I Double Dog Dare You!

This is a picture of a volunteer for Sports Camp...Riding with a visually impaired student...I told him it would be an experience....We nicknamed this student...Tara the Terror...because nobody would ride with her twice...Come help me if you DARE...It is better than a roller coaster....because...you never know where you will end up!

Wow has this been a busy summer...so I haven't posted much....this is why:

In June, I helped host the National Goalball Tournament. Thanks so much to Clay, Erin, Joey, Kylie, and MIKE...for all their help! The Utah Men took second place....it was a close match for first! This tournament took a lot of time to plan it. We felt really good when it was done, not just because it was over, but because we really felt we provided a GREAT tournament. We have received so many positive comments from all over the country.

This year, I also started a new summer program for students in Alpine District. Instead of going to their houses, or having them come to their school and work with me one-on-one, I had them all come to me three times a week. (Not just my students, but any visually impaired student in the district.) I loved it. We started the second week in June and went until the 23rd of July. It was a lot of work. Class was held in a foods room at a high school. Everyday we made our own lunch. On Tuesdays, we went to the grocery store and bought all the food for the week. We worked on expanded core curriculum for the blind: such as Orientation & mobility, daily living skills, career awareness, technology, and of course braille. I usually had about 6-8 kids a day there. We went on a few field trips. I want to do this again next year.

I also worked the UWIN program that is for students who visually impaired and at least 16 years old. This is a 7 week program. The students live in a sorority house at the University of Utah. I work from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday. I teach the students how to cook, clean, bank, shop, wash clothes, etc. We also go on an Orientation & Mobility outing at least once a week. I usually didn't get home until 12:00 or later every night...so not much yard work or house work got done.

Now, I am busy planning Sports Camp for the Blind August 3rd through August 8th. I am in charge of it this year....so I have more responsibility.....and I hope I can pull this off. So far we have about 25 students who are beteen the ages of 12 and 18 that will be coming to this camp. It is going to be in the Lehi area if anyone wants to come and help....hint hint. We have the kids pick 4 sports that they participate in every day. The sports include: judo, wrestling, tandem biking, track & field, goalball, swimming, and weightlifting/personal fitness. I am the swimming teacher. At night, we participate in different activity is the community. Monday we are going to Boondocks (if you want to be SCARED...come and get in a go cart with a blind driver. You just sit there and tell them when to turn....really...it will scare you....and is soooooo fun!), on Tuesday, we are going to shoot guns at the Bountiful Lion's Gun Club, Wednesday, we are going to the Mummy, Thursday, we are going to go rock climbing at the Quarry, and Friday, is a Pizza party. We could use some help driving kids between the evening activities. Right now, I only have three vans and some cars....so if you can help...let me know. UFB has insurance to cover drivers.

Did I tell you that Mike, Koedy, and Me are all going to CHINA?????