camp oakhurst dedicates activity building

JCF Special Gifts Fund grant enables camp for children with special needs to renovate Activity Building

In a January 11th ceremony, Camp Oakhurst rededicated its Activity Building after major renovations made possible by a generous gift from the Jewish Communal Fund through the UJA-Federation of New York.  The 10,500 square foot building is the hub of Oakhurst’s therapeutic recreation and arts programming at this 15-acre site that serves children and adults with special needs through year-round residential and day respite programs. The building contains an arts and crafts classroom, cooking program, media arts lab, computer lab, music and drama programs in a recreational hall and theater, suite of live-in staff rooms and an auxiliary medical clinic. The renovations included replacing the entire roof and all floor tiles and molding in the building, repairing and repainting all exterior siding, doors and windows trim and ceiling tiles, renovating the arts and crafts room and improving the lights and sound system in the theater.

“Jewish Communal Fund is proud to be a supporter of Camp Oakhurst, and we applaud you for your extraordinary work and the outstanding services you provide,” said Susan F. Dickman, Executive Vice President & CEO of Jewish Communal Fund.

Camp Oakhurst, operated since 1906 by New York Service for the Handicapped, serves the emotional, social, recreational, and physical needs of individuals with physical and developmental disabilities, including autism.  Camp Oakhurst provides year-round respite services to enhance the quality of life for 500 children and adults with special needs, including autism and physical and intellectual disabilities, while providing both overnight and day respite for their families.  Services are provided on both a scheduled and on an emergency basis.

This latest renovation project is part of a long range capital improvement plan to assure that Camp Oakhurst can continue to meet the needs of the community with attractive, compliant, and accessible facilities. Other features of the camp include an indoor heated pool, client residences, dining hall, medical center, sensory garden, and nature trails.

Marilyn Friedman, President of the Camp Oakhurst Board of Directors, expressed her thanks to JCF in her remarks. “We now have a state-of-the-art, modernized facility for our clients,” she said. “These renovations will keep this central building structurally-sound and stable for many years to come.”  Friedman also noted that the building provides an attractive facility for the broader community to host retreats, training seminars, and meetings.

View photos from the dedication ceremony on JCF’s Facebook page.