Southern Illinois University - Obelisk Yearbook (Carbondale, IL)

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War lefa Counsellors Jill Bjorndahl, Brenda Boese and Larry Normansell clown-around with camper George Desvoigne of Springfield. mew Counsellor Laura Yambert takes a camper for a ?iggy- back ride.

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One touch ofnature makes the world kint - Shakespeare Touch Story by Kathleen Collins Seibert Editofs note: Kathleen Seibert served as camp-out director and as arts and crafts assistant director at Camp Olympia during summer, 1981. J erry Lower is a. staff photographer at the Southern Illinoisan and part-time SIU journalism student. He spent a large amount of time at Touch of Nature during summer, 1981, documenting the activities at Camp Olympia. It is a naturalistis utopia-a humanitariads dream. It is an atmosphere of sharing-communal living at 2 iinest and at its less than best. It is challenging and creative. It is a supportive environment for individual growth place for reflection and enlightenment. It is intense, positively stressful, exhilarating and fru; trating. It is a center for experiential learning where one can explore the limitless limits. It is a space for good 0P down-home fun. It is magical. It is Touch of Nature's Camp Olympia. Camp Olympia is somewhat different from most summer camps. It is targeted for a special population, usually referred to as the iihandicappedii or the iidisabled. These terms officially describe people who have a iiphysical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities. The condition of being handicapped is not unique. All human beings are, to some extent, limited in the full participation of their lives. These signs of disability are less hidden, however, for individuals with conditions like cere- bral palsy, hearing impairment, Downis syndrome or au- tism. At Camp Olympia tformerly Camp Little Gianti an acknowledgement of common human needs is blended with continued

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tBelowi Camper Ted Hinkle of Springfield leads a string of inner-tubes through the water at the camp beach. !Righti Specialist counsellor Dave K leptich uses sign language to tell a deaf camper how to rig a Swiss seat for the high ropesttcourse. tBelow righU Counsellor David Lee signals to Lonnie Thompson during a 24-hour CLA WS mariners excursion. an understanding of individual differences. Five hundred participants, ranging in age from 5 to 65, experienced two unconventional weeks in which to expand their horizons and change their self-concepts. They came from private and group homes, boarding schools, state insti- tutions and independent living arrangements. Many return each year, counting down the months and days between sessions. A few are self-referred, but most come through local chapters of national organizations such as the Lions Foundation, the United Cerebral Palsy Association and the Easter Seal Society. Camp Director George ttButch Davis prefers to think of these people as mentally or physically ttchallenged, and this summer campers began to refer to themselves as ttonly inconveniencedii in their ability to function outdoors. At Camp ttOlyti the focus remains on ability rather than disability. The willingness to take risks and face fears is considered the key to a qualitative life. For Mike O,Conner, an SIU student involved in the program, physical challenges offered at Touch of Nature were in sharp contrast to his childhood opportunities. Activities such as rappelling and canoeing provided him with increased self-esteem and a feeling that you just cantt describe. Graduate student Arnie Venclauskas thinks the biggest opportunity at camp is living and working with