For 70 years, Camp Hope has been a place where friendships flourish, confidence grows, and summer memories are created that last a lifetime. As The Arc of Essex County prepares to celebrate Camp Hope’s 70th anniversary season in 2026, we are honoring a remarkable legacy while looking ahead to another unforgettable summer filled with adventure, creativity, and inclusion. Camp Hope’s story began in 1956, when 60 boys and girls gathered at Shady Nook in the South Mountain Reservation for the very first camp season. Just a few years later, community support helped secure a permanent home in East Hanover, where Camp [...]

On May 27, The Arc of Essex County's Day Programs came together for the annual Walk and Fun Day at DeHart Park in Maplewood. With more than 100 participants in attendance, the event was filled with excitement, laughter, friendly competition, and community spirit. Day Program participants and staff enjoyed a refreshing group walk through the park before breaking off into a variety of engaging team activities. From relay races and field games to bowling challenges and peer-centered activities, everyone had the opportunity to participate, cheer on their friends, and celebrate their accomplishments. One of the highlights of the day was the relay [...]

The school year may be winding down, but Stepping Stones School has continued to bustle through the spring as students and families have enjoyed special events that brought our community together and created lasting memories. A highlight of the month was Family Fun Day, sponsored by the Candle Lighters. Families gathered in the multi-purpose room for an afternoon of food and entertainment together. Everyone enjoyed delicious fresh pizza from a food truck, and the karaoke machine quickly became a favorite attraction as students, siblings, parents, and staff took turns singing their favorite songs. Students also enjoyed a field trip to Huckle Berry [...]

The Arc Essex Day Program Jobs Club expanded its community partnerships in May with a new job-sampling opportunity at Clinton Elementary School in Maplewood. Participants from the West Caldwell Hub Day Program visit the school each Tuesday to assist librarian Jen Latimer with shelving books in the library and help organize the school's Giving Closet, which provides food and clothing to families in need. The partnership is supported by Special Education Teacher Casey Dickson, Principal Michele Butler, Assistant Principal LaVonne Wallace, and Social Worker Julia Celeste, who have worked closely alongside Arc staff to help create a welcoming and inclusive experience for [...]

A little rain didn’t dampen the spirits of a dedicated team of volunteers who recently spent a day in May planting gardens at The Arc of Essex County’s Bloomfield, Montclair, and Verona residences. Longtime volunteers Al Ianacone, Susan Langner, and Frank Langner rolled up their sleeves and took advantage of the rainy weather, ideal conditions for helping new plants take root. Together, they filled the garden beds with a familiar mix of vegetables, herbs, and flowers, including tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, parsley, marigolds, and vinca. The annual planting tradition helps create welcoming outdoor spaces that residents and staff can enjoy and help nurture [...]