Fun in the Virtual Landscape

Late Summer-Autumn 2020

By mid-May it was clear to us that Bustin' Barriers 2020 summer program would be different this year. COVID-19 was unrestrained, social distancing was essential and “Zoom fatigue” was creeping into some households after months of online learning.

Bustin' Barriers families think of summer as camp time. It’s been that way for 8 years. When we announced that “regular” camp was cancelled this year, families thanked us for putting their kids’ health first. Many also worried that summer fun would fall to the wayside.

Nope! That wasn’t going to happen.
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade

Bustin' Barriers has a tradition of providing summer fun. So … we took what we’d learned about Zoom and kids experiencing disability, identified games, activities and art projects, threw in “show and tell”, music, talent shows and dance parties and blended it together with enthusiasm to create virtual camp.

Camp was on!

Bustin' Barriers offered 8 camps –starting the week of July 6th and ending August 28th. Camp met on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 10 AM to 10:30 AM. Drop-off (i.e. login) began at 9:45.

Mondays were “Movement Monday” - exercises, dance parties and a movement vibe.
Wednesdays were all about art with projects designed by Board Member and artist, Marilynn Rhodes
Fridays offered dance parties, show and tell and talent show acts.
Activity resources were available on our website for campers to access at any time.
Tee-shirts couldn’t be handed out at camp so they were either personally delivered or mailed to campers.

Sydney and Laura, experienced Bustin' Barriers lead coaches, created warmth and real fun in the virtual landscape of kitchens, living rooms and backyards.

Camp was fun. Was it the same as traditional camp? Not really. A virtual playground didn’t work for some kids and Bustin' Barriers' well regarded 1:1 relationships and support that develop between campers and coaches didn’t occur due to social distancing. As one mom wrote: “My daughter loved virtual camp although we DO look forward to in-person camp – HOPEFULLY next summer” (J.T.) And pictures? Well, screen shots off of Zoom aren’t as clear as in-person photos but hopefully even a blurry picture still conveys fun. Our thanks to parents and personal assistants who also sent us pictures and videos.

Enjoy a virtual camp video at the end of the newsletter.

Meet Sarah

Sarah Spella is a Bustin' Barriers champion. An Adapted Physical Education teacher for 29 years, Sarah’s commitment has been to assure that students experiencing disability receive free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. Many Bustin' Barriers participants and their families know her as a devoted teacher and advocate. Sarah has been a member of Portland Public Schools APE Motor Development Team for 24 years (soon to be incorporated into PPS’ Physical Education Department).

Sarah met Andrew at a Special Olympics day early in BB’s history and was enthused about its mission and vision. She has been on the board of Bustin' Barriers and has provided valuable guidance. This includes: training volunteers, selecting appropriate adaptive equipment, supporting Bustin' Barriers’ annual adapted basketball tournaments, and being a true advocate for kids experiencing disability. She was pivotal in the development of a virtual camp. Sarah’s commitment and warmth are legendary. We’re grateful she is part of the Bustin' Barriers family.

Remembering Maverick

With sadness, we learned that Maverick S, one of Bustin' Barriers' very first participants, passed away in August. Mav experienced Cerebral Palsy with complications. Although his mobility was limited, Maverick’s spirit and sense of humor were limitless. It was fun to be with him and he was a great guy. Our sincere condolences to his family and all of his many friends. We will miss you, Mav.

Gratitude

2020 has been a time of uncertainty – challenging all of us. As parents, we are juggling so much: online learning, work, childcare or the worries of unemployment as well as health concerns and our shared commitment to keep our families safe. It can feel overwhelming at times.

Keeping a non-profit organization afloat can also lead to sleepless nights. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support. Last December, The Collins Foundation challenged us to raise $5000 in new donations and receive a match. You helped us reach that goal. Thank you. Following the homicide of George Floyd a number of you donated to Bustin' Barriers. Your generosity and kindness is humbling. A Bustin' Barriers parent generously raised funds via Facebook Birthday donations, and The Oregon Community Foundation helped us offer virtual camp fun this summer. We are most appreciative.

What’s Next?

The mission of Bustin' Barriers is to provide safe physical activities and meaningful social interaction for youth experiencing disability. We are committed to this mission. Normally, we’d be offering fall indoor adapted soccer beginning in September; however, an indoor program with limited social distancing cannot work currently. We are considering other activity options but also want to know what’s important to you. What kind of activities would you like to see currently that combine fun + safety? By the end of the month we’ll send you a survey to gather your ideas. We hope you will respond. Bustin' Barriers will continue to work to keep the doors open and make activities for kids experiencing disability something you can count on.

Remember

Take Care and Stay Safe,
Andrew Yoshihara
Executive Director

PS – If you would like to make a donation to Bustin' Barriers, you can use the secure portal on our website, www.bustinbarriers.org.

Now enjoy a little Virtual Camp fun!

This will make you smile and is brought to you by virtual camper, Iris (with a thank you and filming credit to her mom, Jos)

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