Lacy Day Camp Unites Special Needs Community with Law Enforcement at Inaugural Event in Castanea
By Emily Wright
CASTANEA — Excitement was palpable at the Castanea Fire Company Picnic Grounds on Wednesday, where the first Lacy Day Camp took place from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. This free and inclusive event was designed to provide a modified version of the Camp Cadet Program for children and adults in Clinton County with special needs or disabilities.
In a previous article published by The Record following the event’s announcement in June, Charles Shoemaker, President of the Camp Cadet program, explained how the Lacy Day Camp came about.
“Last year, we had a young girl come to us for the Camp Cadet program that couldn’t pass the medical or physical exam parts to be in the program,” Shoemaker said. “So I had to tell her, unfortunately, she could not be a part of the program last year and that I had to send her home, but I promised her and her family that I would start a special needs camp for children and adults.”
This experience had a profound impact on Shoemaker, whose granddaughter was born with Rett syndrome, inspiring him not only to fulfill his promise but also to contribute $1,000 to the Lacy Day Camp.
The young girl Shoemaker was referring to is Alyssa Lacy, a 12-year-old who, despite her disability, continues to thrive and have a positive impact on those she interacts with. “She was a catalyst for the whole thing,” Shoemaker said at the inaugural event.
Alyssa’s mother, Colleen Lacy, had signed her up for Camp Cadet in 2023, but Alyssa struggled to keep up with the program’s rigid schedule. As a result, she had to leave camp after the first day. “We rode home with a promise we would find another camp she could attend. Little did we know that she had captured the hearts of many people at Camp Cadet. They decided it was time Clinton County had a camp for special needs people,” Colleen shared.
Alyssa has had extensive surgery on her hands since she was born, but despite the challenges she’s faced, she continues to push the boundaries. At just nine months old, she was in the woods archery hunting, and she’s since become well-known for her triumphs in Soap Box Derby racing. During the COVID pandemic, races were paused, but when they started up again, Alyssa was ready to race on her own despite her mother’s initial apprehension.
“When she was in that car, none of her disabilities existed,” Colleen shared. “She was racing and beating kids who did not have special needs. When she got in the car, something magical happened. She was a full person who could not fail– Alyssa found her nitch. She had a very important success under her belt.” That success has not only boosted Alyssa’s confidence but also propelled her to continue taking on new challenges, most notably rock climbing. “At her third attempt, she climbed clear to the top of the wall. Her hands would not grip so well and would get very tired and sore, but she would not quit,” Colleen proudly shared.
For Alyssa, Lacy Day Camp could be just the starting point of something much bigger. Colleen shared with The Record that on their way to the inaugural event Wednesday, Alyssa came up with the idea of expanding Lacy Day Camp to other counties across Pennsylvania.
While organizing the inaugural Lacy Day Camp, the Camp Cadet planning committee collaborated with the Sugar Valley Rural Charter School and the Keystone Central School District to enable students to attend the educational event during school hours. Approximately 80 students from these schools, along with about 20 adults with disabilities who learned about the event online, participated in the first-ever Lacy Day Camp.
“Our goal is to have a cooperative learning experience between law enforcement and the special needs community and for both to leave the camp with a better understanding and appreciation for each other,” Shoemaker said in a press release about the event. “Our mission is for everyone to have a ‘memorable experience’”.
The event featured diverse participants and displays, including officers from the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), the Lock Haven Police Department, the Mill Hall Police Department, and Commonwealth University-Lock Haven Police. Also present were the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, PA Fish and Boat Commission, PA Game Commission, DCNR Rangers, the Penn State Bomb Squad, Centre County SWAT Team, Central PA CPR, Clinton County-based Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel, and several fire companies from Clinton County. Each group came fully equipped with their apparatus, ready to give Lacy Day Camp attendees an immersive tour experience.
To ensure a personalized and fun-filled day, activities were set up in 12 rotating stations, a few of which included face painting, balloon crafts, a fish pond, a Nerf Gun range, donut decorating provided by Dunkin’ Donuts in Lock Haven, a petting zoo, and much more. McGruff the Crime Dog and Sparky the Fire Dog also made appearances at the event.
Participants didn’t leave the fun-filled day empty-handed; each received a generous assortment of free keepsakes, including a t-shirt, hat, wristband, water bottle, backpack, and commemorative coin. The event, which also included lunch, was completely free for participants, parents, caregivers, and volunteers, thanks to the support of several local sponsors and donors. These included Citizens Hose Company No. 5, Castanea Fire Company Station 3, The New Love Center, Harger Utility Charities, Renovo Fire Department and EMS, Lock Haven Kiwanis Club, and Lock Haven Dunkin’ Donuts and Domino’s, among many others.
“We want to thank Keystone Central, Sugar Valley Rural, all of our volunteers, and all of our police and EMS for coming today,” Shoemaker said during the opening ceremony. “It took us about a year to get this program up and running.”
Lacy Day Camp embodied a collaborative and inclusive spirit, with first responders, law enforcement personnel, businesses, and other groups joining the festivities at what will hopefully become a growing annual event.
To learn more about Lacy Day Camp, visit the Camp Cadet website or find the Facebook page by searching “Lacy Day Camp”.
www.clintoncountycampcadet.com.
