Bittersweet Farms is hosting Summer Enrichment Program again this summer at two locations, Whitehouse and
Pemberville.
The Summer Enrichment Program serves campers with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Campers may attend all the
weeks or they may choose to attend for a shorter amount of time.
The program includes vocational training opportunities for adolescents with autism. The program allows
the individuals an opportunity to experience the activities of a farm-based community. The farm setting
offers the participants opportunities for self-paced, distraction free activities that provide immediate
meaning and purpose to their lives.
Scholarships are available for participants thanks to a grant received from the Marathon Classic. For
more information regarding scholarships, contact Nicki Buchholz at 419-875-6986, ext. 1233.
Activities focus on physical engagement, which include creative arts, baking, bicycling, dancing,
farming, gardening, hiking, memory games, music, nature activities, puzzles, relays, science projects,
sports, swimming, and woodworking. Theme days, such as sports day and painting T-shirts, are included
during the six weeks. These activities help to develop behavior management, language development,
sensory integration, and social skills development for adolescents with autism. At the end of the
program, participants have developed a sense of community, accomplishment and ownership, which are all
extremely therapeutic for individuals with autism.
The Whitehouse location has been hosting the summer camp for over 15 years. The Whitehouse location dates
are June 9-July 25, with the week of Fourth of July closed. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pemberville
dates are June 2-Aug. 15, also closed the week of Fourth of July. Hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Campers may
choose to participate for however long they wish.
Bittersweet Farms is a 30-year-old non-profit organization that serves individuals with Autism Spectrum
Disorders through vocational, occupational, and residential services. The mission of Bittersweet Inc. is
to positively impact the lives of individuals with autism and those whose lives they touch.