Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Youths serve at New Jersey Wave Camp for children with specialized medical needs

New Jersey Wave is a summer program for children who have specialized medical needs. Sponsored by the New Jersey American Lung Association, NJ WAVE was created to facilitate new friendships among children with specialized medical needs, enhance their group interaction, and promote networking with role models.  It provides campers with the experience of what other kids enjoy at the Jersey Shore. Activities have included the beach, boardwalk, boating, zoo, arcades, picnics, campfires, crafts, and hanging out with other kids.  Camp highlights have included a baseball tournament at the Field of Dreams and fishing off the Ocean City Fishing Club pier. Activities are tailored to let each child have fun.

The overnight camp will be held from Monday June 24 through Thursday June 27, 2013.  Twenty-four hour care is provided by experienced nurses, respiratory therapists, and doctors, including a pediatric pulmonologist.  Any child ages 8 to 18 years old, with a stable medical condition will be considered, such as children with neuromuscular disease, lung disease, hearing or visual impairment.  Children will spend most of the day involved in activities, so each child should be able to tolerate spending time outdoors (within reason), and spending the day in his/her wheelchair if one is used.  Hospital beds will be provided for bedtime.

The camp is not affiliated with any religious organization, but utilizes the spacious and handicapped accessible facilities of the Community Center of Holy Trinity GreekOrthodox Church, in Egg Harbor Township, NJ, located about 10 minutes from Ocean City.  Each year, the members of the Greek Orthodox Youth of America (GOYA) of Holy Trinity, volunteer with the scheduled activities and spend time with the campers.  GOYA is a ministry for youth ages 13-18 that reflects the Orthodox Christian faith, tradition and life, with an emphasis on community service.  

Peter Liacopulos, one of the GOYANs commented:  “Helping out at the wave camp is an experience of a lifetime. You get to interact with, and befriend children with special needs. During the camp we go on many excursionsm such as the Boardwalk in Ocean City, and the Field of dreams Baseball Park in Galloway Township. This allows the kids to get out and have some fun outside of their comfort zones. We also have a bonfire, entertainment, and games every day. The joy on the kids’ faces is a gift in itself. For me, volunteering at this camp was the most memorable and rewarding experience of my life."

For more information contact

Tricia Cunningham
Phone: 856-346-3300 ext.496                                                                      Cell: 856-498-1164                                                                                        e-mail: tcunningham@forkidcare.com

www.newjerseywave.com

Funded by the New Jersey Pediatric Patient Charitable Trust Fund