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Children with no arms, legs tackle ropes course

Youths ages 14-17 with limb loss or limb difference test their courage and their abilities on the rope challenge course at Joy Outdoor Education Center near Clarksville in Warren County July 27. Campers from around the world participate in confidence building activities as part of the Amputee Coalition Youth Camp Held this year at Camp Joy.

Linda Weisenborn Youths ages 14-17 with limb loss or limb difference test their courage and their abilities on the rope challenge course at Joy Outdoor Education Center near Clarksville in Warren County July 27. Campers from around the world participate in confidence building activities as part of the Amputee Coalition Youth Camp Held this year at Camp Joy.

Youths ages 14-17 with limb loss or limb difference test their courage and their abilities on the rope challenge course at Joy Outdoor Education Center near Clarksville in Warren County July 27. Campers from around the world participate in confidence building activities as part of the Amputee Coalition Youth Camp Held this year at Camp Joy.

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By Ryan Cook, Staff Writer Updated 8:46 PM Monday, July 27, 2009

Sunny Chism lost her left arm in an ATV accident two years ago. Bryanna Copeland was born with a deficiency that cost her both her legs by the age of 2.

Both young women are among the 50 amputees attending the 10th annual Amputee Coalition Youth Camp at Camp Joy Outdoor Education Center near Clarksville in Warren County this week. This is the second year Camp Joy has hosted the camp.

Students will spend the five-day camp participating in activities like archery, fishing and swimming, while learning about science and photography. On Monday, July 27, the students tackled the ropes course and zip line challenge.

Sunny, 15, traveled from Texas to attend the camp for the second time, while still re-learning many every day activities.

“Your entire way of life is different,” she said. “Here (at camp) you get to be yourself.”

Amputee Coalition of America CEO Kendra Calhoun said many of the students have never been around other amputees, and the camp allows them to be themselves.

After taking a ride on the camp’s zip line, Bryanna, 16, said the activities have helped her to overcome her fears.

“It really had an affect on me to go out there and try my best,” she said. When the New York teen gets afraid at home, she said she just thinks about everything she has accomplished in her six trips to the camp.

Each students’ camp tuition of $2,500 is paid for by the coalition, according to board member Marshall Cohen, who had his right leg removed in 2003 at age 63.

“These kids are thrilled with doing things they could never imagine they could do,” Cohen said before taking his own ride on the zip line.

Sunny said her experience has been “amazing.”

“You set goals for yourself. You find out how much you can really do,” she said.

For more information about the camp, visit www.amputee-coalition.org/youth_camp.html.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4507 or rycook@coxohio.com.

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