Camp offers challenges, friendship
SLIPPERY ROCK — Feeling his way up and taking one step at a time, Tamas Geczy reached new heights Friday, achieving a climb not many would typically expect him to accomplish.
Geczy, a vision impaired student from Cleveland, took part in Slippery Rock University's VIP Sports Camp for the blind, which gives children ages 6 to 18 a chance to reach their goals and experience challenging activities.
"This really helps me in self-development," Geczy said. "It helps me to become more independent, and it really helps with that because the camp gets you to experience and try new things."
As Geczy stepped up to the wall, an SRU student guided, helping him start the long way up the climbing wall at the Aebersold Recreation Center. Patiently reaching for the next footholds, he gained speed, leaving the instructor at the ground.
"You got this," the instructor said.
At about 25 feet above ground, Geczy reached the bell at the top and gave it a ring as his friends cheered below.
Wendy Fagan, an SRU instructor in adapted physical activity, organized the camp, which has been held at SRU each summer for the last six years. She said the majority of the 51 students who attended this year don't get the opportunity to participate in such a wide variety of sports at their public schools.
"This gives them increased confidence in themselves and great joy," Fagan said. "They get to meet other kids who are visually impaired, and many times, they may be the only child in their whole school who is visually impaired."
The camp ran June 16 to Friday with sports activities across campus, including track, golf, rock climbing, soccer, swimming, tae kwon do and a dance party at camp's end.
Fagan said the week at camp also proves to the children they can accomplish anything.
"One of the boys said, 'The only thing that you can do that we can't do is see,' and I just loved that," Fagan said. "This reinforces that they can do anything they want to do."
SRU students instruct all of the activities at the camp, which is sponsored by Lions International and CVS pharmacy. The students come from a three-hour radius from communities in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Timothy Clark of New Florence has attended the camp each of the last five years. After climbing about 15 feet in the air, Clark came down, took a break and said with a smile, "I'm going to do it again."
"I think things like this are even harder for us," Clark said. "We only rely on feel, and other camps don't give you the opportunity. I'm just blessed that I can get up in the morning and come and do this stuff at the camp."
Clark, who wants to have a career in radio, said he has been thrilled to participate each year.
"When I get home, I am filled with stories of what I have done," Clark said.
Clark said his favorite part of the camp is making new friends. As Geczy scaled the rock wall, he said, "My friend is actually rock climbing right now."
"Some of these new friends can relate to what I am going through," he said.
