Wanda Harrison | Aug 10, 2016


When the name Camp Kennebec is mentioned, some think of family camping and others think of a kids’ camp. Well, both are correct.

From the late ‘60s to the mid ‘90s, the camp was geared to family camping, so much so that many of the families that were first introduced to the Arden area through their camping experience later bought property here for their retirement years.

Camp Kennebec is located just off Cox Road in the hamlet, and the original owner, Steve Hammond, later decided that his camp should focus on the youth. He wanted to let them experience camping traditions, as many of them lived in the big cities, so in and around 1995 it became a camp for kids.

Since Hammond’s passing a few years ago, those now in charge have expanded his vision into a camp for those youth with special needs. The camp is now into their third year of the K I T program, and the focus is for the kids to master the art of living independently. These young people share cabins that are fully equipped with all the appliances necessary to make meals for themselves, so they can practice performing tasks that are second nature to the majority of us.

The camp began on July 3 this year and will run through to August 20. Regular camping fare such as archery, hiking, and horseback riding are offered, along with the special program.

As part of their interaction with “regular” people, the older campers, 18 +, prepared various items, such as wooden spoons, fire starters and candles and offered them for sale at the Arden Happy Gang’s summer sale on July 30.

Interaction, money management and work skills are just part of the program’s goals, and after speaking to the youngsters at the sale, it was very evident that they were just like regular kids, happy to be at camp and loving to craft their stuff to sell that day.

Speaking of selling their crafts, they were sold out of wooden spoons by about 10:30, so they took orders from those who missed out on buying a spoon, and are even going to make special spoons with longer handles for others. They worked in shifts of an hour each, with about 12 youngsters participating. The group was so elated with their success at the sale that they celebrated by taking a road trip to Kaladar’s Spud Box.

As one of the partners at the camp, Rob Daman explained to me, the kids come from as far away as Waterloo, Warkworth, Ajax and Curtis, and as near as Kingston and the surrounding areas.

Daman and the other partners will be meeting in September to summarize the year’s success and also to make their plans for the following years to come.

I am sure this camp would welcome some community support. Like so many others in the area, I had no idea of the camp’s far-reaching mandate. Let’s make sure that if they plan a fundraising event, or a tour of the camp, or need help painting or redecorating, we support their efforts with our time and energy.

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