Contact: Patti Klein Lerner,
(818) 677-2130

CSUN Camp Offers Week of Fun for
Physically Challenged Youth

Sixty spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis for the 15th annual Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp, from Monday, June 26 through Friday, June 30 at CSUN's Kinesiology Building just west of Zelzah Avenue and Plummer Street. The camp's hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Campers must be between the ages of seven and 21 and should have some use of their upper extremities. They will learn and play sports such as tennis, track and field, basketball, archery, swimming, floor hockey and quad rugby, said Nick Breit, professor of kinesiology at CSUN, and camp co-director.

"Other organizations have camps for children with disabilities, but CSUN's camp is the only one designed to enhance sports participation," Breit said. "Our camp is specifically designed to develop the sports skills of kids with neuromuscular and orthopedic disabilities. It also provides excellent opportunities to develop interpersonal skills."

The camp is co-sponsored by CSUN's Department of Kinesiology and Adaptive Sports and Recreation, a Simi Valley-based non-profit group that specializes in recreation programs for the physically challenged.

The camp is staffed by instructors and counselors who are themselves disabled. These staffers, many of whom are CSUN students and community volunteers, serve as role models for the campers, Breit said. "This serves as a tremendous source of motivation for these kids," said Breit.

"It is exciting to see the growth that takes place during the course of one week of camp," Breit added. " Whether it be hanging on for dear life during the tug-of-war or taking that last lap when you're exhausted or getting the energy for the last shot at the end of the basketball game, this all contributes to the character development that kids need."

"We hope to give the campers a sense of independence so they can participate in their chosen sport, aspire to go to college, or achieve other goals they set for their lives," Breit said.

Campers will demonstrate their accomplishments during a special Family Fun Day scheduled for Friday, June 30, from noon to 9:30 p.m. Awards will be given for physical achievement.

The event will also feature a barbecue, sponsored by the Northridge Kiwanis Club, and an exhibition basketball game between the Los Angeles Breakers, the nation's top-ranking dwarf basketball team, and volunteers.

The camp fee is $250. Financial assistance is available and bus transportation can be arranged from some areas of Los Angeles and the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys. The registration deadline is June 15, and a late fee of $25 will be charged after that date.

For more information, call Breit at (818) 677-3462 or Ingrid Cleffi, of Adaptive Sports and Recreation, toll free at (888)-565-6006.