[nfbmi-talk] {Spam?} Opportunities Unlimited for the BlindTheBlind Planet

Amy Shepherd amyshepherd at mpvi.org
Fri Feb 21 20:07:08 UTC 2014


I stick with my response. MDE-LIO ran a Transition program at Camp T last year and is likely running one again. They work closely with the BSBP. 

Amy

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 21, 2014, at 2:54 PM, "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net> wrote:

> OUB did run a BSBP youth transition program.
> 
> And I think there is another one sponserred this year.
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Amy Shepherd" <amyshepherd at mpvi.org>
> To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, February 21, 2014 2:36 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] {Spam?} Opportunities Unlimited for the BlindTheBlind Planet
> 
> 
>> OUB does not receive funding from the BSBP. In the past couple of years they have had Blind students who were placed at Camp T as counselors as part of the BSBP job training/placement program. Their salaries were paid by the BSBP.  It is a valuable collaboration and a good opportunity for Transition aged students to get on the job training and work experience they need.
>> 
>> Amy Shepherd
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>> On Feb 21, 2014, at 1:58 PM, "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net> wrote:
>> 
>>> He is a state employee on the board of an outfit that is funded in part by BSBP
>>> That is why it is relevent. It is a conflict of interest.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "J.J. Meddaugh" <jj at bestmidi.com>
>>> To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Friday, February 21, 2014 1:44 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] {Spam?} Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind TheBlind Planet
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> How is this relevant?
>>>> 
>>>> Best regards,
>>>> J.J.
>>>> 
>>>> On 2/17/2014 5:15 PM, joe harcz Comcast wrote:
>>>>> Is Essenberg and are other BSBP employees still members of the OUB Board?
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry Posont" <president.nfb.mi at gmail.com>
>>>>> To: "nfbmi List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Monday, February 17, 2014 4:47 PM
>>>>> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] {Spam?} Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind TheBlind Planet
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>>> The Blind Planet
>>>>>> February 2014
>>>>>> OUB is a charitable nonprofit organization under Section 501c3. We
>>>>>> gladly accept your generous donations!
>>>>>> Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind's mission is to enrich the
>>>>>> quality of life of people who are blind and visually impaired through
>>>>>> lifelong education and recreation.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Breaking News!
>>>>>> Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind is now partnering with four
>>>>>> organizations to provide great experiences for children, youth and
>>>>>> adults with blindness or visual impairment!  Our new camp home is
>>>>>> Indian Trails Camp in Grand Rapids, and we are working with Michigan
>>>>>> Parents of Children with Visual Impairments, the Association for the
>>>>>> Blind and Visually Impaired in Grand Rapids, and Running Blind, who is
>>>>>> sponsoring our fabulous Adventure Trip!  See inside for more details!
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> From your Executive Director, Gwen Botting
>>>>>> Happy February, everyone!  Who knew that we were going to have record
>>>>>> weather all over the country this winter?
>>>>>> If you are having trouble coping with this season's challenges, it
>>>>>> might help to imagine our Spring and Summer events and camps, coming
>>>>>> very soon!  All of our camps in 2014 are being offered through some
>>>>>> great partnerships with Indian Trails Camp (our new camp home),
>>>>>> Michigan Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (MPVI), the
>>>>>> Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI), and Running
>>>>>> Blind.
>>>>>> Our Spring Fling will be a lovely weekend at ITC spent in nature,
>>>>>> enjoying each other and the music of our feathered friends and blind
>>>>>> and visually impaired campers!  So find your dancing shoes and come on
>>>>>> out for a great time!  Also coming soon is our Michigan Parents of
>>>>>> Children with Visual Impairments (MPVI) Family Camp weekend, where one
>>>>>> of our activities will be to install our new garden - requiring
>>>>>> woodworking as well as gardening, and we want everyone to have a
>>>>>> chance with a hammer and a shovel!  Previous experience not required!
>>>>>> We also have a completely new camp, Blindness Immersion, that is a
>>>>>> 2-week camp, or you can come to just the first week or just the second
>>>>>> - whatever fits your life and your schedule.  Blindness Immersion is
>>>>>> just that - all things blind!  Music, art, cooking, daily living
>>>>>> skills, sports, nature - everything will be offered both weeks of
>>>>>> camp.  If you are 14 or older and want to take part in the Association
>>>>>> for the Blind and Visually Impaired's Summer in the City program,
>>>>>> never fear!  We are currently working things out with ABVI so that you
>>>>>> can attend BOTH programs, and making transportation easier for your
>>>>>> family!  It's going to be an awesome opportunity!  We end the season
>>>>>> with two fantastic camps:  Survivor Art Camp, focusing on survival
>>>>>> skills at Camp Optimist and on exploring the art community in Grand
>>>>>> Rapids, and our Running Blind Adventure Camp, sponsored by Running
>>>>>> Blind, an organization dedicated to fostering athletic endeavors for
>>>>>> blind and visually impaired persons.  THIS IS GOING TO BE THE MOST
>>>>>> AWESOME ADVENTURE TRIP EVER!  Sign up soon, because, for only $200 per
>>>>>> camper, this trip is available to ONLY the first 15 campers to
>>>>>> register!
>>>>>> There is a lot coming up, and you can help and have fun by attending
>>>>>> our fundraiser, Bowling Blast!  This event will be held this coming
>>>>>> Sunday, February 16. See flyer inside for more details!  You can also
>>>>>> check out Indian Trails camp this weekend - see flyer for their Snow
>>>>>> Ball Dance!
>>>>>> Looking forward to seeing YOU at camp!
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Gwen
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Winter Bowling Blast
>>>>>> Please mark your calendars for this exciting event:
>>>>>> Sunday, February 16
>>>>>> 2:00pm
>>>>>> Park Center Lanes, 2222 28th St SW Wyoming, Michigan
>>>>>> For $20 you get to bowl three games, includes shoes, 2 slices of pizza
>>>>>> and a pop. If you are not a bowler, join us for the Silent Auction
>>>>>> Sponsored by: Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 2014 Camp and Event Schedule
>>>>>> Locations:  Indian Trails Camp, 1859 Lake Michigan Drive, Grand Rapids, MI
>>>>>>        Camp Optimist, 10324 Lovers Lane NW, Grand Rapids, MI
>>>>>>        Camp-in-a-Box, Beaver Island and Lake Charlevoix, MI
>>>>>> Date Event Location
>>>>>> Jan 17-19 Snow Much Fun (family event) Indian Trails
>>>>>> April 4-6 Spring Fling (family event) Indian Trails
>>>>>> May 16-18 MPVI Family Camp/Open House Indian Trails and Camp O
>>>>>> May 27- June 1 Staff Training with ITC staff ITC and Camp O
>>>>>> June 4 - 8 Specialized Staff Training for OUB staff ITC and Camp O
>>>>>> June 8 - 14 Tech Camp (Adults 18 and over) ITC and Camp O
>>>>>> June 15 - 22 Blindness Immersion (Ages 7-HS)* ITC and Camp O
>>>>>> June 22 - 28 Blindness Immersion (Ages 7-HS)* ITC and Camp O
>>>>>> June 29 -  5 ------off------no camp
>>>>>> July 6 - 12 Survivor Art Camp (Ages 12-HS)** Camp O only
>>>>>> July 13-23 Running Blind Adventure Camp (Ages 12- HS)** Beaver Is,
>>>>>> Lake Charlevoix
>>>>>> October 24-26 Harvest Festival (family event) ITC and Camp O
>>>>>> *campers may attend either or both weeks of Blindness Immersion Camp.
>>>>>> Campers do not need to return home over the weekend between the two
>>>>>> weeks of camp.
>>>>>> **participants in Survivor Art may stay with us for the Adventure Trip
>>>>>> without returning home in between camps - but they will be expected to
>>>>>> help us pack!!!
>>>>>> Join us for a great experience - fun and learning and friendships
>>>>>> all-in-one package:
>>>>>> OUB Camps!
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Camp Descriptions - Everything you want to know!*
>>>>>> *if we missed something, please call, email, or check out our website,
>>>>>> www.oubmichigan.org
>>>>>> Snow Much Fun January 17-19 - This was our first event at Indian
>>>>>> Trails Camp and it was SO MUCH FUN!  We "got lost" on a nature walk,
>>>>>> made cardboard sleds, creatures out of vegetables and gingerbread
>>>>>> houses, played games, ate s'mores and had hot chocolate, sat by the
>>>>>> fire and had a great time!  Indian Trails is a great camp for us!
>>>>>> Spring Fling April 4-6 - Don't miss this fun family event with nature
>>>>>> exploration, music, crafts, dancing, an auction and so much more!
>>>>>> Held at Indian Trails Camp.  Cost: $75 per family of 4, $20 each extra
>>>>>> person.
>>>>>> MPVI Family Camp/ Open House May 16-18 - We love Family Camp! MPVI
>>>>>> co-sponsors this camp which will give families a great opportunity to
>>>>>> explore both ITC and Camp Optimist, help put in our new garden at Camp
>>>>>> O, and just relax and have fun together, play games, do special crafts
>>>>>> designed just for you, and learn from each other. Held at ITC and Camp
>>>>>> O. Cost: $75 per family of 4, $20 each extra person.
>>>>>> Staff Training May 27-June 1 and June 4-8 - for those of you who are
>>>>>> considering applying to work as a camp counselor this summer, consider
>>>>>> working for OUB!  Staff training will be held with ITC staff May 27 -
>>>>>> June 1 and with OUB staff only from June 4-8.  Held at ITC and Camp O.
>>>>>> Tech Camp June 8 - 14 - for adults only (18 and over).  This camp is
>>>>>> for adults of any age who enjoy meeting others with blindness or
>>>>>> visual impairment, like to have fun, and want to learn more about the
>>>>>> latest in technical improvements and help with those they already own.
>>>>>> Brush up on your cooking and life skills, too!  Experts in the field
>>>>>> will lead classes, and fun activities will be planned for the
>>>>>> evenings.  All meals included. Held at ITC and Camp O.   Cost: $500
>>>>>> per person.  Hint: talk with your BSBP counselor about helping you
>>>>>> attend this camp!
>>>>>> Blindness Immersion June 15-28 (ages 7 - HS)  or June 15-21 or June
>>>>>> 22-28.  This camp includes - well - EVERYTHING!  Music, drama, art,
>>>>>> cooking, like skills, sports, field trips (even a baseball game!),
>>>>>> campfires, swimming (in a pool!), boating, singing silly songs - all
>>>>>> things blind, all the time!  Come to one week or both. SPECIAL
>>>>>> ARRANGEMENT: for those students who are 14 and over who would like to
>>>>>> attend the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired's Summer in
>>>>>> the City Program, we are currently working out details to make it
>>>>>> possible to do BOTH - OUB will provide transportation to and from this
>>>>>> great program in Grandville, and participants can then come back to
>>>>>> Indian Trails to participate in our evening and weekend activities,
>>>>>> including overnight accommodations and meals.  For more information on
>>>>>> Blindness Immersion or the Special Arrangement, please call Gwen at
>>>>>> 989-855-2430. For information about Summer in the City, contact Amy
>>>>>> Schreiner at the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired at
>>>>>> 616-458-1187 extension 332. Held at ITC and Camp O.  Cost: $1200 per
>>>>>> week or $2000 for 2-week camp.  Reduced rates based on ability to pay.
>>>>>> Scholarships available.  Blindness Immersion/Summer in the City
>>>>>> rates: $300 per week or $500 for two weeks.
>>>>>> Survivor Art Camp July 6-12 (ages 12-HS)  In this exciting reboot of
>>>>>> our wild and crazy new camp of 2013, Survivor Art Camp will be held at
>>>>>> Camp Optimist, learning survival skills, sleeping in tents,
>>>>>> participating in crazy challenges, cooking all of our own meals but
>>>>>> also taking field trips to explore and do extremely cool 3-dimensional
>>>>>> art with experienced artists in the Grand Rapids community. Held at
>>>>>> Camp O.  Cost: $1200.  Reduced rates available based on ability to
>>>>>> pay. Scholarships available.  Special Rate: for participants in
>>>>>> Survivor Art and Running Blind Adventure Camp, two-camp (2 1/2 weeks)
>>>>>> special rate is $600!  What a deal!
>>>>>> Running Blind Adventure Camp July 13-23 (ages 12-HS)  THE ADVENTURE OF
>>>>>> A LIFETIME!  5 days on Beaver Island and 5 days at Lake Charlevoix,
>>>>>> all sponsored by Running Blind!  Hop on one of our camp vans on July
>>>>>> 13 for the ferry to Beaver Island, spend 5 days there exploring and
>>>>>> camping, swimming and whatever else we can cook up, and then go back
>>>>>> to the mainland for 5 days of adventures including Fort Mackinaw, zip
>>>>>> lining, canoeing, track and field challenges, backyard barbeques and
>>>>>> even parasailing!  (That is, being lifted up on a giant kite over the
>>>>>> water behind a boat!  All events are with professional organizations
>>>>>> and are inspected and safe!)  You will NOT want to miss this! With
>>>>>> the financial and organizational support of Running Blind, we can
>>>>>> offer this camp for only $200!  Limited to first 15 participants.
>>>>>> Held at Beaver Island and Camp Whiting and various locations in NW MI
>>>>>> Lower peninsula.  Cost: $200 Special Rate: for participants in
>>>>>> Survivor Art and Running Blind Adventure Camp, two-camp (2 1/2 weeks)
>>>>>> special rate is $600!  What a deal!
>>>>>> Harvest Festival  October 24-26 It might be hard to think of the fall
>>>>>> of 2014 right now, but plan on taking part in our Harvest Festival
>>>>>> family event at ITC and Camp O.  See what our new garden produced for
>>>>>> us over the summer!  Held at ITC and Camp O.  Cost: $75 per family of
>>>>>> 4, $20 each extra person.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Pricing our camps - why so many options?
>>>>>> We are trying a new pricing structure this summer.  $1200 per week
>>>>>> might sound like a lot, but we run small camps with a lot of staff to
>>>>>> get a nearly one-to-one ratio of campers to staff.  We find our kids
>>>>>> learn best this way.  We also have to pay a little more to hold camps
>>>>>> at Indian Trails than in our previous location.  $1200 is what it
>>>>>> actually costs us to produce camps for your kids.  We know that, for
>>>>>> some families, paying $1200 may be what they can choose to do. But
>>>>>> for most, that much is out of the question.  So we are offering a $600
>>>>>> half price option, and we are offering that rate for those of you who
>>>>>> get scholarships from the State of Michigan Department of Education
>>>>>> Trust Fund.  That will allow you who qualify for those scholarships to
>>>>>> come to at least two camps for free.  For those who DO NOT qualify for
>>>>>> MDE-LIO scholarships, but cannot afford $600, we have a third option.
>>>>>> We will accept $200 from you, but we ask that you try to get
>>>>>> scholarship money from other sources to make up the difference. All
>>>>>> you have to do is write letters to local service organizations in your
>>>>>> area, and send me a copy to show me that you asked for assistance.  A
>>>>>> sample letter is included in this newsletter!  BUT HERE'S THE CATCH!!!
>>>>>> A lot of service groups like Lions Clubs don't meet in the summer!  If
>>>>>> you plan to ask for scholarship assistance, you need to do it NOW!
>>>>>> Better yet, ask your child to help you with the letter, so that they
>>>>>> begin to understand the process of politely asking for help from
>>>>>> groups that like to help others.  It always helps if you are willing
>>>>>> to share your child's story with the group you are asking for funds
>>>>>> from.  DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!
>>>>>> SPECIAL DEAL #1: Partnerships are allowing us to offer some camps for
>>>>>> extraordinarily low rates!  If you live in the Grand Rapids Area and
>>>>>> your child is 14 or older, you may have heard of the STEPS program
>>>>>> offered by the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the
>>>>>> Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, or their two-week (Monday
>>>>>> through Thursday) summer program called Summer in the City. This
>>>>>> program offers lots of experiences with cooking, managing money,
>>>>>> taking public transportation and other important skills under the
>>>>>> watchful eye of Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists and
>>>>>> Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists.  This is a really great
>>>>>> program with a terrific track record.  The only problem is, for some
>>>>>> families, that parents often have to provide transportation both to
>>>>>> and from this program 4 days a week for two weeks.  HERE'S THE SPECIAL
>>>>>> DEAL:  Your blind or visually impaired teenager can come to Blindness
>>>>>> Immersion Camp at Indian Trails AND to Summer in the City.  Your
>>>>>> student can stay with us overnight, have breakfast at Indian Trails,
>>>>>> then we will provide transportation to the SITC program, pick them up
>>>>>> in the afternoon, and they can stay with us and participate in all of
>>>>>> our evening activities.  They can also stay THROUGH THE WEEKEND, June
>>>>>> 20-22.  The cost is only $300 for one week or $500 if participating in
>>>>>> both weeks.  WE hope you like this new option that will help more kids
>>>>>> participate in both SITC and OUB CAMPS!
>>>>>> SPECIAL DEAL #2:  Running Blind, and organization dedicated to
>>>>>> fostering athletic endeavors with people who are blind or visually
>>>>>> impaired, is sponsoring our RUNNING BLIND ADVENTURE TRIP.  This is a
>>>>>> totally awesome combination - our great staff and programming ideas
>>>>>> partnered with Hal Wolf and his ability to organize and fund events
>>>>>> that he is passionate about.  Entirely due to this passion and
>>>>>> generosity, the cost to any camper attending this 11-day camp is only
>>>>>> $200.  Again, DO NOT DELAY.  Open only to the first 15 registrants!
>>>>>> This camp will fill fast!
>>>>>> SPECIAL DEAL #3: For those of you 12 and older who are REALLY into
>>>>>> Adventure, you can attend BOTH Survivor Art Camp AND the Running Bli
>> 
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