Impressions from Camp II

Here are some impressions of the disabled children’s camp this week. 

• Horseback riding . . . many of the campers were fearful and crying as their turn came up to ride the horse.  They very tentatively approached the horse.  Some of them were dragged kicking and screaming to the horse as they were placed on the horse.  In the first few steps they began to hide a grin.  By the first time around the track they were smiling and waving.  By the second time around they were crying because they did not want to get off the horse.
• The slide . . . just like the first camp this year, MTU rented a giant slide and bounce house for the campers.  One afternoon we spent laughing and screaming as camper after camper jumped down the slide with their arms waving high.  One side note – the young adult leaders had a monster workout.  Many of the campers needed to be carried up the ladder to the top of the slide.  Take it from me after carrying only a couple of campers in the hot sun, yikes!
• Special Olympics . . . the torch was carried in, Olympic President Ken declared the games officially open, and the campers were divided up into 4 teams.  We had 4 events that the teams rotated through: volleyball, baseball, water balloon launch, and dodgeball.  Steve, Caroline, and I were running the baseball game.  The campers had so much fun.  Perhaps the biggest surprise though were the moms and dads.  We had time at the end of each rotation, so the moms and dads then had a chance to hit the ball and run the bases.  And they did it with much gusto, let me tell you!  I thought they were going to rip the old leather off the rawhide.  The absolute best part of the Olympics were the closing ceremony by far.  Each camper’s name was announced, the crowd went wild, and they did a victory lap in front of the fans.  And then the “Olympic officials” put the gold medals over their heads and around their necks, along with a bracelet.  You would think the medals were actually made of gold.
• Mornings were special.  Every morning was a joyful reunion when the campers came out of their dorm rooms for the first time.

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