Children and teens with special needs were treated to a week of trips and fun during the annual Allie’s Summer Camp from Friendship Circle. Some 120 kids, volunteers and adult supervisors took part in this year’s camp, which included trips to Turtle Back Zoo, Bowcraft Amusement Park, Diamond Gymnastics, iPlay America, Eagle Rock Lanes and Destination Jump.

The goal of the Friendship Circle summer camp program is to give children and teens with special needs a fun, summer experience and allow them to make friends, according to FC Program Director Chavi Rosenblum. It also gives the parents some must-needed respite time for themselves.

But as much as Allie’s Camp is for youngsters with special needs and their siblings, says Rosenblum, the volunteers are apt to get plenty out of the unique camp experience as well.

“It’s amazing,” she said, “these teens are going back to school in two weeks, yet here they are for a whole week. They see the impact they are having on their special friend and they get so much out of it.”