The 18th annual Special Olympics Delaware’s Summer Camp is getting underway.
Camp sessions are at Camp Barnes in the Frankford area this weekend and next weekend.
Special Olympics Delaware media relations director Jon Buzby calls the camp one of the most anticipated events of the year for Special Olympics athletes of all ages and abilities.
“Where we bring in more than 110 Special Olympics athletes. Most of them are adults - we do have a handful of teenagers who come to the Camp. And they get an opportunity to have a traditional camp experience. And you know when you think about it, a lot of the camp’s now they’re specialized - you know it’s a soccer camp or a basketball camp,” Buzby said.
Buzby says the camp provides those traditional experiences such as campfires, canoeing, archery and arts and crafts.
“It’s funny when their parents drop them off, there are no tears shed, it’s just a quick goodbye and they get to reacquaint with their friends or meet new friends. For some of our athletes it is the only two nights a year that they spend away from mom or dad because of their home-life situations - they just don’t have those opportunities,” said Buzby.
More than 25 high school and college students volunteer as counselors at the camps - joined by several adult volunteers.
The first camp this weekend also hosts high school student-athletes from around the state taking part in the annual Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association Leadership Conference.
