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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, June 9, 2009 Handicaps are no barrier to summer camp fun By Kristi O'Harran Herald Columnist Children dashing willy-nilly, chasing a soccer ball is a common sight at summer camps. But consider most children at one Edmonds summer camp are blind, or otherwise physically challenged, and still kick the black-and-white ball around. A handicap doesn't stop action at Braille Summer Camp. It's planned for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 13 to 24 at 10130 Edmonds Way, Edmonds. Tuition is $250. Feel free to ask about financial assistance by calling 425-778-2384 Some aspects of camp are traditional. James "Curley" Cooke, former guitarist for the Steve Miller Band, will return with partner Annette Taborn to sing and play the blues. "We'll also receive a return visit from puppies in training to be guide dogs for the blind," said Eric Brotman with the Louis Braille School. "The overall experience of a summer camp for children with special needs is hard to come by anywhere." And how do they play soccer? The soccer ball contains bells so players locate it by sound. --- Eighth-graders at Harbour Pointe Middle School in the Mukilteo School District spent the year corresponding with a significant person in their lives. Ayva Thomas, 14, and her "Grammie," Lena Jordan of Mukilteo, wrote back and forth. Teacher Ann Bradley asked her students to write about the life of their pen pal. Ayva's mother, Anna­marie Jordan, a teacher herself, said her daughter learned so much about her grandmother. "I am forever and eternally grateful that my daughter has had the opportunity to learn so much more about her while she is still with us," Jordan said. "My daughter feels closer to her Grammie, and feels a much deeper level of respect for her as well, having had the opportunity to 'see' her grandmother as a teenager." And Lena Jordan got to know her granddaughter, too. "It made her feel important and respected, cherished and admired," Annamarie Jordan said. "I know that my daughter and her grandmother are not the only two people from this project who have felt so strongly about the traditions it has created, the respect it has afforded, and the significance of the exchange between two people who care deeply for one another." Today and Wednesday, pen pals are getting together at school for tea. As a culminating event, students will present an oral report and give their pen pal a scrapbook they made. Annamarie Jordan says she hopes the project will inspire others to take time with loved ones while they're still with us. --- There was a remarkable crowd at Memorial Day ceremonies in Lynnwood. More than 100 folks attended, including World War II veteran Chuck Brown and Gold Star mother Myra Rintamaki, whose son, U.S. Marine Cpl. Steven Rintamaki, was killed in Iraq. They also welcomed U.S. Army Air Corps World War II veteran Larry Bryant, who is 98 years old. --- We recently shared an idea from Bill Thomas of Snohomish, who loves to camp. He suggested that folks volunteer a few hours at campgrounds where they stay. It's an "old-school fix," he said, for shrinking dollars devoted to caring for state and county parks. Tierra Learning Center outside of Leavenworth has already embraced the "giving" concept. Jeff Brown, a math teacher at Edmonds Community College, said he went to a retreat at the center. "Depending on how big your party is, they let you camp there for free in exchange for a day's worth of trail maintenance and other service projects," Brown says. "I think this is a great idea for campgrounds and state parks." Kristi O'Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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