The Observer, a quarterly publication of the Montana Association for the Blind Fall 2007
Blind Children on the Move in Montana – Camp Eureka! 2007
Article by Beth Underwood
Following is an article adapted from the NFB Building Our Future Newsletter:
On a trip to Wild Horse Island the kids employed canes, O&M skills, compass navigation and radio telemetry to find a radio collar used for tracking bighorn sheep.
Camp Eureka! 2007 was the best ever! Twelve blind children eager to take on personal challenges, along with three exceptional young adult blind mentors from NFB training centers, converged at the University of Montana’s Flathead Lake Biological Station for five days of adventure. Situated on a peninsula jutting into the lake, with forests, rustic cabins and wonderful classrooms, the Station was the perfect setting. Campers boarded the station’s research vessel to collect zooplankton from the pristine, 27-mile long lake. They learned to tactilely identify native plants by observing leaf and stem patterns and textures, and by creating tactile diagrams and molds. They practiced owl hoots, toots, and communication strategies. Twice daily campers recorded temperature, wind, humidity, calculated dew point and presented weather reports. There was lots of fun with swimming, boating, playing string-ball, and one evening dancing and playing percussion instruments with the Tropical Montana Marimba Ensemble. Our intrepid campers produced a lively radio program and conducted a suspenseful and wildly comical mock “whodunit” trial. During the week campers began to accept their blindness as normal and enthusiastically engaged in activities to develop blind skills. For example, on a trip to Wild Horse Island the kids employed canes, O&M skills, compass navigation and radio telemetry to find a radio collar used for tracking bighorn sheep. By the end of the week we felt exhausted and exhilarated and amazed at the transformation of some of the campers. The level of confidence and independence gained in one short, jam-packed week of learning skills, taking on challenges and making personal and scientific discoveries was astounding. This, after all, is what Camp Eureka! is all about.
Kids left camp with ambitions of starting up a band, and becoming meteorologists, lawyers, and veterinarians. Here are a few things they had to say:
“I think the best camp experience for me was getting to know other campers. All of the campers were really nice and funny and they each had great personalities. It was a chance for me to learn more about how other people who are in similar situations learn to keep up with everyone else. I think that all of us were able to connect in a short period of time and that’s pretty cool. I loved how there were so many different activities so that everyone found at least one thing they enjoyed. I especially liked the trial because it was very funny. And we got ice cream at the end. I also like playing stickball because it was a sport where I didn’t have to worry about not being able to see the ball.” – Brianna
“I enjoyed meeting new people. It was neat to see other people that had problems with their eyes. I like swimming in the very, very cold lake! We all got into a water fight and everyone was screaming. It was so much fun! I liked creating the radio program…especially when Aaron said ‘butt’ instead of ‘Butte’! I liked the mock trial. I found out I like huckleberry ice cream. Dancing with the Marimba band was fun. I learned how to use a cane. I used it through the airport coming home and I have taught my classmates how to use it. If I could change one thing about camp I would like for it to last for longer than a week!” - Jacey
“The thing I enjoyed most about Camp Eureka! was the mock trial. It was so much fun to try and beat Sean, but I'm a sucker for competition. Another fun thing I liked was the hunt for the ice cream on Wild Horse Island. Even though we did lose, it was still a good experience to trip over grass, go sprawling down hills, and laugh at yourself. Ok, fine, the thing I loved most about camp was dunking Dan! Camp was great this year and I can't wait to be a mentor!” - Lauren
Camp Eureka! would not be possible without the wonderful support of private foundations, local businesses, organizations and individuals. Over 3,000 hours of volunteer time are donated to the program each year. Our wonderful mentors and instructors don’t just give their time, and share their knowledge, humor and talents with the children, but spend days planning, preparing and training to ensure the camp’s overall success. Major funding for the program in 2007 came from the Qwest Foundation, the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute’s Imagination Fund, the Montana Association for the Blind, the James H. Woods Foundation, the Marshall and Mary Brondum Special Assistance Foundation, the Charles Engelhard Foundation, the Craighead Wildlife/Wildlands Institute, the Rocky Mountain Eye Center Physicians, the Missoula Downtown Lions Club, Montana Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts, Juniper Hill Enterprises, and Hazelhurst Chapter of the Mississippi Council for the Blind. We particularly value our collaboration with the University of Montana and thank the Flathead Lake Biological Station for sharing its resources and for their wonderful hospitality. Thanks to Dawson Dunning, film producer, and Stephanie Gordon, filmmaker, of Montana State University’s Fine Arts Program in Science and Natural History Film-Making, who participated in every moment of camp to help us capture the heart and spirit of the program.
The excitement for Camp Eureka! 2008 is mounting! We are in the midst of developing programs, outreach, fundraising, etc. We have received pledges of support in the amount of $5,000 each from the NFB Imagination Fund and the MAB. Thank you to those members of MAB who are reaching out to help with Camp Eureka!. Braille the World has offered to ensure that all our field guides and materials are available to campers in Braille. Thank you, Kayla and Carl!
Camp Eureka! is a proud partnership of the Montana Conservation Science Institute, the National Federation of the Blind’s Jernigan Institute and National Center for Blind Youth in Science, and the Montana Association for the Blind. Visit our website at http://www.mocsi.org/campeureka.htm. For more information contact:
Beth UnderwoodEducation Specialist and Camp Eureka! Director
Montana Conservation Science Institute (MOCSI)
5200 Upper Miller Creek Road
Missoula, MT 59803
underhogg@montana.com
406-251-5069
406-642-3035