middletowneye: "CARTOON DAY" AT MIDDLEFIELD'S CAMP NERDEN ON THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023.

Caption:RTC Campers & Staff Perform during a music activity. From Bottom Left Up: RTC Staff/Music Teacher Celine Cardona with pink glasses, then from left to right behind her; Delia Van Steenbergen, Jack Waggoner, Eddie Poole, Shane Kelly, & Logan Solomon (Photo By Frank LoGiudice)

“CARTOON DAY” AT THE JOHN J. NERDEN REGIONAL TRAINING CENTER CAMP IN MIDDLEFIELD ON THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023.

ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY FRANK LOGIUDICE

RTC Camper Abby Murphy perform during a music activity at Camp Nerden on July 13, 2023. Photo By Frank LoGiudice

Your favorite cartoon characters came to life via the campers, staff & volunteers of the John J. Nerden Regional Training Center Camp for "Cartoon Day" held on Thursday, July 13th in Middlefield. They wore their favorite cartoon characters on their clothing. Campers, volunteers and staff all seem to love it according to Camp Nerden Director Sue Chenard. There was even an art activity where the campers made hats resembling the character “Forky” from "Toy Story 4." Add an extra dose of fun and the result was a wonderful day full of smiles, laughter and high fives for the RTC Campers.

L-R: RTC Camper Mikayla Basta with RTC Volunteers Addie Buckheit, & Kiley Mullins During A Music Activity At Camp Nerden.

Camp Nerden serves campers with intellectual disabilities ages 6 and up and there is not an age limit when campers must stop attending camp. The camp season began June 26th and ended August 11th from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. It is free and is funded through local service clubs and the towns the campers reside.

RTC Camper Carter Miller Bell Begins His Piggyback Ride To Lunch Thanks To RTC Staff Conner Willett. Photo By Frank LoGiudice

Director Sue Chenard believes Camp Nerden is "A wonderful environment where everybody has a chance to be themselves and have a great summer." This season Camp Nerden has an average of 90 campers who attend every day, but 110 campers are registered. Chenard said the camper enrollment has increased a little from last year. They have 18 staff and 40 "Counselor In Training" Volunteers but only about 25 volunteers show up daily.

Left RTC Camper Begins The Music Activity With Assistance From RTC Staff Members

Camp Volunteer James Straight of Meriden who will be a Junior at Platt High School has been a volunteer for five years. He became involved because his sister is a camper. "I love working with the kids," stated Straight. Music teacher & Staff Celine Cardona, an incoming senior at Meriden’s Maloney High School became involved because of her father's volunteer involvement at Camp Nerden. "He encouraged me to do it last year. I fell in love with the program," stated Cardona. Upon graduation, she said this camp gave her aspirations to become a Special Education Teacher.

RTC Camper Frank Stange plays capture the flag and behind him is RTC Staff Chase Willett. Photo By Frank LoGiudice

Rockfall resident Brady Koba was a volunteer for two years and this season he became a staff member. "My friends and I decided to give it a try, " commented Koba. His involvement with Camp Nerden made him decide to major in Special Education at the University of Hartford where he will be a sophomore.