News
New Improvements Make Camp Lenape Spectacular
Over the past few months the news from UCP’s summer day camping program, Camp Lenape, has been incredible. The list of improvements made to the camp’s grounds, buildings, and pool is long and fulfilling.
And it all started with one incredible volunteer!
The success of these efforts is really due to the work of Camp Lenape volunteer, Walt Zettlemoyer. Walt, who has been a long time support of the camp, felt strongly that the camp grounds had to be improved, and in 2004, he issued a challenge to UCP. He would contribute $25,000 for the camp, if UCP could match his contribution. UCP did match his donation through grants from local foundations and donors, and the result was a new addition to the Center’s main building, completed in 2005.
Camp Lenape is UCP’s summer day camp for children with Cerebral Palsy and other disabilities in Kent and Sussex county, Delaware. The program is open for six weeks in July and August, from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
The thrill of Walt’s success spurred the camp’s volunteers and staff to push for more improvements. With new grants from The Longwood Foundation and Crystal Trust, UCP was able to vastly improve the camp’s pool. The original pool, built over 25 years ago, was a small rectangle that the camp children had outgrown. Further, the pool had never been made accessible for wheelchair users. Using Foundation funds, UCP turned the rectangle into an L shaped pool and added an in-pool ramp. The new design was ready in time for last summer’s camp.
One of the most exciting things that has happened to Camp Lenape in many years; however, was when Comcast adopted the camp this year. The Comcast management in Southern Delaware visited the camp and knew they could bring about a miracle and transform the camp. On October 7, Comcast Cares Day, 70 employees from Comcast descended on camp and did a major makeover. They installed new landscaping around the camp grounds, and inside the main building their staff put up new walls and painted the inside of the building. They also provided new equipment, such as a television, refrigerator, power washer, landscaping tools, and more. They also installed new cable and provided free internet service, something that UCP never had at Lenape. It is truly an amazing thing to see how a huge group of 70 dedicated Comcast employees and their families can transform a camp for children with disabilities in a single day.
In the two years since Walt’s challenge there is now a new addition for the main building, a greatly improved pool with an in-pool ramp for accessibility, new landscaping, a complete makeover of the old section of the main building, and internet service. There may be more improvements coming too. The volunteer group now have their sights set on a new pool changing house for the kids at camp and an accessible playground.
If you would like to make a difference at UCP’s Camp Lenape, contact UCP (302) 335-5626.
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