Hundreds of children and adults with disabilities will enjoy the exceptional benefits of a state-of-the-art therapeutic swimming pool this summer, thanks in part to a donation from County Materials Corporation. The monetary donation allowed Easter Seals of Wisconsin to obtain 154 yards of ready mix concrete needed for the construction of a new 2,524 sq ft outdoor pool at Easter Seals’ Camp Wawbeek in Wisconsin Dells. Any extra material will be used to build the pool deck and/or surrounding structure.
Camp Wawbeek provides children and adults with disabilities the opportunity to meet new friends and take on new challenges through a wide variety of recreational and social activities. The camp served 1,075 campers in 2013, including residents of every county in Wisconsin. The pool will also serve the neighboring Respite Camp, run jointly by Easter Seals and the Wisconsin Elks. Last year, Respite Camp provided one-on-one attention for 800 campers with extreme disabilities.
“The pool is a highlight of the camp experience for most of the campers. It allows people with disabilities to have a freedom they can’t experience in any other way,” says Easter Seals President and CEO Christine Fessler. She adds that the water is highly therapeutic for many of the campers, including those with autism. “It has both stimulating and calming qualities. If you were to poll the campers, I think you’d overwhelmingly find that it is their favorite activity.”
The new pool will replace the original camp pool, built in 1959. The upgraded facility will include a number of features specifically designed to meet the needs of campers with disabilities. One of these is a zero-entry incline, which will enable many campers to access the pool without assistance. A lift access will also be available, along with basketball hoops, a cascading fountain, and built-in benches that will allow campers to rest and socialize in the water.
“It is important to note that the community has really risen to the occasion to help us here. Friends and supporters such as the Sonnentag Foundation and County Materials have found their way to contribute to the best effect, and with that community support we have been able (to raise) almost the entire amount needed for the pool,” says Fessler. “(County Materials’ support is) an absolutely tremendous contribution. As you can imagine concrete is very important in the building of the pool, so it’s just extremely valuable.”
The pool was completed by mid-May, in plenty of time to accommodate the first wave of campers arriving for summer camp sessions in early June 2014.
Camp Wawbeek’s new pool was officially dedicated on July 17, 2014 with the help of numerous campers, counselors and others who helped make the project a success!