Daily Living

Everyday Life at Our Home

Cottage and Halls

The Home is comprised of five cottages (the last one being completed this year) and our main building “up on the hill.”

Each cottage has a main living area with kitchen, a laundry room, pantry, medicine room and game/craft/library room. There are eight rooms for children with their own private bathroom, two apartments for staff: a two-bedroom for the Main Houseparent and a one-bedroom for the Relief Houseparent.

Visitation

During a child's initial placement which lasts 30 days, the Home does not allow home visitations. This initial placement allows the child to become familiar with his/her surroundings at the Masonic Home. Parents are encouraged to visit on Sundays visitation day which lasts from 1:00 PM till 6:00 PM.

The Home usually has two off-campus weekends per month except months which have a major holiday which allows for an extended visit. When there is an off campus weekend the children can be picked up at the Home on Friday after school and must return on Sunday by 6:00 PM.

Social Life

We encourage the children to broaden their social circle to include peers who do not reside at the Home. Permission is granted for off campus social activities to any child who exhibits an ability to be responsible and behave appropriately.

Staff

The Masonic Home employs a staff of approximately 23. Residential childcare is a multi-dimensional endeavor and the variety of our staff reflects this. All employees are dedicated to their work and consider it a vocation. Several of our employees maintain their permanent residence on campus.

Recreation

Various activities are planned throughout the year for the children. Many of the Masonic Lodges throughout the state will sponsor trips or events such as: going to an Atlanta Braves game, a day at Stone Mountain, picnics to various lakes in Georgia and a trip to Crystal River, FL to swim with the Manatees.

The Home also has a camp in Shellman Bluff. The children will go in separate groups from the first of June to the middle of July. July 4th is a special day, so while at camp we spend the entire day at Jekyll Island doing various activities that end with a fireworks display.

Lodges will also sponsor events while the children are at camp. Picnics are held at the camp as well as day trips. Our final event at Summer Camp is a boat trip to one of the remote islands off the coast of Georgia.