Waterford ― Should you have been wearing a fancy dress and listening to some spooky tunes on Sunday afternoon, odds are you have been at Camp Harkness’ Fall Fest.
Households flocked to the camp for meals vans, craft distributors, fall-themed crafts for teenagers, face portray, hay bale rides and a fancy dress contest in an effort to assist the Camp Harkness Basis.
“We’re simply making an attempt to convey the group in in order that they see what we’re all about,” mentioned Director Elisa Marcoux.
Marcoux, wearing her lobster costume, mentioned that whereas the camp has placed on comparable occasions in the summertime, Sunday was the primary time they’ve hosted a Fall Fest. All the cash raised by the camp will likely be put towards a brand new playground for campers, which Marcoux mentioned prices upwards of $300,000.
Camp Harkness is among the few state parks within the nation devoted for unique use by individuals with disabilities, accompanied by their household and buddies. Marcoux estimated that greater than 6,000 individuals yearly use the park’s array of cabins, cottages, tent websites, picnic pavilions, scenic walkways and gardens.
“We’re giving individuals the chance to promote their merchandise and get the group extra concerned with our camp and see extra of our camp,” Marcoux mentioned.
Kids in costumes, with their mother and father not too far behind, roamed from one meals truck to the following in quest of lunch. You can seize a slice of pepperoni pizza on the Kids’s Heart of Hamden pizza truck, or cease by the Shaking Crab truck for some seafood dishes and fried appetizers, all whereas a DJ performed basic Halloween-themed music.
After a hay bale journey across the camp, Momma’s Ice Cream truck and the cannoli truck had dessert taken care of.
As soon as everybody had a full abdomen, it was time to buy. There have been 20 or so distributors readily available to promote selfmade jewellery, blankets, crafts, candles and sweets, together with canine treats.
A former Camp Harkness camper, Kyle Scarpulla, was stationed at his personal desk.
Scarpulla, 21, owns his personal enterprise referred to as “Kyle’s Kreations.” Scarpulla has autism and so when it got here time for him to discover a job, he turned to arts and crafts. With the assistance of his mom, Kenia Waldo, his grandmother, Viola Waldo, and his assist canine, Daisy, Scarpulla makes jewellery, blankets, greeting playing cards, paw balm for animals and pet treats proper at dwelling.
Scarpulla, a West Haven native, mentioned Sunday was both the third or fourth occasion he’s had a desk at. He mentioned at each occasion, together with Sunday’s Fall Fest, he donates 10% of his earnings to the group internet hosting the occasion. As a former camper himself, Scarpulla mentioned “it’s cool” to have the ability to donate cash towards a brand new playground.
A fast stroll up a hill led guests to the camp’s predominant workplace, the place kids may paint pumpkins, get their faces painted and eat some Rita’s Italian ice. Marcoux mentioned Residence Depot donated the pumpkins for the occasion whereas Rita’s donated the Italian ice. The Waterford Police Division was even readily available to offer a Okay-9 unit demonstration.
Shortly after the police Okay-9s confirmed off their expertise, Jonas Roque and his youthful brother Jacob grabbed some Italian ice to cap off their day.
Jonas, 9, was dressed up as a purple Energy Ranger with a cup of mango Italian ice in his proper hand. Jacob, 5, was a racecar driver model of Mickey Mouse and was snacking on cotton-candy frozen deal with.
The 2 brothers had “lots of enjoyable,” with their older sister, Angelie Santos. The threesome painted pumpkins, noticed some “cool” selfmade jewellery. Jacob was excited to see his trainer on the hay bale journey.
“We would like the group to return in and we would like it to be inclusive and a camp for everybody,” Carrie Rogers, the camp’s supervisor, mentioned concerning the occasion.
okay.arnold@theday.com
