Camp New Hope, Inc.
Special Olympics Young Athletes

Camp's Newest Program

for kids 2 to 7 years old

Our camp has accepted an invitation from Illinois Special Olympics to become a Young Athletes site. This program will start on Friday, March 7th, 2008 with a welcome party and will continue to meet every Friday until May 9th from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm at William School Gymnasium located on South 9th Street in Mattoon.

Since 1968, Special Olympics has offered sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities who are 8 years old and older. The Special Olympics Young Athletes Program is geared towards children ages 2 to 7 with intellectual disabilities along with their peers and siblings. The Special Olympics Young Athletes Program is an innovative sports play program designed to introduce children to the world of sports.

The program was piloted at 12 sites around the world, including School District 54, Schaumburg, between 2005 and 2007. Special Olympics Illinois is expanding the program in Illinois with a goal of having 20 sites statewide along with 100 families implementing the program in their homes. Camp New Hope is one of the first locations in Illinois to offer Young Athletes.

The benefits to this program have been proven worldwide. First and foremost, these activities will help children improve physically, cognitively and socially. It also prepares children to graduate to official Special Olympics training and competition when they turn 8 years old.

This program is designed to address two specific levels of play. Level 1 includes physical activities focused on developing fundamental motor tracking and eye-hand coordination. Level 2 concentrates on the application of these physical activities through a sports skills activity program and developing skills consistent with Special Olympics sports play. The activities will consist of foundation skills, walking & running, balance & jumping, trapping & catching, throwing, striking, kicking and advanced skills.

To register or for more information contact Kim Carmack, Executive Director at Camp New Hope, Inc. at (217) 895-2341 or cnhinc@rr1.net.