Sport summer camp for children and youth with visual impairment: Descriptive case study of Camp Abilities

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the operational characteristics of Camp Abilities, an educational sports summer camp for children and youth with visual impairment. In this descriptive multiple case study, the data collected comprises interviews with seven adapted physical education faculty members, questionnaire, and document analysis. Camps were often run at university campuses, where undergraduate and graduate physical education students perform the role of instructing campers and eventually helping in the camp organizing process. These camps include a minimum of 30 to more than 120 participants (i.e. directors, campers, coaches, and specialist) each session, lasting from 4 to 7 days. In this scenario, although each camp has particular features, camps’ purposes, participants, activities, and schedules are very similar, showing that this is a feasible and reproducible approach, which can provide enriching opportunities for diverse groups.