The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-11-02
PROGRAM TO AID
CRIPPLED CHILDREN
BEING DEVELOPED
Years Successful Activities Re-
Viewed As Plans Are Shaped
For Coming Year


Continuation of three camps for
white and Negro crippled children
of North Carolina was recommend
ed in Fayetteville Saturday to di-
rectors of the N. C. Society for
Crippled Children and Adults, dur
ing the annual meeting at the
Prince Charles Hotel, Fayetteville.
Two camps for white children and
one for Negroes will be continued
next summer, if the counsel of
Mrs. Eleanore w. Malone, program
coordinator for the camps, is
accepted.
With funds provided in large
measure from donations received
in annual Easter Seal Sale cam
paigns throughout North Carolina,
and also from receipts of special
bridge tournaments and money
from other groups, the annual
camps for handicapped children
were highly successful again this
past summer, it was disclosed.
For several years there was
only one camp for crippled chill
dren managed through auspices
of the Society for Crippled Chill
dren and Adults. However, the
camp experience seemed so help
full to children fortunate enough
to attend the camps that two addi-
tional camps were opened last
summer-Camp South Toe River
in the mountains near Micaville,
N. c., and the camp for Negro
children at Swansboro.
The Negro camp facilities were
made possible by cooperation of
the State All Club Council of A.
& T. College in Greensboro.
Camp New Hope, near Chapel
Hill, is the oldest of the crippled
children camping ventures. This
past year, the program at New
Hope was expanded by completion
of a new $4,000 swimming pool.
Swimming is one of the nAost
popular of activities for the Grip
pied children. At Camp South Toe
River, the boys and girls swan
even in cool mountain streams.
The Negro children at Swansboro
were able to swim in the warm
waters of the Sound.
Attendance of children at the
three camps was spread widely
across the state, with 1852 crippled
children attending from 4S coun-
ties of North Carolina.
In the first year of operation
of the Negro camp, Mrs. Malone
reported difficulty in finding suf-
ficient camp counselors and thera-
pists. She said the program direc-
tors hope to get all required camp
personnel next summer, so that q
larger number of Negro children
can be taken. There were al chill
dren at Swansboro this summer,
but next summer it may be pos
sible to take up to rs.
Fifty-four children attended
Camp New Hope, and there were
81 at South Toe River.
Mrs. Malone stated that the aim
of the camping program is "to
develop in the campers the great
est possible independence and to
give them the opportunity for
emotional and social growth
through association with others"
Children were accepted with
post-polio paralysis, cerebral pal
sy, amputations, limb deformities,
and other handicaps.
Mrs. Leila Harris of Micaville
who headed the kitchen staff and
was in charge of food at Camp
South Toe River, reported tangible
evidence of success of her work
with the 81 children there. The 81
gained a total of 1852 pounds dur
ing the four weeks of camp life.
Crippled children at camps en-
gagged in camp crafts, soft ball,
badminton, croquet, "sleep-outs",
swimming and other outdoor
events just as other children do
except some of them often need
closer attention and careful super
vision, and they cannot engage in
physical activities with the same
abandon as other children might.
However, the crippled children
frequently make up in enthusiasm
for what they lack in ability.