Northwest Association for Blind Athletes Kicks Off Camp Spark for Blind and Visually Impaired Youth with Summer Session for Campers with Multiple Disabilities Beyond Blindness
Vancouver, Washington—June 26, 2023—Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) is excited kick off the start of its Camp Spark season from June 28-July 2, 2023, at The Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind, Inc. in Sandy, Oregon. This first summer camp session of 2023 is tailored specifically to children, youth and young adults with multiple disabilities, in addition to being blind or visually impaired. In its second year, this specially designed week-long session has grown in attendance from six participating campers in 2022 to 13 campers this year. All sports and activities are adapted to the complex needs of the campers. Each camper will work one-on-one with a counselor to guarantee that they were fully engaged in all activities from swimming and riding a recumbent tandem bike to socializing with their peers.
Camp Spark is a comprehensive overnight sports camp for individuals ages 8 to 21, who are blind and visually impaired. This unique model uses sports, physical activity, and orientation and mobility as a catalyst to encourage leadership, independence, advocacy, and daily living skills that contribute to overall greater quality of life. The campers vary in socioeconomic status, ethnic background, and level of skills and abilities and NWABA offers camp free of charge to youth and their families.
NWABA will host a total of six additional week-long summer and winter camp sessions in Oregon and Washington in 2023-2024, each with different eligibility requirements, such as age and residence, and will provide different sports opportunities based on the varying seasons.
“Our Board of Directors is extremely excited to offer these truly transformational programs to children and youth with visual impairments. Camp reaches far beyond participating in sports, and acts as a catalyst to help campers gain the confidence, self-esteem, friendships, and independence they need to achieve success in all areas of life.” said Founder, President & CEO, Billy Henry.
Camp Spark is partially funded by the generosity of our individual donors, foundations, state grants and corporate partners; however, additional support is critically needed to deliver a successful camp. Donations to support Camp Spark can be made online at www.nwaba.org/donate or by mailing a check to PO BOX 61489, Vancouver, WA, 98666. For more information on Northwest Association for Blind Athletes, please contact Anne Coleman, Marketing & Communications Manager at 360-768-5647 or [email protected].
About NWABA: The mission of Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) is to provide life-changing opportunities through sports and physical activity to individuals who are blind and visually impaired. A group of students who were visually impaired formed the association in 2007 to ensure that people who are blind were participating in sports and physical activity. Today, NWABA is a rapidly expanding 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides more than 1,900 children, youth, adults and military veterans with visual impairments tailored programming which improves self-confidence and self-esteem, promotes independence, creates an inclusive community of supporters, and builds the skills necessary to succeed in all areas of life including school and employment.
For information: http://www.nwaba.org or
Contact: Anne Coleman, Marketing & Communications Manager at [email protected]
Phone: 1-360-768-5647
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