Life From a Lame Perspective: Where We Roll Free: A Week At CPW

This last week I spent eight days at an amazing camp, with so many fantastic people. Two Sundays ago, my mom dropped me off at Camp Promise - West (CPW). CPW is located at Camp Stand By Me; the Easter Seals campground, located in Vaughn, Washington.
CPW, a camp for kids and adults with neuromuscular disease, was created in 2009 when MDA camp was canceled due to the Swine Flu. CPW also allows adults to continue to attend even after they surpass the MDA camp age limit. At CPW, there is no age limit. In fact, this year we had a 39 year old camper!
Camp Promise is a place where people with neuromuscular disease can roll free and not worry about sticking out. A wheelchair is not uncommon to see at Camp Stand By Me during the week of CPW. It actually is just as common to see a person zipping around in a chair as it is to see a person meandering around by foot.
Another spectacular thing about Camp Promise is, there are many activities that we (the campers) would not normally be able to do. However, at camp, these activities are adapted to fit our ability needs. Archery, pontoon boating, hot air ballooning, laser tagging, hiking, motor cycle side "carring", canoeing, and swimming have all been made possible at CPW. Archery is made easier by resting the bow sideways on a wooden support. The pontoon boat, hot air balloon, laser tag course, and hiking trails are all wheelchair accessible. Both canoeing and motor cycle riding are made possible by a counselor accompanying the camper in the boat and in the sidecar. A life guard paddles the canoe, while the counselor holds the camper. The motorcycle situation is similarly set up; a counselor holds the camper in the sidecar while the owner of the motor cycle drives around. The swimming pool is also accessible. Campers can be put in a shower chair and rolled down a ramp right into the water. The water is also 90 degrees. This is great for campers who get cold easily.
On top of all of these wonderful activities, CPW offers arts and crafts, dances, movies nights, and talent shows as well as bringing in performers from around the area. During the week there is also a ton of time to to hang out with friends and to make new ones.
The food at camp is pretty amazing. The chefs work extremely hard to make the food tasty as well as accommodate everyone's feeding needs. Some campers are diabetic so a sugar-free desert option is given to them. There are people who are also allergic to different things at camp. Gluten and dairy free options are given for every meal and every desert. To me, this is so awesome!
Camp Promise is one of my favorite places to be. The people are spectacular and I have made so many life long friends. Niki, Yomara, Allison, Ali, Deanie, Chloe, Hayley, Danielle, Amber, Alegra, Leah and everyone else that makes up the Purple Cabin, you are all fantastic "bunk" mates. I have learned so much from all of you, and I am so thankful that all of you have come into my life.
If you would like to donate towards CPW or just check out this spectacular camp, go to http://camppromise.org/