[NFBMI-Talk] Fwd: July 2022 Camp T Newsletter
Martha Moore
marthaamoore at yahoo.com
Thu Jul 21 20:17:22 UTC 2022
Nice
Martha A Moore, MPA, DTMGVSU Downtown Toastmaster Club 8177 (Treasurer, 2021-beyond)
On Thursday, July 21, 2022 at 01:21:28 PM EDT, christineboone2--- via NFBMI-Talk <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
Hats' off to Donna (Butterfly) Posont, who is blazing the way for blind campers in fine style! Donna you make us all proud!
Camp T is indeed one of the very best places in America for people who are blind or vision impaired...but especially for all of us who know we are blind regardless of how much remaining vision we may or may not have! Here is my question: Are we ever permitted to have week-long camps for blind kids, or do we only get single days and an occasional overnight?
This news letter reads well and the nature of the activities here sounds great, but the dates I see for future events are just little dots on the map, with weeks of open space in-between.
Thanks J.J. for sharing this newsletter!
Best to all,
Christine
-----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMI-Talk <nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of J.J.
> Meddaugh via NFBMI-Talk
> Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2022 11:51 AM
> To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: J.J. Meddaugh <jj at bestmidi.com>
> Subject: [NFBMI-Talk] Fwd: July 2022 Camp T Newsletter
>
> Donna is featured in this month's newsletter.
>
>
> -------- Forwarded Message --------
> Subject: July 2022 Camp T Newsletter
> Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2022 15:59:38 +0000
> From: MDE-LIO <lowincidenceoutreach at gmail.com>
> Reply-To: lowincidenceoutreach at gmail.com
> To: jj at bestmidi.com
>
>
>
> July 2022 Camp T Newsletter
> Camp T Since 1974 logo
>
>
> Camp Tuhsmeheta
> July 2022 Newsletter
>
>
> *Letter from the Camp Tuhsmeheta Director*
>
> My senses have been at full attention this summer. I’ve heard paddles striking
> the sides of aluminum canoes, indulged in the taste of sweet and refreshing
> watermelon, felt the intensity of itchy skin while recovering from poison ivy,
> enjoyed the smell of foil packet dinners cooking over an open fire, and relished
> the joyful bird songs filling the air. This summer has been a sensory overload, but
> each experience has helped me create memories I will not soon forget. (Well, I’d
> prefer to forget about the poison ivy experience.)
>
> My hope is that our campers are making some special memories for themselves,
> too. Camp Tuhsmeheta (Camp T) is a special place, and everyone who
> experiences it takes away their own memories to keep. For some, it will be
> catching their first fish and gathering enough courage to take it off the hook.
> For others, it may be spending a night or two away from their parents for the
> first time and not wanting to go home at the end of camp because they will miss
> their new friends. Our lives are full of memories, and at Camp T, our goal is for
> campers to make as many positive memories as they can. May you make many
> happy memories this summer, too!
>
> Jill Teegardin
>
> Camp T Director
>
>
> Screen shot of Merlin Bird ID app next to a singing yellow bird. Text says, "Who's
> singing? Merlin Bird ID can tell you."
>
> *Bird Call Identification App*
>
> Donna Posont, this month’s Camp T Champion, is an avid birder and can identify
> many birds by their songs. When Donna visited Camp T this spring, she shared an
> amazing app with our staff. The Merlin Bird ID app <https://mdelio.us7.list-
> manage.com/track/click?u=e26740868a48453f1cd91a067&id=14d645ef4f&e=4
> 684ec9880>,
> developed by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, can record and accurately identify
> a variety of bird songs in real time. If you want to learn more about the local
> birds in your area, Camp T's staff highly recommends exploring a local trail or
> lake with this app. Happy birding!
>
>
> Merlin Bird ID App
> <https://mdelio.us7.list-
> manage.com/track/click?u=e26740868a48453f1cd91a067&id=b92f364eed&e=4
> 684ec9880>
>
>
>
> What’s Happening at Camp T
>
> Camp T alumni tell stories and reminisce around the campfire.
>
> The Merren family paddles a canoe in Flannigan Lake.
>
> *Camp Alumni Gather for Fun and Memories*
>
> In early June, Camp T held its first Alumni Picnic, which welcomed back
> former campers to reminisce and share stories from years past—even
> stories from before the camp opened in 1974! Many of the stories
> featured torrential thunderstorms. Our hope is to archive some of these
> stories in our future Roth Cabin History Museum.
>
> At the event, Camp T alumni had an opportunity to climb the climbing
> tower, shoot bows at the archery range, canoe on the lake, and walk a
> few of Camp T’s many miles of trails. Alumni were also introduced to
> Camp T’s new Oak Recreation Center, where they played goalball
> <https://mdelio.us7.list-
> manage.com/track/click?u=e26740868a48453f1cd91a067&id=8ff68086f9&e=4
> 684ec9880>.
> It was a wonderful time, and we look forward to offering this
> opportunity again.
>
>
> Three boys hold tote bags and smile for a photo in Camp T's recreation
> center during Cane Quest. An adult smiles in the background.
>
> *First Annual Michigan Regional Cane Quest Held at Camp T*
>
> On May 14, Camp T hosted the first annual Michigan Regional Cane Quest
> competition. Cane Quest is a challenging orientation and mobility (O&M)
> contest for students, created and organized by Braille Institute.
>
>
> Read Full Article
> <https://mdelio.us7.list-
> manage.com/track/click?u=e26740868a48453f1cd91a067&id=65aacb0ec6&e=4
> 684ec9880>
>
>
>
> *Camp T Champion: Donna Posont*
>
> Donna Posont demonstrates the shape of bird feet for campers.
>
> Wearing a rain coat and using a white cane, Donna leads two campers and
> a guide dog through the woods.
>
> For nearly five decades, Camp T has seen students grow and move on to
> build their own families and stories. Legends have been made at camp
> over that time. One legend is Donna Posont, who became a Camp T
> counselor in the early 2000s. She is an instant favorite among campers
> because of her ability, as someone who is Blind, to share the thrill of
> birding and the beauty of nature. Donna captivates students with her
> natural charm and colorful descriptions that keep campers returning just
> to hear her stories.
>
> During her time at Camp T, Donna would often stay in the platform tent
> directly across from the White Pine Lodge to be in the center of the
> action. At one camp, the campers were asked to give themselves nicknames
> that describe who they are. Donna chose the nickname “Butterfly.” Her
> tent was dubbed “The Butterfly House” to convey the beautiful transition
> each camper makes from being in their “cocoon” at the start of camp to
> emerging at the end as a “butterfly.” At a recent event, Donna said she
> was pleased to hear that her tent is still called “The Butterfly House.”
> She was also proud of the new birding deck that was built, which will
> allow her to share her love of birds with others.
>
> Although Donna admits that she still fears getting lost when she visits
> camp, when she’s with campers who are Blind/Visually Impaired (BVI), she
> knows they all have the confidence to get where they’re going. Donna
> shared many stories of conquering tasks at Camp T that she initially
> doubted she could do. She often shares with campers and other youth who
> are BVI that “it’s okay to be Blind." She says it is great to be around
> others who are BVI, because they can be themselves and help each other
> tackle challenges together, which is what Camp T is all about. Camp T's
> staff would like to thank Donna for her many years of service at camp,
> and we look forward to many more stories to come.
>
>
> White Pine Lodge features new double doors and a fresh coat of green paint.
>
>
> *Behind the Scenes at Camp T*
>
> As COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease, Camp T's staff continues
> working to ensure camper safety at each event. We regularly check for
> the latest guidance and recommendations to help prevent the transmission
> of the virus. Additionally, our staff has passed several required safety
> inspections, such as health, water, fire, and high-adventure equipment
> assessments, to make sure our systems are in peak working condition.
>
> Just before winter, camp buildings had new energy-efficient doors
> installed. When the weather warmed up in the spring, the buildings had
> their first coat of paint. Later this summer, we expect to start
> renovating Elm Hall into of the new hands-on Nature Center and
> converting Roth Cabin into a history museum. We will also start
> constructing a new maintenance facility. In the meantime, campers always
> enjoy the garden, with its bounty of native plants, herbs, and
> ready-to-eat vegetables that are steadily growing and looking delicious.
> The work never stops at Camp T!
>
> -Jill Teegardin
>
>
> *Events on the Horizon*
>
> With summer events already in progress, Camp T is quickly approaching
> its busy fall and winter season. Fall is a popular time, due to the
> start of the school year combined with the shorter days, cooler nights,
> and changing leaves. Read on to learn about upcoming events at Camp T
> for students who are Blind/Visually Impaired (BVI) or Deaf/Hard of
> Hearing (DHH).
>
> Read Full Article
> <https://mdelio.us7.list-
> manage.com/track/click?u=e26740868a48453f1cd91a067&id=1fd2ba54e1&e=4
> 684ec9880>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> BVI Events
>
> Closeup of marshmallows on two sticks over a fire outdoors.
>
>
> FNC: Summer Fun Camp
>
> *Dates:* July 23–24, 2022
>
> Families of school-age children who are BVI are invited to attend this
> overnight Family Nature Club (FNC) event. Families will enjoy campfires,
> hikes, and waterfront activities.
>
>
> A boy climbs the wooden climbing tower at Camp T on a sunny summer day.
>
>
> Camp T Recreation Clinic
>
> *Tentative Date:* October 1, 2022
>
> Families of school-age children who are BVI are invited to attend this
> recreation clinic. Campers will learn about goalball, climbing, archery,
> and other adaptive recreation opportunities at camp.
>
>
> DHH Events
>
> Two young girls wear life jackets while in a canoe with their parents.
>
>
> DHH Family Summer Party
>
> *Date:* August 21, 2022
>
> Join Camp T and Michigan Hands & Voices for some fun in the sun!
> Families with school-age children who are DHH are invited to this
> afternoon outing at camp. Participants will enjoy a variety of outdoor
> adventures at camp.
>
>
> A man, woman, and two children smile as they walk through a forest on a
> sunny day.
>
>
> FNC: Back to Cool
>
> *Date:* September 17-18, 2022
>
> Families of school-age children who are BVI are invited to attend this
> overnight camp. Families will experience camp together with campfires,
> hikes, and outdoor fun.
>
>
> Fall trees in yellow and green colors next to a lake on a sunny day.
>
>
> FNC: November Event
>
> *Date:* November 5-6, 2022
>
> Experience the end of daylight saving time at Camp T! Gear up for winter
> hibernation at this fun-filled overnight camp for families.
>
>
>
> A group of teens and adults walk on a winding path through the woods.
>
>
> DHH Fall Family Camp
>
> *Date:* October 15-16, 2022
>
> Families of school-age children who are DHH are invited to attend this
> overnight camp. Families will experience camp together with campfires,
> hikes, and outdoor fun.
>
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> 14199273?e=4684ec9880>
>
>
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