ASF Makes Memories During its Multi-Sport Summer Camp

WINDHAM – The Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF) concluded its four-day Multi-Sport Summer Camp on Sunday, Aug. 17, with 12 students participating in a range of athletic and recreational activities.

The camp was designed to introduce individuals of all abilities to a wide variety of sports and physical activities. Campers learned the fundamentals of team sports and gained an appreciation for staying active and having fun.

The program kicked off Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. at CD Lane Park. After introductions between campers and volunteers, the group embarked on a nature walk through the park’s forest and atop the grassy berm above the park’s dam. The morning concluded with a game of kickball on the baseball diamond. In the afternoon, campers boarded the ASF shuttle to Christman’s Windham Mountain House, where they practiced their swings at the driving range and worked on their putting at the green until pickup at 2:30 p.m.

Friday featured a full day of team sports. Campers began with a high-energy obstacle course designed to test balance and mobility. That was followed by a game of Wiffle ball. After lunch, the group rotated through soccer and basketball drills, taking water breaks throughout the hot afternoon. A second nature walk provided a relaxing end to the active day.

On Saturday, campers spent most of the day at CD Lane Park’s lake, where the activity of the day was kayaking. Each camper had the opportunity to paddle across the calm mountain lake on a warm summer morning. The Multi-Sport Summer Camp also coincided with ASF’s Adaptive Skateboard Camp, also held at CD Lane Park. Both camps came together for a shared barbecue lunch, and several campers even joined the skateboarding lessons under the guidance of ASF skateboard coaches. Following some time on the ramps, campers returned to the lake to kayak, swim or relax onshore before pickup.

The final day of camp included a field trip to Heidi Ruehlmann’s alpaca farm in nearby Prattsville. Campers were welcomed by Ruehlmann and the farm’s caretaker, Frank Cabrera—an ASF skateboard coach—who led the group into the alpaca pen, where campers fed the gentle animals fruit and oats. After the alpacas ate, campers took a short hike around Ruehlmann’s pond. The group then returned to ASF’s Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center for a farewell barbecue lunch.

The ASF's next summer program will take place next week when it hosts its Warriors in Motion® Women's Retreat from August 25-28.