Most summer camps aren't safe for children with sight-impairments - but luckily, there's Camp Bloomfield, a camp created just for blind and vision-impaired children.
Summer camp is a time-honored tradition for many children. Who can forget the nature hikes, the marshmallow roasts, the horseback riding, and the poison ivy? (OK, that last one’s not so much fun, but unforgettable, nonetheless.)
But for children who are blind or have impaired vision, traditional summer camps are out of the question. Without special accommodations, they’re not able to take part in all the outdoor activities that make summer camp such a fun experience – which means most of them end up sitting around at home all summer long, just counting down the days until school starts up again.
Not anymore: Camp Bloomfield in Malibu, California, is a summer camp created specifically for children with impaired vision. The camp is run by Junior Blind of America, and hosts around 800 campers each year, many of whom receive financial help to attend. At Camp Bloomfield, kids can ride horses, hike, and swim without fear – all of the camp’s counselors have gone through a rigorous week of special training to help them understand the needs of blind campers.
Some parents still can’t help but worry about the dangers their children may face. One mother, Yvonne Hrabe, expressed concern over a dry creek bed she spotted on the site. “It’s a 15- or 20-foot drop, and he doesn’t know that the land ends and goes down. So that’s a concern,” she told the Los Angeles Times. Even so, “he’s going to have to grow up and be independent, even more than a sighted child, so it will be a good experience for him.”