Camp K

I remember when I started going to Camp Koinonia, when I was only nine years old and I had the opportunity to meet a wonderful man named Dr. Gene Hayes, who started the camp for kids with multiple disabilities in 1978. They have campers with Spina Bifida to Autism. This was the first time I really had a chance to interact with children who are like myself. This camp was staffed with University of Tennessee’s Students. I had former football players to average college students as my counselors while I attended the camp. I remembered when the football players used to pick me up and throw me around like a sack of potatoes at the dance. I really cherish every single relationship I made at camp. Everybody at the camp took the time to understand me since at that time I only using a spell chart which was attached to my tray. One of camp counselor said it was using a Ouija board, but with a living person. That cracked me up and that was first someone joke about how I communicated with my board. That made me felt like a more human being, instead of a kid in a wheelchair. They have activities such as riding horses, cycling, canoes. They had bicycles which were adapted for individuals with disabilities can experience what it is like riding a bicycle for the first time. I even had an experience spending the first-time night out in a tent during a storm, which scared the piss out of me because it was thundering and lighting. Even through camp lasted for a week it was a break for my mother and it also gave me a break from school.