New England Blind Athletic Association

Winter Sports Education Camp

This is the first Winter Sports Education Camp (WSEC) in the country. This camp, held at Sunday River Ski Resort, is for blind and visually impaired youth from ages 10 to 18. We are currently accepting applications from all 6 New England states. The cost is $25 to become a member of USABA, please see forms. No other cost occurs.

WSEC will give athletes the opportunity to explore sports such as: Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing, Snowshoeing, biathlon and more! This is a great chance for students to build confidence in sports and meet new people.

We will be staying in the Snowcap Dorm on the mountain and all meals will be provided.

Day Campers are welcome for Winter Sports Education Camp if parent or guardian provides transportation to and from Sunday River

We would appreciate parents or guardians providing transportation to and from this sports education camp and encourage parents to come to the closing ceremony to share in the excitement of camp. If transportation is difficult, please contact Mark to arrange other options of transportation.

Please contact Mark Sinclair with any questions.

NEBAA Sports Education Camps Objectives

NEBAA/USABA SPORTS EDUCATION CAMP (SEC) For STUDENTS with VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS

• Provide educational workshops to blind and visually impaired youth around the United States in health, fitness and sports programs.
• Provide youth the opportunity to meet world-class elite blind athletes and learn about overcoming obstacles, the importance of discipline, staying in school, etc..
• Provide youth an opportunity to participate in a variety of sports, which they might ordinarily be excluded from in traditional settings.
• Provide blind and visually impaired athletes with the necessary skills to compete on an equal basis with their sighted peers.
• Further involve the local community as volunteers at events, which in turn will promote the abilities of youth with disabilities.
• Be better prepared for competition in USABA  local, national, and international events, including the world games and para-olympics.

Please join us for the 8th annual SPORTS EDUCATION CAMP for Students with Visual Impairments.

Location:

Team Picture

University of Maine on the Orono Campus
Athletes will be housed in dormitory rooms at the University of Maine Orono Campus.  Meals provided.

Eligibility: Blind & Visually Impaired students in 3^rd to 12^th grade

Dates: June 20 to June 23, 2012
Note: Day Camp Available with prior approval by director. Call director for more details.

Application Deadline: Completed applications due May 25, 2012.
Athletes will be notified of acceptance by June 1, 2012. Contact Mark Sinclair at (207) 831-5229 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for an application.

Cost: When notified of acceptance, all athletes will need to join USABA and pay a $25 fee, which will cover insurance. This will be the only charge to athletes.
*If financial assistance is needed please contact Mark Sinclair at 831-5229.

Events will include:
Competitive Events: Wrestling, Track and Field, Goal Ball, Fencing
Introductory Recreational Events: Swimming, Bowling, Rock Climbing, Gymnastics, Tandem bike riding, Skateboarding.

Staff will consist of students from the University and other qualified professionals and volunteers.

Goals:

• teach visually impaired and blind youth various adapted sports
• encourage youth to better participate in school physical education classes
• encourage overall physical well- being

For more information contact Mark A. Sinclair C/O  NEBAA 11 Veazie Street, Veazie, Maine 04401 Tel. (207) 831-5229 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sports Education Camp (SEC) for Students Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision

What is the Sports Education Camp? The SEC is an alternative model of providing instruction in motor skill development in a structured manner for children who are blind or have low vision. The SEC uses the AccesSports Model (ASM) developed at Western Michigan University. This model was developed to aid in the adaptation of goals, boundaries, and rules within each sport at the Sport Education Camp, and involves providing the instruction in specific motor skills by using literal descriptors, hands on teaching and constant verbal feedback.

• Where is Maine's Sports Education Camp? The SEC is held at the University of Maine on the Orono Campus.
• When is the Sports Education Camp? June 20-23, 2011.
• To Register: Athlete's application is found on this web-site. You need not print anything. Just fill out the application on line and click. Ages for Athletes: 8 to graduation
• Cost of the SEC is $25 per athlete (donations are accepted)
• Cost per athlete (underwritten) for the SEC approximately $400.

If you have any questions contact:
New England Blind Athletic Association
Mark Sinclair, Director
11 Veazie Street • Veazie, ME 04401
Tel: (207) 831-5229 • E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Supporting Athletics for People who are Blind or Visually Impaired

Background of the Sports Education Camp

The Sports Education Camp (SEC) was developed with the express notion of providing adaptive techniques for participating in sports to children with visual impairments. The SEC started in 1988 through a combined effort of Western Michigan University's (WMU) Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies and the Michigan Blind Athletic Association (MBAA). This camp was developed as a one-week sports education camp consisting of introductory and advanced sports-training clinics culminating with a final day of spectator-supported sports competition. The AccesSports Model is utilized during introductory clinics to provide instruction in basic body mechanics used for running, jumping, and throwing, and for learning sport-specific skills in sports such as wrestling, track and field, swimming, goalball, fencing, rock climbing, and bowling. Each student receives approximately 30 hours of instruction in clinics or competitions during the camp. There are now Sports Education Camps for children who are blind or have low vision in every region of the country, but Maine's is the only SEC in New England.

The effectiveness of the short-term sports camp instruction model on physical performance and self-perception of children with visual impairments has been widely demonstrated. In addition, offering the SEC in a residential setting where participants could interact with other students with visual impairments provides the added benefit of peer mentoring and exposure to adult role models, which is also lacking in a student's community due to the low incidence nature of visual impairment.