The summer camp that helps veterans heal
NJ Spotlight News recently ran an in-depth feature on The Salvation Army New Jersey Division’s Veterans Camp. For the past 30 years, the Salvation Army’s New Jersey Division has partnered with the East Orange and Lyons Veterans Affairs medical centers to host veterans and their families for stays at its picturesque Camp Tecumseh, free of charge, to have a healing experience in nature. The camp provides a critical service for veterans, many of whom struggle to return to civilian life. Some 7% struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder, and many more deal with both mental and physical issues as a result of their service.
Camp Tecumseh offers veterans a range of fun activities, including basketball, kickball, fishing, and arts and crafts. This year, the camp even offered bumper ball, where players try to play soccer while wearing giant hamster balls! But Camp Tecumseh doesn’t just offer fun activities — veterans and their families can also attend peer support meetings that they say have been critical to their recovery.