Bridges4Kids Logo

 
About Us Breaking News Find Help in Michigan Find Help in the USA Find Help in Canada Inspiration
IEP Goals Help4Parents Disability Info Homeschooling College/Financial Aid Summer Camp
IEP Topics Help4Teachers Homework Help Charter/Private Insurance Nutrition
Ask the Attorney Become an Advocate Children "At-Risk" Bullying Legal Research Lead Poisoning
 
Bridges4Kids is now on Facebook. Follow us today!
 

 

Article of Interest - Summer Camp 2004

Printer-friendly Version

Bridges4Kids LogoCamp Tuhsmeheta (Camp T) Offers Blind and Visually Impaired Children Challenges In summer 2004 in Dearborn, MI
For more articles like this visit https://www.bridges4kids.org

 
Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind (OUB), Inc., 20812 Ann Arbor Trail, Dearborn Heights, MI 48127

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Larry Posont (313) 271-3058 or Bud Ferrell 810-658-1192

Loads of fun, challenges, push the envelope. These are popular phrases not commonly associated with blind and visually impaired kids. Camp Tuhsmeheta, 5 miles West of Greenville, MI, has 6  1-week summer camp programs for elementary through high school (and even parents) crammed with all of this and more! For six weeks beginning June 13 the sounds of young voices, splashing, running feet, and the healthy sound of panting from exertion on new challenges are all to be expected as blind and visually impaired children experience, many for the first time, the fun of a quality summer camping program. For more information on camp schedules or a Camp or employment application contact Bud Ferrell at (810) 658-1192 or Larry Posont at (313) 271-3058 or go to www.campt.org.

If you want water, we have 5 lakes. If you want space we have 297 acres of woods with trails and fields. If you want adventure, we have kayaks, canoes and camping. If you want nature, we have all manner of wild flora and fauna to learn about and appreciate. If you have ever wondered if a blind person could climb a tree, swim a lake, build a campfire, take a hike, identify trees around you, we will introduce you to blind people who do all of these. You will meet lots of new friends from all around our state who are also blind. If you have ever wondered about any of these things, Camp T is for you.

We don't protect children, we challenge them in a safe and supportive way that builds self confidence and self esteem, said Larry Posont, co-director of the camp program. Posont, who is blind knows what he is talking about. "I have canoed thousands of miles on Michigan's rivers.  We (a group of blind youth) earned national recognition by the President for our clean-up efforts on the Pine River near Manistee. No one told us we couldn't do stuff. We were expected to do it."


These are the goals of Camp T. The camp will build challenges into activities that help each child learn a little more about themselves and their capabilities. Programs are well-supervised and planned for a broad variety of activities from large muscle activities like swimming, canoeing and hiking to leisure/hobby activities in arts and crafts and woodworking. All activities are designed to teach blind children that they can independently accomplish their goals and be proud of it.

"These are activities that not all blind children get to experience," Posont said. Most of the time parents and teachers don't know what or how a blind person can function in action oriented activities. We do know about these things; from our own experiences"

Posont is a retired businessperson who has a passion for Camp T. He has worked day and night to make sure there is a program this coming summer. He and Ferrell are working for a great 2004, after a summer without a program in 2003. "This opportunity is too wonderful to let be unused" he said of the 30 year old facility. The camp is in top condition. Said Bud Ferrell, Co Director of the Camp, "Campers will stay in modern supervised cabins that sleep up to 19 campers in each building. "One thing that brings campers back is the food," Posont said. "We intend to have food that the kids will remember as the best, they have ever eaten, next to mom's, of course

"We hope to serve 100 blind children this summer and double and triple that in the future, as the word gets out about this hidden treasure in mid-Michigan." "We estimate that there one to two thousand kids in Michigan who qualify for the camp," Ferrell said.

"We also hire blind and sighted youth to work as staff and mentors at the camp. Blind kids need to know that blind adults are successful and do everything sighted people do, only a little differently," Posont said.

"OUB believes that blind people, like others in society need to give something back. OUB is doing business in Greenville. We hope to add to the Greenville community and economy. We intend to hire local people, use local goods and services and be good neighbors by collaborating with local groups, organizations and businesses. "We like the small town friendliness of Greenville. Over the years we have built a home here for the camp. We intend to carry that community spirit into the future," Ferrell said. 

     

back to the top     ~     back to Breaking News     ~     back to What's New

 

Thank you for visiting https://www.bridges4kids.org/.
 

bridges4kids does not necessarily agree with the content or subject matter of all articles nor do we endorse any specific argument.  Direct any comments on articles to deb@bridges4kids.org.

© 2002-2021 Bridges4Kids

 

NOTE: (ALL RESOURCES PRE-IDEA 2004 ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL/HISTORICAL RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY)