The Danville AMBUCS are hosting their second summer camp this week for young people with disabilities. Nearly fifty campers, ranging in age from twelve to twenty-one, are participating in the camp. Last week another fifty attended a camp for younger children.
Lori Lyons is a co-director of the camp for the Danville AMBUCS. ‘’So many kids in the summer this is what they look forward to,’’ says Lyons, ‘’going to summer camp – seeing their friends, and going to summer camp. And we provide that opportunity for these kids that may not be able to attend a general – YMCA camp or another overnight camp. We are able to make the modifications. We have the staff that are able to help the kids as needed so that they can do the things that their brothers and sisters are doing – and that their peers are doing – to be able to participate in all the activities that everyone else does.’’
The camp is based at the Gao Grotto on Lake Vermilion and gets its funding from the AMBUCS Home Show and a raffle that the club holds.
Lyons says they also get a generous donation from the Julius W. Hegeler II Foundation.
For Lyons, the camp is something special. ‘’You know, I just think it’s wonderful. It’s a passion of mine, and I’m hoping to share that passion with someone else, so that when the day comes that someone else will have that passion and want to keep it going,’’ said Lyons. ‘’It’s been, for me, twenty-five plus years, and I know the camp’s been going on for longer than I’ve been around. I just think it’s really important for the community,’’ adds Lyons. ‘’Our numbers have grown. We have about 90 kids in the two weeks.’’
Those attending the camp do so at no cost. They enjoy events ranging from swimming, boat rides and bowling to a visit by Joyful Bubbles and Drums Alive.
[Note: You can click on the photos to enlarge them.]
