Kids 'blast off' at KAMP Dovetail

Despite a rainy start to the week's annual outdoor and camping activities, spirits could not be dampened by the weather during SATH's KAMP Dovetail, held June 21-25 at Rocky Fork Lake State Park. 

The Kids And Motivated People (KAMP) enjoyed the "3, 2, 1 ... Blastoff" theme, which Supplemental Assistance to the Handicapped organizer Linda Allen said is "basically, a space camp." In addition to the regular camp activities such as swimming, fishing and horseback riding, Kampers have built rockets for launch, met with pilots and saw an airplane demonstration at the Highland County Airport, met an actual astronaut, and watched as skydivers parachuted onto the campgrounds.

"They have been having so much fun," Allen said.  

KAMP Dovetail is an annual five-day event that allows children and young adults, accompanied by volunteers, to enjoy outdoor activities they normally might not have access to. Kampers from counties surrounding Highland County, as well as from the tri-state area travel to participate in the outdoor festivities.

On June 22,  Jon Warden, the left-handed pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, who won the World Series in 1968, played baseball with the kampers. 

"They were hitting the ball with him," Allen said. "Some of them did really well. He was so great with the kids."

Steve Heck, a junior high science teacher from Milford was scheduled to talk to kampers this week as well. Allen said Heck is part of the "Teachers in Space" program and is scheduled with NASA to go on a mission to orbit the Earth.

Volunteer Erin Rowley, who was working with Kamper Shawn Fisher, has participated for the past six years.

"I love the kids," Rowley said, "and I love helping them do things that they normally don't get to do in their everyday lives."

Volunteer Vicki Bixlin, who said she has been volunteering at KAMP Dovetail for 10 years, said the experience is something she looks forward to each year. 

"I started coming here when my son was three," she said. "At first we just stayed in the camper. Then we started volunteering, and I have to say, it really gets in your blood. You just have to keep coming back. The looks you see on these kids' faces just says it all. It is the most wonderful experience."