COLUMBIA COUNTY, Pa. — For the first time, Camp Louise near Berwick held a family autism day, all thanks to a grant from the Luzerne Foundation.
Janet Lopez, president of the non-profit group Friends of Camp Louise, says its purpose is to get kids from the community out into nature with fun and exciting activities.
"Everyone should be able to have an experience at camp. It's very important for all children to have access, and we thought that this might be a great place because there is no one here that will judge. We are all here to have fun." said Lopez
And a fun time was had with boating, crafts, games and even archery.
"It's really amazing to be able to have a family day. So many things with children with autism is very expensive so to have something free where they can enjoy, and we can see them enjoy it as well is really just a gift to our family." said Allegra Goodman of Wyoming County.
And it's not only a gift to the families, but the volunteers who have worked hard for Camp Louise to offer days like this to the community.
One volunteer, Andrea Zayjack, who was a girl scout at this same camp when she was little, became emotional telling Newswatch 16 how meaningful Family Autism Day is for Camp Louise.
"I think this is important to me too because we're trying to keep this camp alive, and this outdoor place is so special to so many, and we want to share that with other people." she said.
And sharing this special place with members of the community that otherwise might not be able to experience it is their main goal.
Caleb and his nana, Sharon, are grateful for the inclusivity allowing them to go boating together for the first time.
"So, we're going to have some laughter, I'm sure. We won't be in the water, right? We won't be in the water? No!" she said.
Volunteers say experiencing the beauty of nature and creating memories for every child is what Camp Louise is all about.
The bunch of women that got this camp running again they have a heart of gold. They work very hard at getting this camp going." said Paul Goy of Columbia County.
Friends of Camp Louise say they will continue working hard to create more memories like this one for generations to come.