By By BEN RAYMOND LODE / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- For Bert Everman, hiking was the major highlight of a four-day Adult Day Camp held at Madeline Bertrand Park this week.
The Milestones of Southwest Michigan, Inc.'s adult camp gives people with disabilities the opportunity to do crafts, go on hikes, and enjoy community visitors.
Starting Monday, Thursday was the last day of the day camp, and the 14 day campers were treated with a barbeque lunch consisting of hot dogs, beans, potato chips and refreshments.
The barbeque was also open for the day campers' families.
He also enjoyed playing volleyball and throwing horseshoes, which were among the other activities offered.
Judy Baute, the four-day camp's administrative program coordinator, said the campers also did group activities.
She is glad the Milestones of Southwest Michigan's second annual Adult Day Camp was once again held at Madeline Bertrand Park.
Joe Priest from Berrien Springs, whose son Mike did the camp, was among the parents who came to the barbeque.
He also appreciates that the park doesn't charge camp organizers for the use of the park and that staff at Madeline Bertrand Park make things easily available.
Camp coordinator Baute, however, also had assistance from three occupational therapy students from Lake Michigan College to run the camp.
Terri Larson was one of them.
About to wrap up her two-year degree at Lake Michigan College, she said occupational therapy students have to do a certain amount of fieldwork as part of their curriculum.
Larson said while giving her great experience working with the day campers, who are in need of varying degrees of assistance, being involved with the camp was also fun.
United Way of Greater Niles sponsored the Adult Day Camp with $1000.
The camp here in Niles was the first of two to be held this year.
A second Adult Day Camp will be held in St. Joseph from July 21-24.
Camp lasts from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.