District 202 holds first Special Olympics Summer Camp
For the very first time, students at Plainfield South High School and Drauden Point Middle School are participating in a District 202 Special Olympics Summer Camp.
The weeklong camp kicked off on Monday, July 6, 2009, and ran from 4-6 p.m. daily. The sixteen attendees participated in basketball, track and field, and even bowling skills.
"We decided to hold the camp because of the great turn out we have seen from District 202 athletes who participate in Special Olympics events throughout the school year," Plainfield South Social Worker Miriam Neugebauer said. "We wanted to continue to build on their current skills."
Plainfield South hosted the first three days of the camp, which focused on building basketball and track and field skills. Student athletes practiced basketball skills, throwing, relay races, long jumping and running. The last two days of camp focused on bowling skills and were held at Town and Country Bowling Alley in Joliet.
The camp was staffed by a team of volunteers from Plainfield East and Plainfield South high schools and Drauden Point Middle School.
"The response from the students has been incredible," Neugebauer said. "One student came up to me and said, ‘This has been such a fun camp!'"
At camp, the student athletes practiced the skills that are tested during local Special Olympics competitions. District 202 athletes will once again participate in basketball skills and track and field skills. And, new this year, they will also participate in bowling skills competitions.
"The camp also allowed the athletes to interact with each other while learning new skills," Neugebauer said.
The camp cost $40 per participant, to cover the cost of a t-shirt, six games of bowling, snacks and an end of camp pizza party.
Based on the response and the students' excitement for the camp, Neugebauer said a similar camp will most likely be offered next summer.
"We really enjoy seeing our athletes grow in their athletic abilities," Neugebauer said. "This camp will allow us to compete and exceed in our athletic abilities at our local Special Olympics competitions."