Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp welcomes campers from Cottage rehabilitation hospital foundation to UCSB

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Daniel Valdez is on the go as a participant of the Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp in Santa Barbara.

“Rugby! And it’s competition and it’s the adrenaline," said Valdez.

He's one of dozens of campers from the Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation focusing on having fun at the camp held at UC Santa Barbara.

“It’s just a really fun experience and i really love coming here. it’s only my second year but it’s a lot of fun," said Valdez.

“I just have a lot of fun and I like being with my friends," said participant Keziah Rodriguez of the Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp.

"I like many parts ... I like rugby … I like basketball … I like tennis," said participant Dilith Faruki of the Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp.

Campers are not letting their disabilities stop them from reaching new heights.

“Accelerating with the adrenaline and you get to do different sports that you don’t think you would be able to do so it’s so it’s really meaningful," said participant Jimena Villafan of the Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp.

Organizers believe this camp allows kids to try activities they’ve never experienced in their lives.

“It’s different because a lot of these kids don’t have a chance to play sports they’re often on the side lines but in this camp they have the opportunity to play a bunch of sports that they don’t get to play in their normal lives … that’s what makes it special," said volunteer Wyatt Gardner of the Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp.

Counselors are wheelchair users themselves, so they become natural mentors to the campers helping them stay healthy while living with a disability.

"It’s important to have the different sports … so that the kids can decide what they can excel at … so hopefully maybe in the future will have some olympians," said counselor Toodie Perry of the Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp.

While these campers are only together for 5 days, "I wish it was seven because that’s a whole week," said Faruki, they’ve learned how to cherish every moment.

"My favorite part is the memories ... it sounds super corny, but it’s the memories you make," said Valdez.

Memories that will never confine them to a chair.

This year, about 40 enthusiastic campers are at the UCSB Recreation Center for the wheelchair-focused sports camp.

Funding from the Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation allows campers to attend the week-long camp for free.

The annual camp gives sports and recreation skills development for children, youth, and young adults between the ages of 6 to 21 years old who can use a wheelchair to participate in sports and recreation activities. 

This year, more than 50 volunteers are helping the campers.

Camp activities range from beginner to advanced wheelchair sports and recreation activities.

Activities include rugby, basketball, tennis, hand cycling, swimming, boxing, SCUBA diving, racquetball, obstacle course, climbing wall, ropes course, dancing, dodgeball, pickleball, and more.

Counselors and instructors are wheelchair users themselves, so they become natural mentors to the campers on how to stay healthy and active while living with a disability.

Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp began in 1986 and is the only camp of its kind on the Central Coast. It attracts campers from the tri-counties area and beyond, including Los Angeles, Bakersfield, and Temecula. 

Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital and Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation sponsor the camp with support from the community. 

The camp is led by Rene Van Hoorn, Recreation Therapist and Manager of Community Programs at Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital.