KANE — As the children of Camp JJ walked down the sunny hillside at Highlander Christian Camp Thursday, a cool breeze accompanied them all the way to the dining hall.
The camp, located outside of Kane, has served children with special needs for the past 33 years completely through the donations and goodwill of the community, said Jeannette Smith, longtime camp director.
“We started in 1985 for special needs children … it picked up where Camp Cornplanter left off,” Smith said in reference to the former camp for special needs people which had been located in the Allegheny National Forest.
“The name JJ is because the founders were Bill and June Johnson … they had a special needs daughter who had attended Camp Cornplanter,” Smith recounted. “June had a Girl Scouts troop of special needs children so when Cornplanter closed … they went to the Girl Scouts council” and organized Camp JJ initially at the former Camp Resting Water facility.
She said Camp JJ, which moved to its new location a few years ago, grew from its enrollment of seven campers the first year, to the current 53 children who are split up into two, three-day sessions during the week-long event. The majority of campers, who are ages 9 to 21, are from McKean County, while a few are from Potter and Elk counties. Children are admitted free to camp, if needed, and no child is turned away for financial reasons, she explained.
“Our theme this year is Camping is Fun, so we’ve had bonfires with smores and mountain pies,” Smith added. “For the craft they made picture frames and birdhouses.”
She said there are also talent shows and prom night at the camp. Community volunteers this week included members of the Pediatrics Services of America organization who helped the campers with getting ready for prom night.
“This year has been fantastic (with donations), we did real well with a lot of area businesses,” Smith continued. “And the (Big 30 All-Stars Charity Classic) has sponsored us every year for the past two or three years.”
Smith said the camp is run by volunteers comprising 34 young adult counselors and 16 to 18 adult helpers.
“Our counselors are from area high schools and beyond” or bound for college, she remarked.
Staff member Cassandra Tingley, a high school student from Smethport, said this is her first summer to work at the camp and she has really enjoyed it.
“I like the activities and being with the kids,” Tingley commented before heading off to her duties.
Another counselor, Devin Young of Kane, will be a senior in high school this year and stepped away from working with children in the dining hall to comment.
“I enjoy coming to camp because it means the world to me helping out kids,” Young stated.
Counselor Abby Price of Smethport, who is Smith’s granddaughter, said she has helped at the camp for seven or eight years.
“I like to see new campers come here — and then come back and grow up with the camp,” Price said with a smile.
Camper Charles Ginkel of Bradford said he also has enjoyed the camp for many years, mainly because of the new friends he has made. It is his last year as he will soon be 21.
Camper Robbie Williams, also of Bradford, said this, too, will be his last year at camp as he is 21. Williams said he has enjoyed Camp JJ every summer since he was 9 or 10 years old.
“I like having fun and hanging out with friends, and doing water games,” Williams shared.
For more information on Camp JJ, or to donate, send letters to Camp JJ, P.O. Box 446, Bradford, Pa. 16701, or call 362-9755.
