It’s almost summer – time to be active and have fun. Yep, it’s time for Bustin’ Barriers camps.

June 2022

10 Years!

Did you know that this summer is the 10th Anniversary of Bustin’ Barriers camps? We started in the summer of 2012 as Bustin’ Buckets - a small camp focused on basketball and serving kids experiencing disability. Over a few weeks, campers did more than play basketball. They connected with one another and volunteer coaches; rehearsed and performed a talent show that culminated in an onstage dance party, and garnered enough buzz on the internet that KGW News came to film the last day of camp. At the end of the camp a group of parents approached Andrew Yoshihara, the camp’s founder, to say that the name “Bustin’ Buckets” didn’t adequately describe what their children experienced that summer. They suggested that the camp needed a broader name to better describe the program’s scope and values. Upon brainstorming together, Bustin’ Barriers came to be.

And a lot has happened in ten years…

Bustin’ Barriers programs have grown and expanded to include: summer camps, an annual two-day adapted basketball tournament serving special education middle, high school and transition program athletes. Adapted indoor soccer and spring respite are also on the program roster. Our volunteer coaching team is comprised of teens experiencing disability and their non-disabled peers. Working together, they assist and support participants, cheer all accomplishments (we bust barriers!) and serve as role models. We believe seeds of equity are sown at Bustin’ Barriers. In 2019, 237 kids experiencing disability participated in a Bustin’ Barriers program and our organization benefited from 1035 volunteer hours of service. Of course, there have been challenges along the way, the biggest of which has been the COVID 19 pandemic.

We Keep-on ‘Keepin On’

Everyone has a COVID story – even organizations. Due to community closures and the medical vulnerability of many “BB kids”, Bustin’ Barriers was only able to offer one in-person program between March 2020 and March 2022. All others were either virtual or canceled.

Using the best practices known at the time for virtual activities, BB offered 8 eight weeks of Zoom camp the summer of 2020. We adapted our logo and T-shirts to reflect the current reality and participants had a good time. Come 2021, and the availability of vaccines for those 12 and older, we masked up and headed outside. It was great to be together again although sadly camp was cut short due to the Delta variant.

But we’re back with 2022 in-person camp!

This summer we’re offering:

Four weeks of camp (beginning July 18th and ending the week of Aug. 8th)
Two camp sessions each day, based upon age, to maximize everyone’s fun and keep things personal and supportive. Lots of outside fun to maximize safety.
Scholarships are available because all kids deserve the opportunity to be active and have fun.
Camps are at Holy Family School – 7425 SE Cesar Chavez Blvd – Portland 97202.

We are most grateful to Holy Family School for hosting all four camps. One impact of the pandemic has been difficulty securing venues, especially in SW Portland. We look forward to everyone joining us on the Eastside this summer. Register at www.bustinbarriers.org.

Meet Emily!

You get to know someone well after ten years. Meet Emily. Now a student at Green Thumb Transition Program, Emily has participated in Bustin Barriers programs since the “Bustin’ Buckets” days. She is now a lovely young woman who faces challenges and perseveres. Emily has a severe seizure disorder, which through surgery and the implant of a Vagus Nerve Stimulator, plus medication, has greatly controlled her epilepsy. In addition, Emily experiences dyspraxia which impacts gross and fine motor skills, cognition and speech. Nevertheless, she perseveres. Emily loves horseback riding and caring for animals, especially dogs. It should come as no surprise that the animals adore her too. It pleases us no end to learn that amongst Emily’s favorite things to do each summer are: visit grandparents, attend a Dodgers’ game, go to Disneyland and “go to my camp”, Bustin’ Barriers.

Volunteers are Awesome

A Few Fast Facts

Sidney Toops, who began volunteering at Bustin’ Barriers in high school, became a lead coach and subsequently a Program Manager, just graduated from PSU as a Special Education Teacher. Congratulations Sydney!
We're proud of you.

Alexander Dyer, now a college music major, facilitated a student-directed grant to CommuniCare (a Schnitizer Family grant program) while a high school volunteer. BB received a grant to purchase equipment and provide mentorship for volunteers.
Otis Kohnstamm, now a film student at USC, while a high school volunteer captured a snapshot of camp on video. Enjoy it here.
In spring 2018, Bustin Barriers’ updated website went live. Lucky us – it provides analytics. Since summer 2018, 354 teens have completed Bustin’ Barriers volunteer applications and made a difference in the lives of youth experiencing disability - and volunteers have reciprocally learned from participants.

We close with a thought expressed to us by Emily’s mom, Robin. In describing Emily and the challenges she’s faced, she said “we grow – things can change – we adapt”. Those words explain the journey of Bustin’ Barriers too. Thank you all for your support over the past 10 years. Enjoy the summer and pass the word that “camp is on!”