Wayne County's Dyberry Day Camp has been serving kids with special needs for 50 years

Marking their 50th anniversary in 2022, Dyberry Day Camp welcomed back 29 campers this summer, celebrating life and the potential of children and young adults with special developmental needs.

This half-century of time has witnessed generations of youngsters with disabilities receive a chance for a fun-filled time five days a week, filled with crafts, song, swimming, games, field trips, learning something new, bonding and building upon their special strengths. Counselors and directors, having compassion, understanding and desire to give of themselves and supported by a generous community over these five decades, have made it possible.

Dyberry Day Camp runs for 20 days every July, hosted by Arc of Wayne County.

While visiting the camp July 15 for this story, campers (aged 6 to 21) gathered in a circle for songs, assembled under the pavilion to paint rocks green to make fun “cactus plants,” played in the sand, on the swings and slide; played ball, and gathered for lunch. Soon they would be headed down to the Honesdale Borough Pool for a refreshing dip.

One of the campers, Freedom Beckwith, who is 17 and from Equinunk, said what he likes about Dyberry Day Camp: "I like to ride bikes. I like to go to the pool. I like to run in the sand. I like to color."

Of interest:More than 100 runners turn out for the 36th Annual Perkins Run at Dyberry Township

'Slice of Heaven'

"It's a little slice of Heaven here," Bette Ann Baerenklau, Camp Director said. A retired Wayne Highlands School District special education teacher, Baerenklau started at the camp around 1987, and directs the camp with Glady Goehringer.

"I see so much potential of what our campers are able to do, what they deserve and have the right to do," Baerenklau stated. "They deserve to be able to so anything in the summer that any other kids does. Which is why a certified handicapped accessible playground was my dream came true. They deserve to be able to sit in a swing and swing like any other kid. They deserve to be able to do arts and crafts with help from somebody. They deserve to be able to get on a bike— they have to have help to do it."

"And I do it because I like to see them smile and laugh," she continued.

The campers develop long-lasting staff with fellow campers and staff, Baerenklau said.

"It's not school. Our goal is to provide a fun-filled, leisurely month for our special-needs population," she said. "We provide them with experiences they might not otherwise have." Basic manners, social and listening skills are taught.

The rustic site for the camp just north of the county fairgrounds is owned by Michael O'Day, who allows Arc to use the land for the month of July.

Run by Arc of Wayne County

Arc of Wayne County is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the National Arc. "Arc" stands for "Advocacy & Resources for Citizens" and subtitled, "with cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities." The organization serves a broad range of individuals.

The Arc is the largest advocacy organization in the United States for people with a various diagnosis such as Autism, Down Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Arc was started by parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who have worked to change the negative perception society may place on their children.

Kathy Highhouse, who has been on the board of Arc of Wayne County since nearly the beginning, said that the group formed around 1969. Dyberry Day Camp started separately in 1972 and was in need of a sponsoring organization. She said that Arc took on that role in 1973, which was the same year the annual Arc Bike-Hike fundraiser began.

John Tobey, Special Education Director for Wayne County, contributed $6,000 to help the camp to begin.

Highhouse said that she and Charles Bertram, another Wayne Highlands special education teacher, started the camp. Bertram was director for several years.

According to Highhouse, the camp has always been set in this location along Dyberry Creek. They started with 16 campers and met under a tarp. They would swim and fish in the creek and go blueberry picking, and visit the former Scranton zoo. She said she used to cook lunch for everyone.

Funding and community support for Dyberry Daycamp

The community has helped out in many ways through the years.

The playground was an Eagle Scout project. Honesdale Jaycees built their first pavilion. Their current pavilion was a senior project. Human Resources Center, Inc. donated a van years ago, which is used to go to the pool and field trips.Bowling for Autism provided money this year for several changing rooms for campers who go swimming. Texas No. 4 Fire Company put up fencing.

Administrators from the three school districts in Wayne County enjoy visiting each year. Wallenpaupack administrators bring McDonald's lunch. Wayne Highlands comes by with pizza. Western Wayne administration visits with lunch from Wendy's.

The Pennsylvania State Police came by and gave a safety talk. Smokey the Bear has stopped by. The campers went to the movies at Callicoon, and had a fun day at Carousel in Beach Lake.

While it costs an estimated $1,200 per camper, there is no charge to the family, Baerenklau said.

Arc provides tuition and transportation. Families need only to provide their campers with lunch and drink.

Prior to COVID, the whole cost to run the camp was approximately $64,000. This year there are fewer campers, but costs are higher.

All of this is paid for by fundraising and donations from organizations and individuals.

Their largest fundraiser is the Bike-Hike, which has been held every spring since 1973. Over $18,500 was raised this spring by the efforts of Wayne Highlands students participating in the Bike-Hike with two events at Damascus and Honesdale, and Wallenpaupack school students who raised money at their Color Run/Inclusion Week event and concession stand at a track and field meet.

Over $7,000 was pledged in Honesdale and $4,400 in Damascus. The Color Run/Inclusion Week activities raised over $7,100. These districts have participated since the start.

COVID's impact on Dyberry Day Camp

In the past, Dyberry has had as many as 60 to 65 campers, with many parents sending their children back year after year. In 2019 they had 58 campers.

Then COVID-19 hit.

During the height of the pandemic in 2020 and again in 2021, camp was called off. Instead, Arc of Wayne County connected with their kids bringing "Goody Bags of Joy" to each camper at his or her home.

"We have a vulnerable population here," Virginia Motsko, president of Arc of Wayne County, said.

Water must be brought in because they lack running water at the camp. It is hard maintaining social distance requirements, Motsko added.

They have about 20 counselors on staff this year who provide assistance. Before COVID they had about 40. They try to have a ratio of about one on one with the campers.

People who have worked at the camp have gone on to a find a career in Human Services, and Dyberry is proud of them, Baerenklau said.

Motsko said that while planning how to resume camp coming out from under the pandemic, they set a rule that campers had to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Baerenklau said they consulted with their legal advisor and Wayne Memorial Hospital.

The 2022 camp season opened with 29 campers.

Baerenklau said that she sent out 60 letters to families to invite them back, but only about half agreed.

"It's like starting over." Highhouse said.

For more information regarding the ARC of Wayne County or the Dyberry Day Camp, visit thearcwaynecounty.org.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Dyberry Day Camp: 50 years serving kids with special needs