Date: Fri 21-Jul-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: AMYD

Quick Words:

-Ashlar-elderly-youth-camp

Full Text:

A Camp That Brings Old and Young Together

w/photo.

B Y A MY D'O RIO

Dora Radel picked up Shane Blomberg's paper and remarked it should be neater.

Little Shane explained to Mrs Radel that his final copy will be done on the

computer, so his rough draft can be sloppy.

A computer?

Mrs Radel looked at him in disbelief, and went on with the interview.

The young and the old are getting to know each other at Ashlar of Newtown,

thanks to a summer camp program aptly named Summer Friends.

On Tuesday, Shane and Mrs Radel and the other camp participants interviewed

each other so they can eventually write each other's life stories. On the last

day of camp, they present the finished copies.

It always ends in a lot of hugs, said Evelyn Lawrance, Ashlar's community

resource manager and the camp's creator.

This month, Ashlar offered for the first time two, two-week camp sessions, the

second one currently underway. Usually, at some point during the camp day, the

children mingle with the seniors.

Some days, the activity is serious, like when the children learned about

Alzheimer's Disease and met Alzheimer patients.

On Wednesday, they just made ice cream. The children have worked with Ashlar's

famous bell choir and have learned how to do the Heimlich Maneuver.

With the life-stories activity, the seniors and the children were given a set

of questions to ask each other. The differences in their childhood were stark,

but they noticed some things don't change.

Mabel Murphy always had to do the dishes when she was little.

Sara Lynn Robichaud, 10, excitedly replied she does the dishes too.

"I have to do them a lot," she said.

Mrs Murphy has been a big hit with the campers. During the previous session,

Mrs Murphy worked with Shane, who is signed up for both sessions.

On the very first day of camp, Ms Murphy asked him for a kiss.

Everyone thought Shane would refuse. Mrs Murphy and the rest were pleasantly

surprised, however, when Shane planted two kisses on her cheek.

Now, Mrs Murphy is working with Sara, who sometimes is a little shocked by Mrs

Murphy's childhood.

"How did you keep cool in the summer?" Sara asked.

"I used to take off my clothes," Mrs Murphy answered.

"You stripped?" Sara asked alarmed. "I am not putting that in the book."

Many of the residents have been pleased with Ashlar's young visitors.

Playing dominoes with some children, Jennie Samoya said, "I learned how to

love all these children."

Eleanor Hansen went even further. She said, "It is one of the nicest things

that has happened at Ashlar, and I have been here for six years."

For the campers, some said they were a little nervous about being with

seniors, but have since gotten over their it.

"I have learned that when I get older, I don't have to be scared. You learn

more when you are older, and it is fun," Sara said.

Tricia Kirrane, the camp coordinator, said the seniors seem energized by the

children, and the children are learning about an older generations. Hugs are a

daily occurrence, and the children really seem to check their behavior around

the seniors, she said.

As for Shane's review, he is already asking about next summer.

"I am coming back, " he said. "I love this camp."