Accessible Camps for Blind Youth
Programs Offer Everything from Adaptive Sports to Piloting a Plane
Jul 28, 2008
While swimming, smores, and lanyard making remain favorite activities, camps offering accessible outdoor recreation are also teaching how to use a handheld GPS and how to dress for success, as well as providing adventures such as exploring Lake Michigan on an 80’ sailboat and even flying (however briefly) a Cessna 172 airplane.
Five Summer Camps Acessible to Blind Youth
Here’s a brief look at five US camps serving blind and visually impaired children and young adults. Each has a slightly different focus but all offer a traditional summer camp experience.
Camp Abilities (Brockport, NY)
Camp Abilities is a one-week developmental sports camp for blind and deaf/blind children ages 9-19 that provides 1:1 instruction in many sports, including: archery, beep baseball, horseback riding, rock climbing, tandem cycling, goalball, and judo. The camp’s 90 counselors, many of whom are blind, are college and graduate students from renowned physical and special education programs. The camp, held on the campus of SUNY College at Brockport, serves about 50 children a year with visual impairments each with varying levels of skill and mobility. Contact Lauren Lieberman (585.395.5361for more information.
Camp Inter-Actions (Georges Mills, NH)
Set on 150 secluded acres in northern New Hampshire, Camp Inter-Actions epitomizes the traditional summer camp experience, offering adaptive sports, arts and crafts, hiking, music, theater, and daily living skills. A private lakefront with docks and a pristine beach is the ideal setting for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. Campers and counselors trained in orientation and mobility sleep in screened cabins and eat together in the main house. A one-week Music camp debuted in 2008. Cost: $850 (2-week session); $500 (Music Camp, 1 week). Contact Debbie Gross (inter-actions@mindspring.com or 603-228-2803) for details.
Camp Siloam (New Caney, Texas)
Each year, the Gospel Association for the Blind runs the Siloam Camp for Blind Teenagers and Adults at the 110-acre Golden Cross Ranch in New Caney, Texas located 25 minutes from Houston. In addition to swimming, horseback riding, a campfire, and two talent shows, the camp features games, a hayride, a visit from Houston’s Mobile Zoo, Christian videos, bible study, and a Wal-Mart shopping trip. The camp theme for 2008 was “How's Your Prayer Life?” Cost is $200 (includes meals, lodging, and activities). Call 866.251.5165 mailbox 7128 for information.
Camp Tuhsmeheta (Greenville, Michigan)
Camp Tuhsmeheta offers weekend programs throughout the summer including sports and outdoor adventures. One popular activity is teaming up to explore Lake Michigan on an 80’ sailboat. Another is flying (under supervision) a Cessna 172 airplane. The camp also offers classes in art, music, drama, cooking, braille, dressing for success, and technology. The camp is the nation’s largest blind youth summer employer. Call 866.789.9065 for schedule and program information.
Oral Hull Summer Camps (Sandy, Oregon)
The Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind runs various summer camps and retreats for children, adults, and families at its retreat and conference center set on 22 wooded acres outside Sandy, Oregon about 30 miles from Portland. The camp offers competitions in activities including horseshoes, table bowling, and fishing, with opportunities for garden walks, jogging, field trips, swimming, HAM radio, hot tubbing, crafts, and evening entertainment. The foundation’s new Adventure Camp offers hiking, white water rafting, dragon boat paddling, a ropes and challenge course, and skydiving (optional). Cost is $350. Contact Jeff Lann at 503.668.6195 for more information.
To keep abreast of the growing number diverse camp offerings, contact organizations such as the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and the American Council of the Blind (ACB), both based in Washington.
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