March 3, 2008

The Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) reports it is anticipating an expanded number of young people from across the United States to gather for the organization’s 2008 Summer Youth Camp, held for the first time at the Joy Outdoor Education Center (JOEC) in Clarksville, Ohio, July 20 through 24.

The Amputee Coalition of America’s Summer Youth Camp, now in its ninth year, is conducted to provide young people between the ages of 10 and 16 who live with limb loss or limb differences with a wide range of physical activities, team-building exercises, and opportunities to learn from peers and adult amputee mentors.

“We are very proud to be able to expand the number of campers by nearly a third this summer as a result of our move to the Joy Outdoor Education Center in Ohio," says Paddy Rossbach, president and CEO of ACA. "The Amputee Coalition of America Youth Camp provides boys and girls with limb loss and limb differences a unique camping experience that focuses on leadership development, nutrition education, physical fitness, improving self-esteem, creating positive social interaction, developing peer support, and, of course, having a great time.”

“The Joy Outdoor Education Center’s facilities and qualified and trained staff will take the Amputee Coalition of America Summer Youth Camp to a new level,” Rossbach says, adding “JOEC offers 315 acres of outstanding facilities conveniently located between Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton.”  

According to ACA there are an estimated 70,000 individuals under the age of 18 living with limb loss in the United States.

Sponsors and supporters of the Amputee Coalition of America Youth Camp include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Blaze Sports, Otto Bock HealthCare, Ohio Willow Wood and the Orthotic and Prosthetic Assistance Fund, ASPIRE, The Adele A. & Harold J. Westbrook Foundation, Finish Line Youth Foundation, and Innovating Worthy Projects Foundation, as well as numerous individual contributors.

“Financial support from these sponsors enables the Amputee Coalition to reach more young people through our Youth Camp, and we know that this special experience will have a lasting and positive impact on their lives,” Rossbach says.

The camp offers archery, swimming, arts and crafts, dance, music, an adventure ropes course, wheelchair football, disc golf and tennis. In addition, the camp provides educational sessions on nutrition as well as peer discussion and informal support through group meetings.

“This will be the second summer of our Junior Counselor Program, with six former campers, now 17 and 18 years old, volunteering as junior counselors,” Rossbach says. They join 24 other counselors and staff at the camp.

The fee for the 2008 Amputee Coalition of America Summer Youth Camp fee is $500 per child, which represents one-fourth of the total cost to bring a child to the Camp. The total cost includes airfare, transportation to the Camp, lodging, meals, activities and supplies.

“No child will be excluded from the ACA Youth Camp because of their family’s inability to pay the fee,” Rossbach says. The application for the Summer Youth Camp includes an optional fee waiver form. Families are also encouraged to seek funding assistance from their prosthetist, school and church or community service organizations. An application for the Amputee Coalition of America Summer Youth Camp can be obtained at http://www.amputee-coalition.org/youth_camp_camper_2008.pdf.

Source: Amputee Coalition of America