Grant helps send kids with disabilities to camp

 A special ‘Anonymous’ Foundation grant will send close to 20 children to overnight camp and weekend respites at the Stepping Stones Center Camp Allyn near Cincinnati this summer and fall

 Camp scholarships are available on a first come, first served basis for children with disabilities age 8-18 who live in and around the Dayton area. Income eligibility for this grant is set to allow both middle and low income families to qualify, said Peggy Kreimer, communications director for Stepping Stones Center.

“The family foundation that is funding these scholarships wants to make summer camp available to as many children as possible,” said Kreimer. Stepping Stones Center is a 47-year-old United Way partner agency offering year-round and summer programs for children and adults with disabilities, including preschool, autism education, adult services and the signature summer day and residential camps and weekend respites.

The residential camps and respites are at Stepping Stones Center’s 47-acre Camp Allyn in Batavia, Ohio, which is 61 miles from the Dayton City Building.

Respite weekends from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning run from October through April. Summer camps – from 4-day sessions to 12-day sessions – run from mid-June through mid-August. Each summer camp includes a hot air balloon ride provided by the Cincinnati Rotary Club (weather permitting).

Camp Allyn features an in-ground pool, lakes, nature trails, nurses on duty from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., food services designed to meet special dietary needs and security alarms in sleeping areas. The programs serve all levels and types of disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, multiple disabilities and medically fragile conditions. One-on-one aides are available.

Camp applications and registration information is available on the Stepping Stones web site, www.steppingstonescenter.org or from the Family Resource Center at Children’s Medical Center of Dayton.

Eligibility levels are:

Family of 2- $47,400

Family of 3- $54,400

Family of 4- $61,300

Family of 5- $68,300

Family of 7- $82,200

Family of 8- $89,200

Camp sessions open to children are:

 July 6-9 -- Cartoon Capers, ages 8-12 and Anime Adventures, ages 13-17

Aug. 1-5 – Board Games Gone “Live,”

Ages 8-12 and Video Games Gone “Live” ages 13-17

Camp Sessions open to age 17 and older are:

 June 27-July 2 – Challenge & Triumph Sports

July 11-16 – Fine Arts

July 25-30 – Nature

The Dayton grant pays the full cost of camp for children age 8-18. Regular camp fees are $500 or $700 including a one-on-one aide for four-day sessions; $625 or $875 including a one-on-one aide for five-day sessions; $750 or $1,050 including a one on one aide for six-day sessions. Stepping Stones also offers camps for adults.

Respite weekends funded by the grant will start in fall. For information on the residential camps and respites, call Tabbie Ross, 513-732-0240. For information on registration and applications, contact Marcie Brooks, 513-831-4660.