The mission of the University of Northern Iowa’s Adapted Sports Camp is to give qualified young people, ages 2nd grade-high school, with various lower limb physical challenges around the State of Iowa and surrounding states, an opportunity to participate in various types of athletic events using a wheelchair. They should have good cognitive and hand eye coordination skills. Also good upper body st
rength to push a chair for sports activities. They do not have to use a wheelchair for daily living skills. They may have an amputation, birth defect, or use crutches, braces, or prosthetic devices for ambulation. They benefit from the physical and social opportunities available at the SAI camp by being introduced to new athletic activities in a structured environment. This camp focuses on basketball, track and field, handcycling, tennis, archery, football, soccer,sit volleyball, softball, and rock climbing events along with weight training, and nutrition. There are opportunities for instruction, expert coaching, and the refinement of skills. Athletes are encouraged to be as independent as they can, and have the freedom to interact with their peers. The camp promotes wheelchair awareness and provides healthy recreational activities for youth with significant physical challenges. Activities such as wheeling around campus with their teammates to meals, recreational games, other skill activities, and pure fun are important for learning. Athletes enjoy traditional camp and recreation activities, while they are improving daily living, sensory-motor-perceptual, strengthening, and hand-eye coordination skills. The camp also shows those that have been injured or born with a significant physical challenge that they can be independent and productive in their community. One of our goals is to help increase the physical activity level of all young people with challenges. Playing wheelchair sports promotes fitness as well as discipline, team work and camaraderie. We bring in athletes of all abilities so that they can play these sports together and encourage all volunteers to participate in them. Bu including all in the play, it teaches everyone that those with a challenge can be very productive in not only sports but also in school, the work place, and their community and can contribute a great deal to society. These young people have fewer alternatives for health promotion, and the SAI Sports Camp is one place that opens up opportunities for growth that last a lifetime. It also is a way that their family members and friends greatly benefit from the independence gained by those athletes. As with any enterprise of this nature, there are costs involved. We project that the actual cost of participation for each athlete is $800. This covers room, board, staff stipends, medical personnel, and some supplies. Each year we are hosting several young athletes, for a total budget of $16-18000. We ask each athlete to pay $225, as most of the families involved are living on limited funds. We are always looking for sponsors to help us cover the rest of the expenses and camper ships needed by some athletes. Costs based on a partial week. With this in mind, we would like to ask you to consider giving out this information to young people with physical challenges to attend, volunteers and sponsors for this very worthwhile camp. Sponsorships are available at any level, from a cash donation to a camper ship for an individual athlete. Donations can be sent to ;
SportAbility of Iowa
P.O Box 8567
Cedar Rapids, IA 52408
