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SODE Summer Camp creates many memories

Over 110 athletes attend two camps in 2017
Hayden Wyttenbach, 14, tries his skill at the cornhole bag toss game while his cabinmate Noah Bradshaw awaits his turn. Over 110 SODE athletes enjoyed the two-session summer camp this year. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
August 22, 2017
Lynn Dolphin gets archery instruction from Jim Kemble of 4H Shooting Sports.
Carol Bak from Cabin 3 slams the hammer down during the Frog Bog game.
Morgan Jungling shows off her gold medal won at the World Winter Games in Austria.
Stephen Harris hits a jumper in the basketball pickup game.
Eizabeth Nolan lines up her shot.
Cabin 7 takes off for a pontoon ride on Millers Creek.
Kenneth Robinson adds his artistic touch to his birdhouse during Arts & Crafts.
Brrr, it’s cold! Brendan Popp takes his turn in the dunk tank.
Chris Popp, right, was recently chosen as SODE Volunteer of the Year. Popp is a Delware State Police sergeant for Troop 9. He is the father of SODE athlete Brendan, left, who goes to Appoquinimink High School and plays for the MOT Tigers. “It’s an honor to be chosen as Volunteer of the Year,” said Popp, who works endless hours with Special Olympics throughout the year.
Greg Harris takes a short cut in dunking one of the SODE counselors.
Ginger Shaud of Rehoboth takes her specialty set shot during the basketball activity.
Maura Ganc, right, learns to kayak on Millers Creek with SODE Director of Sports Training Mark Wise.
Oliver Dynes, left, puts the finishing touches on his arts & crafts project with volunteer Lisa Thorp.
SODE Director of School and Youth Initiatives Kylie Frazer, left, takes a break from the camp action with Director of Sports Gary Cimaglia Sr. “Kylie and Gary work tirelessly to make the camp run smoothly,” said SODE Executive Director Ann Grunert.
Kenneth Robinson, center, gets some assistance with his life jacket from counselors Kathy Denny, left, and Lisa Thorp.
Athlete Jeremy Eglit of Ocean View hits a shot for Cabin 5.
SODE athlete Ashlie Lake takes aim at the target.
SODE athlete Malik Bradford hits a jumper.

The 17th Annual Special Olympics Delaware Summer Camp brought skills, fun and smiles to Camp Barnes in Frankford Aug. 13-15 as 47 campers, 42 counselors and staff made memories that will last a lifetime. It was the second of the camps held this summer at the popular camp facility. Over 60 campers attended the Aug. 5-7 event.

The SODE summer camp is one of the feature events of the year for the athletes where they can participate in many activities throughout three days in a nature setting overlooking beautiful Millers Creek. Athletes take part in several water events like canoeing, swimming, kayaking and boating. Traditional camp sports events like archery, basketball, wiffle ball, and cornhole were popular among the campers. This year a dunk tank, Frog Bog and ball roll horse race were added for the athletes to test their skills.

 The camp offers the athletes a chance to reacquaint with old friends and meet new friends during the three-day, two-night sessions. A dance party is a feature event on the second evening where athletes dress in luau attire and cut loose showing their rhythmic style. 

“The Special Olympics Delaware Summer Camp is three amazing days where our counselors interact with Special Olympics athletes in an inclusive setting to enjoy a traditional camp experience together,” said Kylie Frazer, director of school and youth initiatives. “The counselors develop a greater understanding and appreciation of their peers with disabilities, and it serves as a tremendous lesson that all people are more alike than different. There’s no greater tribute to our athletes than the fact that many of our counselors come back year after year to spend the three days at camp with them.”

More than 4,000 volunteers enable over 4,200 athletes to participate in the life-changing events that touch many lives throughout the year in Delaware’s three counties. Some opportunities include coaching, fundraising, event management, volunteering on the day of events and being a teammate as a Unified Partner. For more information, go to SODE.org.

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