A delegation of Trenton area teenagers have found something different to do this summer. They're working with a group of mentally retarded children.
A few of the 35 to 40 youths who come from Trenton, Hightstown, Princeton, Ewing Township, Monmouth Junction and Cranbury, have part-time jobs in addition. Most do not.
There is no monetary compensation for working with the kids. This job is strictly voluntary but that doesn't seem to dim the enthusiasm of the young workers.
Take 16 year-old Abraham Menashe for example. A native of Cairo, he moved to Princeton four years ago.
Interested in Psychology
Abraham is interested in psychology. That's one reason he likes working with the mentally retarded. But he calls it "a lot of fun, too."
Then there is Nancy Eicher, a senior at Princeton High School who is back on the voluntary job for the second summer. Why?
"Because I love it, that's why." declared Nancy. "Because I love kids!"
The "camp," as it is called, is held for five weeks every year by the Mercer County Unit of the New Jersey Association for Mentally Retarded Children. This summer it is being held again at the unit's headquarters at 1015 Fairmont Avenue.
According to Mrs. John Berry, director of the camp, some 60 mentally retarded children are attending the outing this summer. It gives them the opportunity to get the fresh air and the recreation they might not otherwise get, she said.
Every day there are classes in arts, crafts and music for the kids. There are also recreation and swimming periods in the playground and pool adjacent to the center.
Day trips are also taken to places like Shrine Circus, Aquarama, and Washington Crossing Park.
Parents pay to enter their children if they can afford it. If they can't, "campships" are provided by the association.
The Red Cross recruits volunteers to the camp, most of whom this year range in age between 14 and 17.
Mrs. Berry said the minimum age limit was recently dropped from 15 to 14 "so we can get some of these kids back or three years in a row." Time was when the youths were trained in one summer, only to face the necessity of a paying job to help finance college next year.
"It's really a trial run," Mrs. Berry said, "but it seems to be working out pretty well so far."