While Lee Mar takes pride in our academic-related programs, we also want to make sure our campers are enjoying traditional camp activities. Days at Lee Mar are filled with smiles, laughs, and fun! Whether our campers are in the pool, playing kickball, fishing, painting, dancing, or participating in one of the many other activities at camp, we make sure our campers are having the time of their lives! Our goal is to give the campers an amazing summer experience while working on all areas of independent living skills. Our teachers and therapists are not only found in the classrooms but also at activities, helping to generalize IEP goals during the day-to-day activities at camp. Our campers learn to fold their clothing, make their beds, shower independently, and work on dining-room skills. A seven week program is the perfect length of time to have great fun while learning and mastering new skills.
Health
There are always two nurses at camp (at least one RN and one LPN), assisted by two nursing students. They distribute medication, keep campers healthy, and take care of any other medical needs. Twice a week, a pediatrician also comes to Lee Mar to check up on campers.
Over the years, Camp Lee Mar has had campers with various medical conditions; the medical staff is experienced and well trained to handle the health needs of campers.
Other
Our campers have a varied range of abilities within the mild to moderate classification. Our children are fully ambulatory and have a basic grasp of their daily living skills. Camp Lee Mar can accommodate campers with but not limited to:
- Developmental Challenges
- Learning Disabilities
- Down Syndrome
- Williams Syndrome
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Social Communication Disorder
- Fragile X
- Sensory Processing Disorder
A Typical Day
- 8:00: Rise and Shine. The morning begins with a song and a report on the day’s weather and activities.
- 8:45: Breakfast. Scrambled eggs and hash browns, pancakes, cereal, yogurt, and more! All our meals are served family-style by our dining-room staff.
- 10:05: 1st Period. Each group travels together to enjoy the awesome activities throughout camp. Look below for a full list of activities.
- 10:45: 2nd Period. Each group travels together to enjoy the awesome activities throughout camp. Look below for a full list of activities.
- 11:30: 3rd Period. Each group travels together to enjoy the awesome activities throughout camp. Look below for a full list of activities.
- 12:10: Wash Up for Lunch. Each group travels together to enjoy the awesome activities throughout camp. Look below for a full list of activities.
- 12:30: Lunch. Pizza, hot dogs, mac and cheese, grilled chicken, and more. Our kitchen staff always has something delicious prepared. Our campers enjoy their meals while working on their dining skills.
- 1:20: Rest Hour. A chance to have some down time, relax, and participate in some quiet activities in the cabins.
- 2:35: 4th Period. Each group travels together to enjoy the awesome activities throughout camp. Look below for a full list of activities.
- 3:15: Snack. The whole camp gathers at the picnic grove for a refreshing break.
- 3:45: 5th Period. Each group travels together to enjoy the awesome activities throughout camp. Look below for a full list of activities.
- 4:30: 6th Period. Each group travels together to enjoy the awesome activities throughout camp. Look below for a full list of activities.
- 5:15: Shower Time. Time to work on some daily living skills. After showering, campers enjoy some free time and put their social skills to work.
- 6:30: Dinner. Spaghetti, teriyaki chicken, cheeseburgers, and tacos are just some of the regular dishes we have for dinner here at camp while discussing our awesome day.
- 7:20: Evening Activity. The camp either splits up into units or enjoys a camp-wide event. Evening activities include counselor entertainment, dance parties, karaoke, club hour, all camp sing, bingo, etc.
- 8:15: Younger Campers Preparation for Bed. Time for the younger campers to wind down after a fun-packed day.
- 8:45: Older Campers Preparation for Bed. Now it’s the older campers turn to get ready to go to sleep.
- 9:00: Younger Campers Lights Out. Goodnight!
- 9:30: Older Campers Lights Out. See you in the morning!
Camp Lee Mar is (and always has been) solely dedicated to serving campers with special needs.
Many traditional camps have bunks or small programs for special needs campers. Although this may work for some campers with special needs, we find that our campers benefit from our growth-producing, structured program. During the summer we focus on building the social and emotional skills they need to be successful during the school year. Many of our campers are in traditional inclusive school programs during the year due to the skills they gain in our unique program.
Educational Activities
Speech – Our speech program has its own building filled with books, games, iPads, and other helpful tools. Our ASHA-certified speech pathologist and staff of speech pathology students develop an individual plan for each camper. The program covers a variety of topics while focusing on functional communication including pragmatic language, expressive/receptive language, and articulation.
Academics – Many campers come with flashcards, worksheets, or other materials from school. Campers also work through materials that Lee Mar provides. Each camper follows a personalized plan that is created by our teachers and teaching students.
Vocational and Occupational Job Training – Many of our older campers hold jobs at camp, with coaching and support from the academic staff.
Occupational Therapy – Our holistic approach and carefully designed activities allow for a truly impactful OT program. Camp’s professional occupational therapist leads exercises and games that focus on performing daily tasks such as eating a meal, getting dressed, and using writing utensils.
Daily Living – Cooking food, house cleaning, and washing a car are just some of the activities that take place at daily living.
Physical Therapy Skills – Here, campers practice their motor skills related to coordination and balance. These techniques are then utilized at other camp activities such as hockey, paddle boating, and tennis.
Other Activities
- Arts and Crafts
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Camp Adventures
- Drama
- Fishing
- Football
- Gardening
- Hiking
- Hockey
- Theraputic Horseback Riding (extra fee)
- Kickball
- Music and Movement
- Paddle Boating
- Photography
- Science & Nature
- Soccer
- Swimming (free play and instructional)
- Tennis
- Ziplining
Special Events
Fourth of July– A fun-filled day with lots of festive food, a parade, a dance, and of course, FIREWORKS. Make sure to pack some red, white, and blue!
International Day – We love learning about all the awesome countries that our staff are from. From announcements on the loudspeaker in different languages, to a show displaying their many cultures, this is one of the coolest days at camp!
Camp Sing – Once a week, as one of Lee Mar’s most famous traditions, the whole camp gathers by the gazebo to sing camp songs.
Trips – Every year, our older campers have the option of going on a three-day trip. Some of our most recent trips have been to Boston, Massachusetts; Hershey, Pennsylvania; Williamsburg, Virginia; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Dorney Park – We love all the rides, shows, games, and other attractions at this fun-filled park.
Fishing Derby – Our annual fishing competition tests which group can catch the most fish from the lake.
Pirate Day – Ahoy there! Make a pirate eye patch, go on a treasure hunt, and enjoy a pirate feast in the picnic grove.
The Carnival – An inflatable obstacle course, dunk tank, face painting, slip-n-slide, and carnival games are joined by cotton candy, shaved ice, and popcorn for this exciting event.
Western Day – Western-themed food, cowboy hats, and real hayrides highlight this special event.
Senior Prom – Hosted at the nearby firehouse, our Prom is always one of the most memorable nights of the summer for our older campers.
Olympics – Towards the end of the summer, camp is split into four teams for some friendly competition to show off all the skills the campers have learned over the summer.
Camp Council – At the beginning of the summer, a group of campers are elected to help lead events and assist the directors in making decisions.
Tie-Dye Day – Make sure to bring white shirts to camp for tie-dye day! Campers can really use their creative minds to pick colors and create a design.
Spirit Day – This Lee Mar tradition is always a great time to reflect on how much we love camp! At our show, every camper takes part in an act. This event is always accompanied by a special meal.
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Camp Lee Mar has financial assistance available through a number of scholarships. Make sure to contact camp as soon as possible if you are interested in applying for these scholarships.
Additionally, feel free to call camp to discuss your child’s Extended School Year (ESY) program.
Phones are not allowed at camp, but iPods, iPads, kindles, and handheld gaming devices are. Please keep in mind that these items are the camper’s property, and camp is not responsible for any loss or damage.
We also ask that all data plans are turned off while the campers are at Lee Mar.
Founded in 1953, Camp Lee Mar has brought many innovations to the field of camping for children with special needs, and continues to do so. Lee Mar is a private, 7-week residential summer program for campers ages 7-21.
We offer a unique curriculum incorporating a strong Academic and Speech program with traditional camp activities. Our campers flourish at Lee Mar due to the structured environment we provide, which allows our campers to feel comfortable and secure.
Mission & Philosophy
Camp Lee Mar provides a very structured program with 6 periods in each day. The program encompasses all the traditional camp activities but, in addition, includes strong speech, social skills, academics, daily living, physical therapy, and occupational therapy programs. These programs are headed by professionals in their fields, and run by current teachers, speech therapists, and students studying each subject. As our campers move into the senior program, we begin working on skills that will assist them in transitioning into their adult life. Our older campers take part in vocational training and job skills activities, with many senior campers holding a job at camp. Due to these programs, many of our campers are at Lee Mar as part of their Extended School Year (ESY).
Meet Our Director
Ari Segal, MSW
Director
Hi, I’m Ari, and I have been the Director of Camp Lee Mar since 1994.
I first became involved in working with the special needs community because of my lifelong exposure to my dad’s pioneering work with The Guided Tour, Inc., a supervised vacation program for adults with special needs. From the time I could walk, I was going on Guided Tour trips with my dad, and spending a lot of time with these adults. As I became older and started leading trips, I began to truly understand the importance of working with this population. Today, I direct The Guided Tour and continue to carry out my father’s work.
Our Staff
Lee Mar’s counselors come to camp specifically to be with special needs campers. They are motivated to work with special needs children and are the best individuals to be working with the campers. Many of our counselors are pursuing careers in the field of special needs.
Our counselors and support staff arrive a week before our campers and go through intensive training and workshops preparing for the arrival of our campers.
Each group has a 3:1 camper to counselor ratio. There are numerous additional staff members as well, such as kitchen staff, the maintenance team, housekeeping, nurses, etc.
Lee Mar takes pride in hiring an experienced, qualified, and motivated staff. Each summer, campers are joined by an incredible team led by our three directors who combined have over 100 years of experience with the special needs population, and 86 years of experience in camping.
One of our directors interviews each potential staff member to make sure they understand the intricacies and have what it takes to work with our campers. Camp also performs three different kinds of background checks before hiring someone.
The staff is made up of professionals and students who are trained and ready to provide an unforgettable summer for our campers. The staff at Lee Mar does not consist of volunteers, high schoolers, or anyone under the age of nineteen. Many of our staff members are studying speech-language pathology, special education, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and other topics that relate strongly to camp. A large number of our staff members grew up with siblings or close relatives with special needs too.
Facility and Location
Camp Lee Mar is near the small town of Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania, nestled in the beautiful Pocono Mountains. It is a two hour drive from New York City, and a two and a half hour drive from Philadelphia.
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