January 31, 2005

Camp offers fun in the snow for youth with disabilities

Camp COOL, the winter cousin of California State University Sacramento’s popular water-based summer camp for youth with disabilities, kicks off its fourth season Feb. 11 to 13 at the Tahoe Adaptive Ski School at Alpine Meadows Resort. The program operates in partnership with the City of Sacramento’s Department of Parks and Recreation Access Leisure Section, Disabled Sports USA Far West and United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Sacramento.

Camp COOL (Challenging Ourselves through Outdoor Leisure) is a sleep-away camp designed to give young adults aged 10 to 22 with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities the opportunity to develop lifelong recreation interests. Using adaptive equipment and under supervision, campers downhill ski, snowmobile and play hockey during the day and take part in social activities such as karaoke and skits in the evening.

The program is designed to introduce participants to activities they can use for a lifetime, says program director and Sacramento State Kinesiology professor Scott Modell. He also sees it as a means to combat obesity.

“People with disabilities are particularly at risk for obesity because the limited movement that results from a disability such as a spinal cord injury may compromise their ability to be physically active,” he says. “The program addresses obesity by providing viable recreation and leisure activities that the campers can use throughout their lives.”

For registration information call Modell at (916) 278-5401. Media assistance is available by calling the Sacramento State public affairs office at (916) 278-6156.

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