Exceptional Citizen’s Week
is a highlight in the lives of 150 campers every year. Each camper is treated as
an exceptional citizen. All of the activities are centered around their
interests and they are catered to by a qualified, enthusiastic and energetic
volunteer staff, many of whom also consider the week a highlight in their year,
and their lives.
EC Week is entirely free for the campers. Funded by generous contributions, both
large and small, from many different people and companies. In its over 50 years
of operation, E.C. Week has made a dream come true for more than 5,000 campers.
EC Week is a non-sectarian outdoor camping experience sponsored by the Diocese
of Manchester. It is held every year at Camp Fatima, a 150 acre, fully
accredited camp on Upper Suncook Lake in Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire.
The Staff of volunteers is comprised of people from all walks of life - business
professionals, teachers, homemakers, and members of the religious community, to
name a few. They all share a common desire to provide fun, happiness, and they
live for the campers for this one-week.
"What a great idea it would be to allow these children the same camping
experience as other kids."
That was the idea discussed more than 40 years ago by Bill Haller, President of
the United Life and the father of a child with Down's syndrome. Dr. Tom Walker,
a pediatrician at St. Paul's School and Rev. Richard O. Boner, Associate Pastor
at St. John's Parish in Concord, NH were talking about a camp for children with
developmental disabilities. Father Boner, who founded Camp Fatima for Boys,
began to work on the idea, and in 1954, Exceptional Citizens Week was born.
Without much experience working with children with developmental disabilities,
Fatima counselors teamed up with student nurses from Sacred Heart Hospital in
Manchester, NH, a group of Sisters of Mercy, a group of Sisters of St. Francis
and seminarians from St. John's Seminary. Their goal was to provide a fun,
rewarding camp experience for 25 boys and girls.
E.C. Week has grown since that first year to include more than 150 campers and
250 volunteers each year from around the country. The counselors combine talents
with the camp's ample facilities to create a diverse and memorable program. The
campers enjoy activities that they might otherwise never have the opportunity to
try.
An important part of the camps has always been visitor’s day, when we share our
Fatima Spirit with our friends and families. Over the years, Bishops O'Neil,
Gendron, Mulvey and Primeau of New Hampshire, and Cardinals Cushing, Medeiros
and Law of Boston have celebrated mass for the campers and staff.
The idea Mr. Haller, Dr. Walker and Father Boner tossed around four decades ago
has turned into a "unique week" treasured by many exceptional citizens, parents,
and volunteers. It has spurred the formation of similar camps nationwide.