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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- Belmont County Special Olympics will host a Young Athletes Summer Camp from 6-7 p.m. every Tuesday from July 4 to Aug. 22 at the Belmont County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
The free camp will be open to all children ages 2-7 with or without intellectual disabilities.
Local coordinator Victoria Powell said the children who attend the camp will participate in age-appropriate activities to introduce them to sports. For example, 2- and 3-year-olds will work on improving their balance using stepping stones. Children ages 4 and 5 will practice tossing bean bags into a basket, and 6- and 7-year-olds will be running and working on eye-hand coordination.
"Once children turn 8, they can participate in Special Olympics, so I hope this camp will help children transition into Special Olympics and recruit more athletes," Powell said.
Powell said many current athletes in Special Olympics are getting older and retiring, so she wants to encourage young athletes to join.
"We wanted to offer sport-related activities for children to do over the summer. I hope the camp helps children with intellectual or developmental disabilities be part of a team and helps promote inclusivity and awareness," Powell said.
She also said that the children will also learn to improve their social skills.
Powell said this is the first time that the Belmont County Special Olympics has hosted a camp. The eight-week camp was entirely funded by grants and fundraising done by Belmont County Special Olympics.
Children who wish to attend Young Athletes Summer Camp should register by Saturday, but Powell said she will not turn children away if they show up on Tuesday without signing up. She said that 10 or 12 children have signed up already.
The Belmont County Board of Developmental Disabilities is located at 68421 Hammond Road in St. Clairsville, near Belmont College.
Belmont County Special Olympics is a nonprofit organization that provides year-round sports training and competition in basketball, bocce, bowling, cheerleading, flag football, softball and track and field to people with intellectual and physical disabilities.
For more information about the camp or to sign up, email Powell at victoriapowell0688@gmail.com or call her at 740-238-9333.