"Building for Inclusion" Initiative expanded
The Joy Outdoor Education Center Foundation met the original $300,000
goal for the "Building for Inclusion" Initiative and, in light of
continuing donor interest, expanded the initiative to $500,000. The
initiative was conceived to raise funds for facility construction and
improvements that make possible the inclusion of all people in JOEC’s
hands-on programming and provision of dedicated medical space for those
who might need it during their visit.
Facility construction and improvements began with the
groundbreaking of a new health cottage on February 5, 2007. The cottage
was completed before summer camps began in June, 2007 and was dedicated
on July 10, 2007.
Other initiative projects already completed include the addition of accessible
bathrooms and air conditioning in cabins and accessible paths outside
the cabins. The additional funding raised during the extended campaign will be
used for accessible ropes courses and an accessible restroom pavilion.
The various initiative projects benefit creative camp programs that
teach participants how to manage medical conditions/illnesses, including cancer,
juvenile arthritis, heart conditions, sickle cell, hemophilia, and
muscular dystrophy. They also provide a better living and learning
environment for all youth and adult participants at JOEC, particularly
those with physical disabilities.
Click here for
pictures of the various stages of the initiative projects
Click on the links below to read articles about the health cottage dedication
