See story at the Daily News web site
by Natalie Jordan, Bowling Green Daily News
Inside Kummer-Little Recreation Center’s gym, more than a dozen children and young adults - alongside Western Kentucky University football players and cheerleaders - rocked out to musical selections, hula-hooped and tossed around Nerf footballs Wednesday.
On any given day this summer, the camp’s kids and young adults can be seen around town engaged in various activities. But Wednesday the campers of Camp Happy Days - a free camp for children and adults with disabilities - stayed put at Kummer-Little as they had a visit from members of WKU’s football team and cheerleaders.
“The kids love football players,” said Brittani Deweese, the camp counselor who coordinated the visit. “This is a really good opportunity for the kids to meet the players.”
With WKU painted in red across his forehead, Brandon Rice, 20, said he liked the football players. Christian Mendoza, 11, echoed Rice’s sentiments.
“I’m really, really happy they’re here,” said Christian, who also had his face painted. “I’ve always wanted to meet them and they came here. I like they’re here and playing with us. I’m having fun.”
Members of the football team serve the community in a variety of ways, including spending time with children at the Boys & Girls Club, but Wednesday was the first time they’d gotten a chance to hang out with the campers at Camp Happy Days.
“It’s fun,” said Chris Franklin, 22, a senior defensive back from Louisville. “This is great, coming out and running around with these kids, and letting them know people still care about them. It’s really all about the kids having a good time.”
During the day, the players, cheerleaders and campers did a variety of fun-filled activities including dancing the Electric Slide, the Cupid Shuffle and the Cha-Cha Slide. Some of the players - and the campers - showed off their breakdancing skills.
Camp Happy Days runs much like any other camp and does similar activities - with some adaptations. Catering to a range of people from 6 to 30 years old, the campers do everything from aerobics to arts and crafts. They also have field trips, go bowling and to the movies.
“We offer opportunities that they wouldn’t get,” said P.J. Jones, the special needs population instructor for Bowling Green Parks and Recreation. “We give them what every other camp would have.”
In addition to field trips, the campers are often visited by members of the community, such as officers from the Bowling Green Police Department and employees of Dogs Day Out to teach campers about taking care of pets. Jones said the idea is for the campers to learn something they can take home.
The camp, which started at WKU and was transferred over to Parks and Recreation, is in its 34th year of operation, Jones said.
“It doesn’t matter what we do,” Jones said. “Whether we blow bubbles or play dodgeball, we have fun at Camp Happy Days.”
