April 2011
Dear Camp Nerden Families,
As summer quickly approaches, we would like to tell you about some changes that have taken place at the John J. Nerden R.T.C. Camp.
After two years of dedication as Camp’s Director and Assistant Director, Kelly Sheppard and Heather Ross have stepped down from their positions.
The Board of Directors has named Jackie Holowczyk as Director and Carissa Gudaitis as Assistant Director.
We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves.
Jackie currently works with a non-profit organization based in Hartford Public Middle Schools. Jackie has been at Camp Nerden for the past 9 years. She has served as a volunteer, a group leader of the pre-school aged A-Group, and an activity leader for both Arts & Crafts and Indoor Recreation.
Carissa is currently a Special Education Teacher at Casimir Pulaski Elementary School in Meriden. She has been at Camp Nerden for 13 years, serving as a volunteer and a group leader of the pre-school aged A-Group, the young girls in C-Group, and the teenaged to adult women of E-Group.
We look forward to continuing the Camp tradition by providing leisure time and recreational activities during the summer months to our campers, as well as seeing the selflessness of our volunteers in helping others. We look forward to seeing old and new friends return for this summer.
If you have any questions before Camp or during, please feel free to contact us:
Jackie Holowczyk Carissa Gudaitis
203-213-7062 203-213-5990
See you this summer
Dear Parents,
As Summer 2011 approaches, the John J. Nerden RTC Camp staff is happy to welcome back our many old friends, and reach out to the new ones by sending out our camper application. As a refresher for returning families, and to first time camper families, we send along the following information to help you prepare for a great camp season:
1. ELIGIBILITY: Children and adults with mental retardation, otherwise known as intellectual
disability, are eligible to enroll at camp. Camper age may range from 3 years through adulthood.
2. CAMPER APPLICATION: Please complete and return. Applications must be mailed to P.O. Box
2617, Meriden, CT 06450. Applications should be received by June 1st or brought to the Open House on Saturday, June 4th. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Please note: No child will be allowed at camp without access to parent or emergency contact person by phone at all times.
3. REGISTRATION: Camp is one 7-week session. This application will be reviewed by the Camp
Directors and medical staff. You will be contacted if there are questions concerning the application. Once you hear from us that the application is complete your child MAY begin camp on June 27, 2011.
4. MEDICAL FORMS: Please have your child's Doctor complete the attached forms. (A copy of the
school physical done within the last three years is acceptable.) The Medical Forms MUST accompany the application in order for your child to attend camp and must be signed by a parent and physician.
Please be sure to sign ALL MEDICAL FORMS. Medical Forms I, II and III are to be completed
and signed by the medical doctor.
5. MEDICATION: If your child is required to take medication at camp, a copy of the Doctor's
prescription MUST accompany the original pharmacy bottle.** Please note the additional requirement of x-rays to rule out Atlanto Dislocation in Down Syndrome Children.
All forms must be completely filled out and signed before a child can attend camp.
6. ABUSE AND NEGLECT: It is the policy of the John J. Nerden RTC Camp to follow the state law
and report child abuse or neglect. A full and complete written statement of our policy and procedure is posted at camp.
7. TRANSPORTATION: For Meriden/Wallingford residents, please refer to the Bus Schedule. Please write YOUR bus stop on the camper application. Scheduled times for pick-up and return may vary slightly the first week, as we try to accommodate all of our campers. It is recommended that you arrive at the bus stop 10-15 minutes early. The John J. Nerden Regional Training Center Camp, Inc. is a community supported facility for the the handicapped.
8. CLOTHING: Please clearly label all clothing. A bathing suit and towel are needed daily. Sneakers rather than flip-flops or sandals are suggested. If your child is not toilet trained or is prone to accidents, please send a change of clothes. Please send sunscreen for children with sensitive skin. We recommend keeping a sweatshirt in campers’ bags for cooler weather conditions.
9. LUNCH: Campers need to bring a bag lunch with a drink everyday except Wednesday. A cookout lunch of hot dog or hamburger, potato chips, and drink is provided each Wednesday beginning this year on June 29, 2011. Any dietary restrictions that would effect your child's participation in the weekly cookout should be carefully noted on the application. Soda, lemonade, and iced tea are available for $1.00.
10. CAMP HOURS: Campers begin arriving by bus at approximately 9:15 AM. Buses leave camp at 3:15 PM. Our camp activities of Arts & Crafts, Music, Outdoor Recreation, Indoor Recreation and Swimming begin at 10:00 AM preceded by Opening Ceremonies at 9:30 AM.
Parent Note: Our pre-school program runs from 9:00 AM to 12 Noon. Transportation to camp will remain available, but parents are responsible to provide transportation home from camp for their preschool children at Noon.
11. REACH: This will be the thirteenth year of our REACH PROGRAM (Recreational Entertainment After Camp Hours). This program of special activities and dinner runs from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Tuesday and Thursday for five weeks out of the seven-week session. All participating campers will be picked up by parents at 8:00 PM. *If your child is selected to participate for a REACH Night, an application form will be sent home with your child. This program costs $8 per session.
*Camper participation in REACH is by invitation at the discretion of the Camp Directors.
12. RAINY DAYS: Please use your judgment in sending your child to camp on a rainy day. Even
though we are open on rainy days, we have limited indoor facilities. Directors may make the decision that the Rainy Day program is not appropriate for certain campers. Parents should be prepared to make alternate arrangements if necessary.
13. OPEN HOUSE: We will host an Open House on Saturday, June 4th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Hot dogs will be served. We strongly encourage all new families to attend.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call Jackie Holowczyk at (203) 213-7062 or Carissa
Gudaitis at (203) 213-5990. Our camp Board of Directors and Camp Staff are looking forward to
another great summer.
Sincerely,
