BURTON, Texas (KBTX) – Summer is a popular time for students to go to camp. In Burton, kids from across Texas are participating at Camp For All.
These campers use wheelchairs and are building confidence, and skills, and showcasing their abilities.
With “Wheeled Warriors” or “Rolling Renegades” proudly displayed on their chests, campers are embracing camp activities.
Camp Xtreme is part of the TIRR Foundation, a nonprofit that helps wheelchair-dependent children and young adults.
“This is our Xtreme Camp, so all our kiddos are really independent,” said Genny Gomez, the Director of Camp Xtreme.
Organizers aim to provide a camp experience without boundaries, ensuring a wheelchair is never a barrier to participation.
“This is often the first time for campers to meet another kid with Spina bifida and play sports with other kids or adults in wheelchairs,” said Allen McBride, the Director of Camp For All.
According to the source, “It makes them feel like they’re not defined by this disability.”
With the Paris Paralympic Games happening at the end of August, athletes were going through their own Paralympic Trials, including wheelchair sprints, wheelchair basketball, and archery.
“We have a few counselors who are being offered professional wheelchair basketball opportunities,” Gomez said.
“We have former counselors and campers competing in the Paralympics this year, so we are just so blessed to be part of their life.”
One of the campers at Camp Xtreme is Addison Omar, and this is her third time attending.
“I’m previously coming from a power chair, so being able to have all these opportunities for sports, I love it,” said Addison Omar of Rosenberg.
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Omar said she keeps coming back to camp because of the friends she makes and the activities she gets to enjoy.
“I feel like I have a purpose here,” Omar said. “It’s perfect to come out here and see people who do the same things as you.”
Campers also participated in a mile race, trying to beat their time from past years or cross the finish line for the first time like Omar.