ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Max Collett and Chloe Kable play a squirt-gun game at the Lynn Special Needs Camp in Lynn Woods.
BY MICHELE DURGIN
LYNN — Summer is made for the young.
Time away from the classroom provides them with a chance to enjoy a variety of fun and exciting activities. The Lynn Special Needs Camp offers youth the chance to experience camp in a supportive setting.
Dania Carranza, 16, is excited about a field trip to Canobie Lake Amusement Park in New Hampshire that is planned for later this week.
“I love to play with my friends,” she said. “My favorite things to do here are color pretty pictures and jump in the splash pool.”
The camp, formerly known as Camp Kiwanis, opened in 1987 and is located on the 1,200-acre Lynn Woods Reservation. The free program serves children from ages 5-21 and is funded by the city of Lynn and anonymous donors.
This year, 42 campers can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, swimming, gardening and baseball. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided and the camp operates Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Field trips to museums, sporting events and amusement parks are also a part of the five-week experience.
Olivia Avery, 18, a 2016 graduate of Bishop Fenwick High School, is a first-year counselor.
“It feels so good to know that I am helping kids in need and I love coming here each morning and seeing their smiling faces,” she said.
Lisa Nerich, associate commissioner of the Department of Public Works, is the camp’s longtime director. She said counselors work tirelessly in an effort to make the experience the best it can be for all of the campers in their care.
“The staff is second to none, and I am fortunate to see the positive impact they have on so many kids’ lives,” she said. “They come to work everyday with big smiles and open hearts, anxious to spend time with the youngsters in their care. The bonds they develop are strong and authentic.”
Nine-year-old camper Dominic Fanstin is a three-year program veteran.
“I am so happy when I come to camp because we do fun things everyday,” he said. “All of the counselors help me learn new things.”
