Elks Camp Moore is not the usual handicapped children's camp as it is located in the heart of the Ramapo Mountains. The setting of the camp provides a breathtaking view of the valley below, and mountains in the distance. When a child vacations at Elks Camp Moore it is an experience they will never forget, and a view which a handicapped child would not likely ever experience.

The Elk’s believe that like all children, the handicapped need to go to camp for new experiences, new friends and to participate in activities that will aid them in their general growth. This Camp allows these experiences in a new environment. Elks Camp Moore's primary function is to enable children to use and further develop recreational, social and leisure skills through activities presented in a positive, enjoyable and appropriate manner and in a real life situation.

At camp each child is challenged to try new things or to improve on what he already knows. They encourage each child to do as much as he can for himself and by himself.

These beliefs were put to the test this week when the Handicapped Scuba Association Training Center of New Jersey along with East Coast Dive Center of Morganville, NJ and Project NEMO (Albert Einstein Medical Center) of Philadelphia descended on to the grounds of Camp Moore to hold a Discover Scuba Program for the Special Needs campers and their counselors.

Each camper received instructions and watched demonstrations on how to assemble and put on the scuba equipment. After being out fitted with the proper equipment, they made their plunge to the bottom of the Elk’s Camp Moore pool for about 20 minutes of submerged diving under the watchful eyes of the instructors and buddies of HSA, East Coast Dive Center and Project NEMO.

All members of the camp had a terrific time with smiles everywhere to be found amongst the kids, counselors, instructors, and volunteers. Few of the kids thought they would ever do SCUBA and they cheered each other on till the last diver surfaced from the depths.

The Handicapped Scuba Association International was founded in 1981 and is now the world's leading authority on recreational diving for people with disabilities with educational programs worldwide. HSA is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation and donations made to us are gratefully accepted and tax deductible. They operate as an independent diver training and certifying agency. There prestigious diver education programs and Instructor Training Course (ITC) are internationally recognized and unequaled by any other programs in the industry.

For more information on diving with disabilities contact:
The Handicapped Scuba Association Training Center of New Jersey
stew@hsanjscuba.com or call 732-928-0461
Visit their web site at www.hsanjscuba.com

Stew Snyder, HSA Course Director with John one of the many campers at the camp to make the dive. In the back ground William Cleary (HSA Instructor gets a camper ready for the plunge.

John and Stew starting there descent to the bottom of the camps pool.

Lynn Davis from Project NEMO, works with a camper to get her ready
to visit the underwater world.

William Cleary of East Coast Dive Center works with one of the campers.

Cookie Cleary of the East Coast Dive Center suits up a new diver at the
Discover Scuba Program held at Elk’s Camp Moore.