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'Camp Courage' continues to grow

For most kids with visual or hearing impairments, opportunities to interact with kids with the same impairments can be challenging to find.

‘Camp Courage’ is attempting to help with those challenges by bringing these kids together for a weekend of unforgettable experiences and opportunities that they may not have received anywhere else.

The camp was held September 15-17 at Ivy Green, the home of Helen Keller, and was made possible with the help of the University of North Alabama student government.

Mechele Mosley oversees the camp every year, and she said she is always excited to be part of the camp and truly enjoys seeing what the kids get out of it.

“I love seeing the joy on the kids’ faces. A lot of times they don’t have the same opportunities other kids have in terms of socializing with other kids,” Mosley said. “That’s our real goal here, to let these kids know they can live normal lives just like anyone else. We also want them to make lasting friendships with these kids that will last a lifetime.”

There were campers from Alabama, Tennessee, as well as Wisconsin that attended this year’s event. This is the first year that the camp has had campers from Wisconsin, and Mosley said she is glad the camp is able to reach out to areas outside of Alabama and hopes to expand it.

“It’s easier and easier to reach out to different places and get campers from different areas, and it’s really encouraging for future camps,” Mosley said. “We did have a camper from Wisconsin, and while that’s great and we are extremely grateful to have them here, we don’t want to stop here. We want to continue to branch out and help children with impairments from all across the country.”

While the camp may seem like a chance for the children to take a break from everyday life, it can also be used as a break for parents as well,  according to Mosley.

“For a lot of these parents, they have to care for these children day and night, 24/7,” she said. “They never really get a chance to kick back and relax. With this camp, they know their children will be in safe hands, and that gives them an opportunity to relax and recuperate while also knowing their children are having a great time and making lifelong relationships.”

Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow and his wife Martha opened their Cypress Cove Farm this past Saturday to the Camp Courage campers. Morrow also is excited about seeing the program’s growth, and he said he plans to continue to support it.

“We reached out to Vanderbilt University this year for additional campers, and we’re not going to stop there,” Morrow said. “This is a wonderful program, and we want to see it continue to become more popular and available to kids from across the country.”


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