Special Boys Have Fun Learning To Work Together

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday April 16, 2008

By FRANCES THOMPSON

MAKING a billycart and careering down a hill is a bit like life; crashes are inevitable, and resilience and patience usually win the day.

These were some of the lessons learned by a group of nine boys who have been on a three-day camp that ended yesterday on the smooth, green lawns of King Edward Park.

None of the boys, who came from Singleton, Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle, have had an easy start in life. Some have mild intellectual and physical disabilities, others are in foster care and none would get the opportunity very often to have three days away from home.

The camp was organised by Lifestyle Solutions whose outdoor education program manager Steve Gaul said the children would not be able to take part in similar, mainstream events.

"When they are building the carts they learn teamwork, learning to take turns and perseverance," he said. ". . . because of their circumstances they don't often play team sports."

The boys arrived in Glenrock Scout Camp on Sunday and started building their billy carts yesterday morning.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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