The Frogmen Volunteers

Our May meeting speaker was Bob Buettner, a club member since 1978, who came to speak to us about the Frogmen Volunteers - who they are and what they do.

They originated in 1988, as an offshoot of the Gillmen, for the purpose of giving the terminally ill children at The Hole In The Wall Camp an opportunity to try SCUBA in the camp's own pool. After working through all the medical concerns, they got permission to take the kids underwater to a maximum depth of six feet.

In more recent years, legal concerns were raised, with the result that the program had to be somewhat curtailed. Today's campers are limited to a depth of three feet and there must be one certified diver for every two children.

Bob explained that there are from 50 to 80 kids who want to try SCUBA every time the volunteers go to the camp. So - more volunteers mean that more kids will get a chance to try it!

Please give some time to this worthwhile cause which brings so much joy to kids who need all the joy they can

get. The focus of the camp has evolved from terminally ill children to children with life threatening illnesses. At each session, all the children will have the same illness (to insure that none of them will feel self-conscious about their particular sickness). The volunteers have an opportunity to work with all of the groups over the summer. The kids range in age from 6 to 14. The satisfaction and joy of volunteering is evident from the photo of Bob and an ecstatic young friend on the front page of this issue.

The Hole In The Wall Camp is located in Ashford, CT off of Route 44. It is 12 miles from exit 69 off I84.

There are two sessions each day (except as noted). Plan to arrive at 9:30 AM for the morning session, which goes from 10:00 until 12:00 noon. Plan to arrive at 2:30 PM for the afternoon session, which goes from 2:00 until 4:00. If you want to do both sessions, the camp will provide you with lunch and supper.

All you need to bring is a mask and sunscreen! (The pool is outdoors - a full day of volunteering can result in a

lot of sun exposure.) Some volunteers also use light wetsuit because, even though the water is very warm, after two hours you can still get chilled. Any session may have to be cancelled if the weather is bad.

If anyone has any old hard packs for the SCUBA tanks or metal checkerboards, please consider donating them to the camp! Bob Buettner will gladly deliver any donations. For more information about volunteering and for directions to the camp, you can contact him at work (860) 528-9586 or by email at Bob.

 

The Volunteer Frogmen

 

Who are The Volunteer Frogmen?

 

The Volunteer Frogmen are a group of Connecticut scuba divers who do the scuba experience at the Hole in the Wall Gang camp. http://www.holeinthewallgang.org

 

It has been said of The Hole In The Wall Gang summer camp: "It is here that children with cancer and serious blood diseases find camaraderie, joy and a renewed sense of being a kid. They also get to do things that no one knew they were capable of doing."

 

During the summer months, the Volunteer Frogmen let the kids experience the sport of scuba under controlled situations in the camp's pool. This is one of the things "that no one knew they (the kids) were capable of doing." This year's scuba experience is being expanded (more sessions on more days). More Volunteer Frogmen and Frogwomen are needed; join us and give it a try. A few hours of your time will make a world of difference in an ill child's life and your life forever. I think back on how great my childhood was and how my children had equally as good (if not better) childhood. Take a few hours to give a child a chance.

 

The Volunteer Frogmen are not for profit and are not affiliated with any scuba diving club. The Frogmen are managed, organized and scheduled by Bob Buettner and Eric Simon.

 

Written by Gerry Foster.