Damn I had almost forgotten how a feel good story can calibrate your perspective. After all the politics, Subprime lenders, and PAC 12 it's nice to get a reset. There are people out doing good things quietly and it's important we remember that. Thanks for the reminder and I'll make sure PSU is on my radar this year for sure. Go Vikings! (It is the Vikings right)
That’s a win-win. The campers get that personal coaching and connection from college athletes and the athletes learn about the satisfaction and pleasure of volunteering for something bigger than themselves and making a positive connection and impact on impressionable youngsters. Kudos to PSU!!! Kudos to your brother, and yourself John!!! 😊👍
In case someone is looking for a camp opportunity for adult individuals with developmental disabilities, check out Beavertons Hoop.Camp run by Steve Garrity at THPRD athletic center every August. It's a mini-camp, three days for 5-6 hours each day doing basketball drills and playing games. It's called a unified camp because nondisabled kids participate too, but there is no age limit for disabled campers. My son is 25 and has been going for around 13 years. It's amazing and a couple years they had a NBA player guest. He has volunteers run everything and always needs more helpers but especially needs more campers. Check it out!!!
A camp my family has been involved with for decades is not a sports camp, but it is a camp for disabled / terminally ill and their families, called Camp Prime Time, in Washington State, just off Highway 12, 7 miles east of White Pass. They will celebrate 40 years of service this summer. Also, a vision thought up in 1982 by two fathers taking disabled kids fishing and dreaming why this summer outdoor experience couldn’t be available for many more.
My son Aaron with Down Syndrome attended Camp Exceptional for 9 years, from age 7 until he aged out at 16. Every year I was amazed by all the volunteers from PSU and other schools. They didn’t just show up. They brought energy and enthusiasm. They were committed to it. Each year I talked to one or two of them thanking them and asking them about their experiences at camp. Without exception, each person told me it was the favorite thing they did that summer. They were definitely into it and I am so grateful for the impact all the volunteers had on my son.
Before camp, he wasn’t really into sports. But the camp exposed him to a variety of sports to the point where he participated in unified sports in high school each year in soccer, basketball and track. Those experiences have given him a big confidence boost and helping him socially, making more friends than I can count. At his school, everyone knows Aaron. That is a direct result of his involvement in sports and more specifically the impact the people at Camp Exceptional had on him.
Nice linkage between the camp and PSU Athletics. Once more, your ability to link diverse subjects and make them relevant to your readers is one of the reasons I love reading your columns.
Your column today brought tears to my eyes. We live in Moscow love it when the athletes at the U of I give their time and attention to the youngsters in summer sports campus as well ad during the school year. It's a win-win situation for campers and those working with them throughout the sessions. Every camp such as these -- especially those helping kids with special needs, are a golden opportunity for everyone involved. Thanks for caring!!!
Good stuff, good for the Vikings. I know Portland isn't a big sports town, but supporting the Vikings, as John noted, is a good thing. It would be great if PSU could get 10K a game in football and 4K a game in hoops.
Not all college athletes are greedy people just out for as much NIL/rev share as they can get. In fact about 99% aren't. They realize a pro career is a dream, and they are in college for an education.
The few mess it up for the many and the national media promotes the narrative.
Good on these young men and women for helping others less fortunate than themselves.
Thanks to you,your helpers and your sponsors John.It’s a great thing you are doing.Thank you to all your volunteers also.I will commit to seeing a couple of Viking games.For those who have not been to the Viking Pavilion ,it is a really nice facility and Coburns teams play exciting basketball.I am sorry to say I haven’t seen the football team live since they left PGE Park. I remember the days of Mouse Davis,Pokey Allen and Tim Walsh and hope to see that level excitement again.Nothing against Hillsboro Stadium but Vikings need to play downtown.
Damn I had almost forgotten how a feel good story can calibrate your perspective. After all the politics, Subprime lenders, and PAC 12 it's nice to get a reset. There are people out doing good things quietly and it's important we remember that. Thanks for the reminder and I'll make sure PSU is on my radar this year for sure. Go Vikings! (It is the Vikings right)
That’s a win-win. The campers get that personal coaching and connection from college athletes and the athletes learn about the satisfaction and pleasure of volunteering for something bigger than themselves and making a positive connection and impact on impressionable youngsters. Kudos to PSU!!! Kudos to your brother, and yourself John!!! 😊👍
In case someone is looking for a camp opportunity for adult individuals with developmental disabilities, check out Beavertons Hoop.Camp run by Steve Garrity at THPRD athletic center every August. It's a mini-camp, three days for 5-6 hours each day doing basketball drills and playing games. It's called a unified camp because nondisabled kids participate too, but there is no age limit for disabled campers. My son is 25 and has been going for around 13 years. It's amazing and a couple years they had a NBA player guest. He has volunteers run everything and always needs more helpers but especially needs more campers. Check it out!!!
A camp my family has been involved with for decades is not a sports camp, but it is a camp for disabled / terminally ill and their families, called Camp Prime Time, in Washington State, just off Highway 12, 7 miles east of White Pass. They will celebrate 40 years of service this summer. Also, a vision thought up in 1982 by two fathers taking disabled kids fishing and dreaming why this summer outdoor experience couldn’t be available for many more.
https://campprimetime.org/
John, thanks for all your efforts and support of Camp Exceptional. What a gift to these kids and a credit of your heart.
Thanks for this, John. You did it again. Glassy eyes here, just like that parent in your story.
Wow John. You’ve caused my darn allergies to flair up. I’m in a restaurant and it’s a bit embarrassing 😂. Thank you. You have lifted my soul.
Another great human interest story. Thank you John and THANK YOU and your brother.
My son Aaron with Down Syndrome attended Camp Exceptional for 9 years, from age 7 until he aged out at 16. Every year I was amazed by all the volunteers from PSU and other schools. They didn’t just show up. They brought energy and enthusiasm. They were committed to it. Each year I talked to one or two of them thanking them and asking them about their experiences at camp. Without exception, each person told me it was the favorite thing they did that summer. They were definitely into it and I am so grateful for the impact all the volunteers had on my son.
Before camp, he wasn’t really into sports. But the camp exposed him to a variety of sports to the point where he participated in unified sports in high school each year in soccer, basketball and track. Those experiences have given him a big confidence boost and helping him socially, making more friends than I can count. At his school, everyone knows Aaron. That is a direct result of his involvement in sports and more specifically the impact the people at Camp Exceptional had on him.
WOW, this is a great story and inspirational. Thank you for sharing this Dennis!!
Yes. I will show up for them. And thanks, John, for bringing this to us today. We needed it!
Nice linkage between the camp and PSU Athletics. Once more, your ability to link diverse subjects and make them relevant to your readers is one of the reasons I love reading your columns.
Yes!
yep
Your column today brought tears to my eyes. We live in Moscow love it when the athletes at the U of I give their time and attention to the youngsters in summer sports campus as well ad during the school year. It's a win-win situation for campers and those working with them throughout the sessions. Every camp such as these -- especially those helping kids with special needs, are a golden opportunity for everyone involved. Thanks for caring!!!
Love this!
Good stuff, good for the Vikings. I know Portland isn't a big sports town, but supporting the Vikings, as John noted, is a good thing. It would be great if PSU could get 10K a game in football and 4K a game in hoops.
May God bless the Conzano bros and the campers.
Yes and Amen!!
With the world we live in now being so screwed up, I needed to read this today.
There is hope! Thank you!
Not all college athletes are greedy people just out for as much NIL/rev share as they can get. In fact about 99% aren't. They realize a pro career is a dream, and they are in college for an education.
The few mess it up for the many and the national media promotes the narrative.
Good on these young men and women for helping others less fortunate than themselves.
Thanks to you,your helpers and your sponsors John.It’s a great thing you are doing.Thank you to all your volunteers also.I will commit to seeing a couple of Viking games.For those who have not been to the Viking Pavilion ,it is a really nice facility and Coburns teams play exciting basketball.I am sorry to say I haven’t seen the football team live since they left PGE Park. I remember the days of Mouse Davis,Pokey Allen and Tim Walsh and hope to see that level excitement again.Nothing against Hillsboro Stadium but Vikings need to play downtown.
Excellent points! Go Vikings!