If you are a person that works with people that have special needs of any kind, and have not taken a close look at what PA Lions Beacon Lodge Camp has to offer people with special needs, YOU SHOULD! What we offer to all people, six to one hundred six, will be surprising to you and them. We strive to put a smile on every face along with a great time and friendship, with a lot of learning.

The Pennsylvania Lions Beacon Lodge Camp is a beautiful five hundred and eighty-three acre summer camp for children and adults with special needs including blindness, deafness, and many other physical and mental challenges. It is nestled in the natural woodlands along the Juniata River of Central Pennsylvania just two miles west of Newton Hamilton, near Mount Union. Beacon Lodge was established in 1948 as a summer camp for blind residents of Pennsylvania. It has grown into a favorite retreat for many people with disabilities as well as a conference center for special groups, an educational facility for families, a rental camp for group retreats, and more. The goals of the camp were and are to present a well-rounded program adaptable to all campers and others, regardless of age, race, creed or color.

A special program at Beacon Lodge has been designed, taking into consideration the individual needs and abilities of each camper. We have many group and individual activities, all geared toward fun with an educational theme. Our most important goal in everything we do is to motivate each person to focus on what they can do, not what they can't. Read through and learn all about us and be sure to visit the Guestbook to read what people are saying about Beacon Lodge.

Beacon Lodge is divided into two camps, the Children's Village for campers age 6-17, and the Adult Group for campers age 18 to the golden years.

CHILDREN'S VILLAGE

The Children's Village has 12 well-ventilated, screened cabins complete with bathroom facilities and individual storage cabinets for personal items. Each cabin accommodates 6 children and one or two counselors. We feel that the "cabin group" is one of the most important elements of a successful camp experience. The cabin counselor's enthusiasm and interest in each camper contributes greatly to the success of a camper's summer. The Children's Village also houses its own dining hall, infirmary, art room, nature center, laundry facility, and activity room complete with weight lifting and other exercise equipment.

ADULT CAMP

In the Adult Camp is the Main Lodge which houses a large dining room, kitchen, living room, library, sun porch, and guest rooms (cabins). The Adult Camp is complete with a canteen, activity room/art room, infirmary, dorms/cabins for both men and women, and a married couples' building.

ACTIVITIES FACILITIES

Our newly constructed heated pool. Fully handicapped accessible and capable of use by those in a wheelchair. Both camps share the many activity areas at Beacon Lodge Camp: A large outdoor pavilion, playground, outdoor bowling alleys, outdoor heated pool (newly reconstructed in 2005), boat dock, Charles E. Marsh Lake, which is stocked with trout, the Braille Trail and other nature trails, ropes course, outdoor camping facilities, miniature golf course, archery/rifle range, and mountain/tandem bike hut. There are so many things to enjoy here at Beacon Lodge, it's no wonder that about 98% of our campers are returnees from previous years.

For more Facility photos, check out our Photo Gallery and look under Facilities!

NUTRITION AND MEDICAL PROVISIONS

Here at Beacon Lodge, we strive to make every aspect of a camper's stay a comfortable and enjoyable one. Meal times and medical needs are two very important elements in achieving that goal. Camp meals are nutritious and well-balanced, with special diets upon a physician's recommendation. A doctor is available within 10 minutes of camp, and registered nurses are on duty 24 hours a day in each of the well-equipped infirmaries. Qualified lifeguards are on duty during all swim periods and special instruction is given to those learning how to swim. All camp activities are well-planned and properly staffed and supervised with much consideration given to the specific needs and abilities of each camper.

For more information visit the Beacon Lodge Camp website.