Disability Action Center takes on Olympics theme for this year’s ‘Camp CAN-DO’

FAIRMONT, W.Va. (WBOY) — This week, the Disability Action Center (DAC) in Fairmont is hosting “Camp CAN-DO,” a week-long summer camp held each year that emphasizes things like inclusion and personal empowerment for kids and adults with disabilities.

This year’s theme for the camp is “Summer Olympics,” as a nod to the 2024 Summer Olympics that will begin later this week.

According to Enrichment Coordinator C.D. Collins, the reason why the DAC holds this camp each year is so that staff are able to show off what it has available to the community—especially children. The center holds most of its activities during the daytime hours so during the school year, children in school are unable to see what the center has to offer.

“Camp CAN-DO is a great way of sort of opening up our doors to the community,” said Collins. “Both the disabled community and non-disabled individuals who just kind of wanna have a good time.”

Collins said that with this summer’s Olympics theme, they’re hoping to help give camp participants an appreciation for the multi-sport event. “Understanding new diverse sports…sports we may not be exposed to here,” said Collins. “Like breakdancing is making its Olympic debut.”

Throughout the camp, Collins said that the DAC staff will go over the rules of breakdancing and explain some of the different rules. The campers will also have the chance to participate in some athletic activities themselves such as swimming, kickball, etc.

On July 26, campers will be watching the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony at 1:30 p.m., which you can watch yourself on WBOY-NBC.

According to Collins, having this camp during the summer really gives DAC the chance to take the campers out into the community. “You know disabled individuals are the community—we shouldn’t be sequestered away,” they added.

Collins said the camp also gives younger people with disabilities a chance to meet their peers so that if they want to be involved in the DAC’s activities as they get older, they won’t feel as though they’re coming into a room full of strangers.

Last year’s Camp Can-Do had a “Survivor” theme, where campers got a chance to work on their survival skills like hiking, knot-tying and fire-making. The DAC also took the campers to the Fairy Door trail at the Mason-Dixon Historical Park.

To participate in Camp CAN-DO, the DAC charges $10 per day for members, and $20 per day for non-members. The camp is open to everybody, as there’s no prerequisite and you don’t need to be disabled in order to participate.

To learn more about the DAC, you can visit its website.

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