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Deaf community attends Timberfest- NJ.com
A social event for the deaf community drew hundreds of people this week to the Tall Pines Campground here. Included as part of the four-day event was a lumberjacking festival, but to the people who attended, it was much more.
The Eastern Deaf Timberfest held its ninth Timbersport event at the local campsite. While providing an opportunity to educate people on disabilities, it allowed campers of all ages to trek here from different states and countries to forge new friendships and participate in various logging and camping activities.
People from South Africa, Japan, Denmark, and Germany were spotted communicating with others, but not with the American Sign Language system. It was with the most basic form of human communication emotion.
The bi-annual Timberfest event averages roughly 1,500 people from all corners of the globe and the United States.
Allen Markel, of Maryland, the first vice executive director and co-founder of the organization, was striving to bring the deaf community together to show them the proper use of lumberjacking equipment.
Also with him were Ron Markel, his brother, co-founder and board of directors chairman, and Bruce Hubbard, co-founder and board of directors member, from South Dakota.
Ron Markel, a logger by trade, wanted to introduce basic principles of logging to the deaf community.
"We want the hearing community to understand that the only difference between us is communication," Ron Markel signed with his hands. "It's not a disability. We have to rely more on visual contact and body language. We use all 10 fingers to communicate."
Cross-cutting log sawing, wooden pole climbing, log hurdling, mud wrestling, and ax throwing were some of the events adults participating in as children occupied themselves with care-free youthful activities.
Kids of Deaf Adults (KODA), as well as deaf children participated in a week of lighthearted summer fun activities such as stage acting, painting, music, moon bouncing, and dunk tanking.
Paige Kerins, 8, from Virginia, traveled with her family into a world of silence to combat the stagnant summer lifestyle of television and computer games.
"Every time we stay home, it's so boring," said Kerins, who is not deaf but attended the festival with her deaf mother, father, and step-father. "I've made eight new friends. Only one is deaf. I'm having a good time. This is important for me because it keeps my hands busy."
Jerry Perdue, from Bergen County, who participated in the Bucksaw Tag-Team event, said as a first-timer, the event exceeded his expectations.
"My friends are the ones that told me about this event and I'm glad they did," said Perdue. "It's a great event to meet new people and I hope they keep it up. I've participated in everything that I could."
Ken Brewer, executive director of Eastern Deaf Timberfest, said focusing on the future and exposing the new generation to the deaf world is his primary motivation for participation in the sporting and camping expedition.
"We hope that teenagers and youth will emulate and carry on the tradition," said Brewer. "We don't discriminate whether you're hearing or deaf. Whether you choose to use your voice or your hands, you're welcomed into our world."
A social event for the deaf community drew hundreds of people this week to the Tall Pines Campground here. Included as part of the four-day event was a lumberjacking festival, but to the people who attended, it was much more.
The Eastern Deaf Timberfest held its ninth Timbersport event at the local campsite. While providing an opportunity to educate people on disabilities, it allowed campers of all ages to trek here from different states and countries to forge new friendships and participate in various logging and camping activities.
People from South Africa, Japan, Denmark, and Germany were spotted communicating with others, but not with the American Sign Language system. It was with the most basic form of human communication emotion.
The bi-annual Timberfest event averages roughly 1,500 people from all corners of the globe and the United States.
Allen Markel, of Maryland, the first vice executive director and co-founder of the organization, was striving to bring the deaf community together to show them the proper use of lumberjacking equipment.
Also with him were Ron Markel, his brother, co-founder and board of directors chairman, and Bruce Hubbard, co-founder and board of directors member, from South Dakota.
Ron Markel, a logger by trade, wanted to introduce basic principles of logging to the deaf community.
"We want the hearing community to understand that the only difference between us is communication," Ron Markel signed with his hands. "It's not a disability. We have to rely more on visual contact and body language. We use all 10 fingers to communicate."
Cross-cutting log sawing, wooden pole climbing, log hurdling, mud wrestling, and ax throwing were some of the events adults participating in as children occupied themselves with care-free youthful activities.
Kids of Deaf Adults (KODA), as well as deaf children participated in a week of lighthearted summer fun activities such as stage acting, painting, music, moon bouncing, and dunk tanking.
Paige Kerins, 8, from Virginia, traveled with her family into a world of silence to combat the stagnant summer lifestyle of television and computer games.
"Every time we stay home, it's so boring," said Kerins, who is not deaf but attended the festival with her deaf mother, father, and step-father. "I've made eight new friends. Only one is deaf. I'm having a good time. This is important for me because it keeps my hands busy."
Jerry Perdue, from Bergen County, who participated in the Bucksaw Tag-Team event, said as a first-timer, the event exceeded his expectations.
"My friends are the ones that told me about this event and I'm glad they did," said Perdue. "It's a great event to meet new people and I hope they keep it up. I've participated in everything that I could."
Ken Brewer, executive director of Eastern Deaf Timberfest, said focusing on the future and exposing the new generation to the deaf world is his primary motivation for participation in the sporting and camping expedition.
"We hope that teenagers and youth will emulate and carry on the tradition," said Brewer. "We don't discriminate whether you're hearing or deaf. Whether you choose to use your voice or your hands, you're welcomed into our world."
