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May 2009 News
Hi folks!
Our first camp in July is full already, with a waiting list! We need to look at running more than one camp each year for teens who are blind or partially sighted as there is such a demand! Our second camp in July is a new one – for tertiary students who are blind or partially sighted. The response has been great and I am sure there will be more students enquiring than we are able to take. Each university that we have contacted is invited to send three students – what an exciting camp!
Later in the year we plan to have two other firsts:
A family camp (for families with children with disabilities) – this will be an opportunity for networking, taking part in interesting and relevant workshops run by professionals, socialisation for both children and parents and, of course, the chance to take part in fun and adventurous camp activities.
A camp for primary school students who are blind or partially sighted. We have mostly focused on teens and are excited to offer the Higher Ground experience to some new, younger, adventurers. We have other exciting plans including adventure, technology for the blind and fun opportunities for socialisation and networking, but we won't spill all the beans yet! Keep an eye out for our next newsletter and we'll keep you posted on our plans.
At the end of May we packed our bags, filled the caddy with volunteers and filled the trailer with luggage and equipment and headed to Gauteng for our first camp in that area. A camp ground in Hekpoort was our home for the long weekend and 8 adults with visual impairments joined us to pioneer Higher Ground in another province. Freezing weather and very rustic accommodation were challenges but archery, rock climbing, paintball, walks, a music game show and lots of coffee made it an amazing weekend. We will plan this camp for a few months earlier or later in the year next year, and (like our other camps) will make use of a more adult-friendly venue and we can't wait to be back in Gauteng again! Jackie Paulding, co-founder of Higher Ground, was out visiting from the States and with us for this camp too, which was an extra special bonus. We look forward to her next visit and miss her already!
Special thanks to Paul and his team from Adventure and Beyond for running our adventure activities and putting us up before and after the camp!
We have been very fortunate to receive some fantastic donations of equipment and finances again, and so we say a very big thank you to:
The 31 Club
The Edna Burford Trust
The Paw Paw Foundation David Klaasen
The Fulton Trust
Rotary Club of Durban Bay and Rotary Club of Shelton Skookum, USA for our Matching Grant
Thank you so much for making our work possible.
If you would like to join our list of amazing supporters please get in touch, we would love to hear from you!
Finally, a very big thank you to our volunteers. You make Higher Ground fun and full of life. See you at camp soon!
Thanks to all of you for reading our news - look out for our next newsletter at the end of July.
Enjoy the winter and stay warm!
Emma
'You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.' Isaiah 26:3-4
Our first camp in July is full already, with a waiting list! We need to look at running more than one camp each year for teens who are blind or partially sighted as there is such a demand! Our second camp in July is a new one – for tertiary students who are blind or partially sighted. The response has been great and I am sure there will be more students enquiring than we are able to take. Each university that we have contacted is invited to send three students – what an exciting camp!
Later in the year we plan to have two other firsts:
A family camp (for families with children with disabilities) – this will be an opportunity for networking, taking part in interesting and relevant workshops run by professionals, socialisation for both children and parents and, of course, the chance to take part in fun and adventurous camp activities.
A camp for primary school students who are blind or partially sighted. We have mostly focused on teens and are excited to offer the Higher Ground experience to some new, younger, adventurers. We have other exciting plans including adventure, technology for the blind and fun opportunities for socialisation and networking, but we won't spill all the beans yet! Keep an eye out for our next newsletter and we'll keep you posted on our plans.
At the end of May we packed our bags, filled the caddy with volunteers and filled the trailer with luggage and equipment and headed to Gauteng for our first camp in that area. A camp ground in Hekpoort was our home for the long weekend and 8 adults with visual impairments joined us to pioneer Higher Ground in another province. Freezing weather and very rustic accommodation were challenges but archery, rock climbing, paintball, walks, a music game show and lots of coffee made it an amazing weekend. We will plan this camp for a few months earlier or later in the year next year, and (like our other camps) will make use of a more adult-friendly venue and we can't wait to be back in Gauteng again! Jackie Paulding, co-founder of Higher Ground, was out visiting from the States and with us for this camp too, which was an extra special bonus. We look forward to her next visit and miss her already!
Special thanks to Paul and his team from Adventure and Beyond for running our adventure activities and putting us up before and after the camp!
We have been very fortunate to receive some fantastic donations of equipment and finances again, and so we say a very big thank you to:
The 31 Club
The Edna Burford Trust
The Paw Paw Foundation David Klaasen
The Fulton Trust
Rotary Club of Durban Bay and Rotary Club of Shelton Skookum, USA for our Matching Grant
Thank you so much for making our work possible.
If you would like to join our list of amazing supporters please get in touch, we would love to hear from you!
Finally, a very big thank you to our volunteers. You make Higher Ground fun and full of life. See you at camp soon!
Thanks to all of you for reading our news - look out for our next newsletter at the end of July.
Enjoy the winter and stay warm!
Emma
'You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.' Isaiah 26:3-4