Marrakech, Inc. Offers Children with Autism
a Summer Camp Experience at 'Camp Stride'

Non-Profit Overnight Summer Camp Program
To Provide Respite to Families with Children with Autism

WOODBRIDGE, CT - In an effort to provide overnight respite for families with children with autism, Marrakech Inc., a non-profit organization that provides a wide range of educational, employment and housing programs and services to children and adults throughout Connecticut, has collaborated with Camp Laurelwood in Madison, Connecticut, to provide an overnight camp experience, called 'Camp Stride.' Camp Stride has been created exclusively for children with autism and autism spectrum residing in the New Haven area.

From Sunday August 13 to August 19, Camp Stride will host 16 special needs children, ages 7-14. The camp includes two, three-day camp sessions (8 children per session).

Camp Stride participants will have the opportunity to take part in all types of activities including swimming, basketball, tennis, computers, dance, and arts and crafts. Many of the children have never experienced any of these activities or attended an overnight camp.

"Each child is uniquely qualified to attend an overnight camp designed to support them based on their individual skills and interests. We are hoping that the overnight camping experience will help each person enhance their independent living and socialization capabilities," said Frank McCarthy, Executive Director, Marrakech, Inc. "The overnight camp experience will also allow their families, who rarely receive respite, some much needed time to spend with their other siblings. It is a great opportunity for caregivers to take a short vacation or just tend to things around the house knowing their special needs child is safe, while having a great time in the care of qualified staff."

Marrakech worked in conjunction with the Connecticut Center for Child Development located in Milford, Connecticut, on student referrals for the Camp Stride program. Other referrals have come through Connecticut Lifespan Respite Coalition and other advocacy agencies for children with autism and autism spectrum.

Camp Stride is in partnership with NewAlliance Foundation and Pfizer Inc., who have provided grant money for the program.

*Media Opportunity: On Friday, August 18 at 10 :00 AM, members of the media are invited to visit Camp Stride to take photographs and conduct interviews with Frank McCarthy, Executive Director, Marrakech, Inc., as well as other Camp Stride organizers and participants. Camp Stride is located on the Camp Laurelwood campus at 463 Summer Hill Rd in Madison, CT. Please contact Debbie Koke at (914) 536-7557 to arrange media interviews.

For more information regarding camp registration at Camp Stride, please contact Jean-Marie Monroe at (203) 389-2970, ext. 1104.

About Marrakech:

Marrakech, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides a wide range of human services to children & adults throughout Connecticut. Founded in 1971, Marrakech established the first halfway house in Connecticut for women with mental retardation. They have continued developing programs and services which are located throughout the State of Connecticut encompassing support to people with a wide range of disabilities, families with complex needs, youth who are at risk, and people without disabilities who are economically disadvantaged.