on the camp. This is the perfect opportunity to learn more about native plants, wildflowers and wildlife. Participants in this hike can show up at 9 a.m. on Saturday with a donation for the camp, a sturdy pair of boots, and perhaps a notebook and camera.
Lanark Children's Haven Camp has a strong nature program based out of the R. Howard Webster Nature Centre and has plans to make this program a year-round community resource. Campers leave with a much broader appreciation of the wonders of the natural world. Last summer the camp started an organic vegetable and herb garden for the campers to tend and to harvest. This is part of a long-term plan to teach campers gardening skills in the hopes of raising their awareness about food and nutrition. The camp is presently looking for donations of gardening tools, plants, topsoil, hay, manure, and fencing material to keep out the deer.
Last summer the experimental songwriting program was such a hit with campers that The Haven is now hiring professional musicians and artists to lead workshops throughout the summer. The camp is also particularly proud of the remarkable accomplishments of its handicapped swimmers and canoeists.
In the last week of June, Lanark Children's Haven will be offering a training week on some of the aspects of working with special needs children, and these courses will also be open to the public. Anyone interested in learning more about first aid, sign language, conflict resolution, behaviour management, canoeing and art and music therapy should call 259-3245.
To participate in the Bikeathon/Hikeathon, call Cindy McCall at 278-2448.
