Conestoga Valley townlively.com
APRIL 16, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXI • NO 17
Individual attention makes Aaron’s Acres summer camps something special
At Zion Lutheran, “Daniel” will inspire reminders about faith
BY JEFF FALK
BY JEFF FALK
In 2024, Aaron’s Acres summer camps served 45 participants. But a shortage of seasonal staff counselors created a waiting list for participants. “We can only accept as many participants as we have staff for,” said Burnett. “The more staff we have, the more participants we can have. Last year, we didn’t have enough staff members to accommodate all the participants every two weeks. We’d like to accept 60 participants every two weeks. We need to hire more staff.”
We live what we believe. Sometimes our faith needs a recharging, a little boost, a refreshing. Bible stories like the Sight & Sound production of “Daniel” can provide that kind of reboot. “Whether we realize it or not, our faith is kind of tested daily,” said Kurt Brown, who’s been an office administrator at Zion Lutheran Church for two years. “Stuff just comes up in our life. We question why, and then a few months later it becomes evident. We all have our lions’ dens; we’re brought into them. We can back out or rely on a higher power and grow from there. But faith is ultimately rewarded.” Located at 18 Quarry Road, Leola, Zion Lutheran Church will present a video recording of a Sight & Sound Theatres performance of “Daniel” at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. The video will be shown on a large screen within the church’s sanctuary. “It’s similar to many stories of
See Aaron’s Acres pg 5
See “Daniel” pg 2
Liza and Ted emerge from a swim at last year’s Aaron’s Acres summer camp.
swimming; therapeutic music; therapeutic horseback riding; and interactive entertainment like magicians, petting zoos and ventriloquists. “The goal is to create a traditional summer camp program,” said Burnett. “All participants should have opportunities to enjoy summer camp regardless of their abilities. Everybody should have the opportunity to participate in programs like these. At Aaron’s Acres, we want to provide that for them.”
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July 21 to Aug. 1 - at New Holland Community Pool and Park , 400 E. Jackson St., New Holland. The camps are designed for residents of Lancaster, Lebanon, Berks, Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties, ages 5 through 21 with mental, behavioral or emotional disabilities. Aaron’s Acres offers half-day summer camps from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or full-day summer camps from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Some of the camp activities include games; arts and crafts;
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here is simply nothing like one-on-one connections, human touch and personal interaction. They can lift spirits and change lives. Those types of interactions are what Aaron’s Acres is built upon, and collectively they are the driving force behind the local nonprofit’s original program, summer camp. “We accept participants with all disabilities,” said Elaine Burnett, who’s been a program director at Aaron’s Acres for 12 years. “Their needs vary, from hand over hand to behavior assistance to emotional and communicative assistance. With 1-on-1 or 1-on-2 staffing, we’re able to meet those needs. We’re able to meet those participants where they’re at. It helps us meet the child where their need is right now.” “The traditional summer camp usually has a 1-to-6 or 1-to-8 counselor-to-participant ratio,” Burnett added. “But we’re able to assist and modify concerns right there and now.” This year’s edition of Aaron’s Acres summer camps will be held over three two-week sessions June 16 to 27, July 7 to 18 and