County 'treasure' closes after 20 years
By C. Ruth Ebrahim

Over a weekend last month, the non-profit agency Civitan International
held a retreat in Caroline County.

In the middle of the event, organizers learned that the place they had
rented for the weekend—Camp Easter Seals West—wouldn’t be available for
the Leadership Conference next year.

Easter Seals Virginia CEO Kim Hutchinson said they decided to sell the
camp within the last year, because they did not have enough interest
from campers and counselors.

The camp was built in 1985 as a recreational retreat for those with
developmental disabilities.

“We hate to see it close, because it’s just the perfect spot to do what
we do,” said Tammy Ponder with Civitan.

Ponder grew up in Caroline County. She was thrilled to be able to
bring 50 young people with developmental disabilities to the beautiful
camp in the southern end of the county.

As a non-profit agency, Civitan often depends on resources provided by
other organizations—like Easter Seals Virginia—that also cater to the
needs of disabled persons.

However, since the camp in Caroline has gone on the market, Ponder
doesn’t know if the property will be available for another event.

County officials are also sad to see Camp Easter Seals go, but they
have taken no time in marketing the 516-acre Rural Preservation plot.
Most of the property, 346 acres, falls in Caroline County and the rest
in King and Queen County.

Hutchinson said they want to sell all of the property to one buyer, and
that she began showing the property as soon as Easter Seals Virginia
announced the sell.

“I don’t think we truly appreciated the beauty of that facility,” he
said. “It’s kind of a hidden treasure and I hope whoever buys it can
keep it as a recreational facility.”

This past year, the Parks and Recreation Department held a Special
Olympics Day at the camp and were able to utilize the
handicapped-accessible facilities.

Director of Parks and Recreation Donnell Howard said he’d hate to see
the camp turned into anything except a facility that serves disabled
persons.

“It was sad to hear, and I would hate to lose [the camp] to any group
that would isolate themselves,” he said. “Maybe someone will come in
and open up the doors to the community.”

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