Creating a Good Time for All

When Patrick Peters returns home today after spending a week at camp, he’ll start counting the days until next summer, waiting for when he can return.

Peters, 42, has been to Camp Re- Creation 26 times before. He returns year after year to swim, make arts and crafts, meditate and chant theme songs in the halls. Activities that on any other day -- because of his developmental disability -- Peters probably wouldn’t get to do.

“I always have a great time here,” said Peters, one of 81 disabled adults who participated in the once-a-year weeklong camp at the Diocese of Orange’s Marywood Pastoral Center in Orange.

“I look forward to it every year because I always make such good friendships here,” Peters said.

The camp, sponsored by Catholic Charities, was created more than 30 years ago for adults and children with physical and developmental disabilities.

Most of the 75 counselors, all local high school and college students who are paired one on one with the campers, describe the experience as contagious. On Friday, they donned shark hats and beach outfits to go with this year’s “Vacation Under the Sea” theme.

“It’s almost like a drug,” said Danielle Plock, one of several group leaders in charge of the spiritual room. “Once you’ve experienced this, you can’t live without it.”

This marks her sixth year volunteering at the camp. Plock, 22, originally became involved with the program to earn service hours needed to graduate from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana.

She returns for different reasons.

“This is part of my life,” she said. “It’s one of those amazing things you feel a void without.”

Meredith Hamilton, one of three camp directors, said the focus at Camp Re-Creation is to help adults with disabilities become more active while breaking barriers and misperceptions created by society.

Organizers hoped to fashion an environment in which the campers could take part in activities that would improve their skills, independence, confidence and self-esteem. It works, they said.

“We want them to know that there isn’t anything to be afraid of,” said Hamilton, 25. “We want to give campers the best week of their lives.”

The campers paid $390 for the week, which included breakfast, lunch and dinner and a field trip to Sea World. Past trips have included Disneyland, Universal Studios and Knott’s Berry Farm.

Frank Murphy said Catholic Charities begins planning the activities in January. The Knights of Columbus, which has donated money for camp expenses for years, this year contributed $120,000, he said.

For camper Ben Moore, a 30-minute karaoke session Friday -- when campers produced a Disney-meets-hip-hop music ensemble -- was the highlight of the week.

But for Theresa Fischbeck, the best part was Thursday night’s makeshift prom.

“It’s a big deal for them,” Hamilton said. “The girls even get their nails and hair done for the dance.”

Jaime Soto, an auxiliary bishop of the Orange Diocese, said the genius of Camp Re-Creation is that everyone has something to give.

“It’s not just a one-way street,” he said. “Everybody who participates makes the camp experience a rich experience.”