Camp is expanding to include campers with multiple disabilities beyond blindness

VANCOUVER — Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) recently announced the start of its seventh summer hosting Camp Spark through Fri., July 28. 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. 

Three one-week summer sessions will be hosted at the Linfield University Campus in McMinnville, OR and will provide sports instruction to a total of 65 campers ranging in age from 8-21 living in Oregon and Washington. Campers will participate in a variety of sports and recreational activities including goalball (a sport specifically developed for individuals with visual impairments), fitness, beep baseball, tandem cycling, yoga, track & field, and numerous others. 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 seven week-long summer and winter camp sessions in Oregon and Washington this year, with one summer session tailored specifically to children, youth and young adults with multiple disabilities in addition to being blind or visually impaired.

“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, contact Anne Coleman, Marketing & Communications Manager at (360) 768-5647 or media@nwaba.org. 

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.

Information provided by Northwest Association for Blind Athletes.