By Benjamin Dallin

(Editor’s Note: Ben Dallin is a junior at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah, and this past summer he worked for Blindness: Learning In New Dimensions (BLIND).  He wrote this article for The Student Slate, the newsletter of the National Association of Blind Students division of the NFB).

Not long after I got on the plane that would take me to Minneapolis Minnesota, I struck up a conversation with the guy sitting next to me.  He was a college student, about my age, and was returning home to Minnesota from a vacation.  As we told each other about our summer plans, I realized that I only had a slight idea of what mine would entail.  I knew that I was going to be a counselor for the Buddy Camp at BLIND Inc., which consists of kids ages 9-14, all with varying degrees of blindness.  Other than that, I was mostly in the dark.  It was there on the plane that I began to realize I was embarking on an adventure.  Although I had the usual feelings of nervousness and uncertainty, I recognized that I would most likely have many educational and rewarding experiences.  Both my feelings of trepidation and my positive expectations proved to be completely justified over the next five weeks.

Although the actual Buddy Camp lasted for only three weeks, staff members arrived a week early for training.  We also stayed one week after the kids left, for the purpose of writing reports on the classes and activities provided at the camp.  The four counselors spent the first week getting to know each other and the rest of the staff at BLIND Inc., becoming certified in first aid and CPR, reviewing policies and procedures, and most importantly, learning a little about the individual Buddies.  We learned there would be four boys and six girls, hailing from all parts of the country.  We also visited the dorms at the University of Minnesota, where we would be staying with the kids.  Ironically, my nervousness, which had been building as the week progressed, was lessened dramatically with the Buddies' arrival.  After this, there was no time for abstract worries and concerns.  We were plunged into our roles as counselors with full force.

One of the first things I realized about our group of kids was their resilience.  No hardship throughout the camp seemed to faze them for long, including saying good-bye to their parents, adjusting to dorm life, or getting up at 6:30 in the morning to catch the bus over to BLIND Inc.  Their behavior sometimes made me feel downright old.  This was especially true after a long day of classes and activities, when I would have liked nothing better than to go to bed.  The kids had other ideas.  These included wrestling matches, video games, and pillow fights.  Although sometimes frustrating, I now recognize this resiliency for the positive quality it is.  It seems especially important for blind people to cultivate this attribute at an early age, as it is necessary to deal with the hardships of everyday life.  The Buddies I had the privilege of working with this summer are off to a good start in that respect.

During the camp, there were many activities designed to increase the kids' confidence and improve their views of blindness.  We had several pool parties, picnics, and dinners at the homes of blind adults and staff members of the center.  Many of these opportunities also allowed the Buddies to interact with blind teenagers and adults, as students and staff from the other programs at BLIND Inc. also participated.  One of the most memorable of these was a camping trip up near the Wisconsin border that occurred a week after the kids arrived.  We slept in cabins, but all of our waking hours were spent outdoors.  Everyone got to choose their preference from a list of activities including canoeing, tubing, fishing, and hiking.  Based on our choices, we formed groups consisting of kids, teenagers, and adults.  On the day after we arrived at the campsite, we split into our groups and embarked on our respective journeys.  I went canoeing, and soon learned the importance of creative thinking as we struggled to stay together as a group in our canoes.  Our efforts culminated in using a shoelace to tie two canoes together, but it was a great experience and the kids seemed to have a great time!  When we had all returned from our respective adventures, they were eager to tell stories and compare notes from their days.  The Buddies helped gather wood for a bonfire, and we spent that night singing songs and roasting marshmallows.  When we packed up and prepared to catch the bus back to Minneapolis the next morning, the Buddies were responsible for helping clean up the campsite.  On the way back, the kids expressed their unanimous enjoyment of the trip.  Besides all the fun the Buddies had, the experience had allowed them to improve their skills and learn personal responsibility.

Some of our other activities presented an opposite environment to that of the two-day camping trip.  Our visits to Wild Mountain Water Park and the Mall of America were both crowded and noisy, with ample opportunities to become separated.  I'm still amazed at how well the Buddies were, for the most part, able to stay together as a group.  They also kept a very positive attitude, which was helpful as we tried to navigate these urban environments and find the attractions.  Indeed, when I was tempted to get frustrated, I would realize how much the kids seemed to be enjoying themselves despite the challenging circumstances.  It goes without saying that their positive attitude is another quality that is important to retain in later years.

When we weren't venturing out into the city or participating in some other activity, we held five small classes at BLIND Inc.  These included home management, braille, computers, travel, and industrial arts.  These classes parallel those taught in the adult programs of the NFB training centers.  It was sometimes hard for the kids to transition from seeing us as counselors and friends to viewing us as their teachers.  Despite this, it was wonderful to see the kids make progress and better realize their potential as blind people.  Whether it was making rubber band guns in industrial arts, or learning how to pour liquids and fold money in home management, we tried to emphasize that the alternative techniques of blindness are at least as effective as those used by sighted people.  While teaching, I was often struck at how important it is for parents to have high expectations for their blind child or children.  The intelligence and capabilities of the Buddies made it clear to me that childhood is the best time to learn basic skills and form positive views of blindness.

My experiences and observations from serving as a counselor could easily fill a book.  When I think back to arriving in Minnesota, I didn't realize that besides being a counselor, I would take on many other roles including that of teacher, nurse, tour guide, housekeeper, and mediator.  Sometimes I worry that I learned more than the kids did.  After all, it was great to glimpse the NFB training centers from the perspective of a staff member rather than as a student.  My experiences helped me sharpen my own skills as I tried to impart them to the Buddies, and I was reminded of the great importance of the NFB's mission.  As I said good-bye to the kids after the dinner and talent show we held on the final night of camp for them and their parents, I hoped more than anything that they came away with more confidence and higher expectations for themselves.  If they realize that blindness does not have to affect their potential to be happy and reach their goals, then our camp was truly a success.