SAN ANTONIO SUMMER CAMP PROVIDES THRILLS FOR KIDS IN WHEELCHAIRS
13-year-old Rado Enev got the opportunity to ride a high-speed zipline for the first time in his life, zooming past his friends and family watching below.
“I like to do exciting stuff and maybe scary stuff too, but it’s fun,” he said.
Rado lives his life in a wheelchair but doesn’t let that hold him back. Thanks to Morgan’s Camp and the nonprofit Wheelchairs 4 Kids, he and 23 other kids had the chance to experience a wide variety of summer camp activities.
“They are all making friends there in cabins with kids of similar age. They’re all just getting to have that summer camp feeling that everybody is looking for,” said Elizabeth Reinhart, Operations Manager at Wheelchairs 4 Kids. She highlighted the importance of the kids and their families having the opportunity to fully experience what this part of Texas has to offer.
Parents like Jim Waugh expressed their happiness seeing their children participate in activities just like any other kid. “It’s great because, as a parent, it makes me feel like she’s leading a normal life, and then she doesn’t have a disability. Because she gets to do all the things that everybody else gets to do,” said Jim while watching his daughter, Danny.
The camp offered various activities such as riding a giant dropping swing, rock climbing, navigating a ropes course, horseback riding, and ziplining. All the facilities were equipped with specific accommodations to ensure that wheelchairs and kids could fit in, while also providing opportunities to make new friends.
“It’s interesting because I get to see, like, how other guys like me live and how they handle stuff. It’s interesting to know how they, like, deal with life, I guess you could say,” shared Rado after his zipline experience.
Wheelchairs 4 Kids plans to bring more local families back to Morgan’s Camp next year, ensuring that more children with disabilities can have memorable summer camp experiences.
