Junior Blind of America Hosts Annual Festival

According to a press release issued by the Junior Blind of America, the organization hosted its annual Camp Bloomfield Summer Festival today. The event is designed to increase awareness and sensitivity to those who are blind or visually impaired.

The festival was hosted at Junior Blind of America's 40-acre sprawl of land in Malibu, CA, called Camp Bloomfield.

Junior Blind of America CEO Miki Jordan said, "The Summer Festival was created as a one-of-a-kind event where our campers who are blind or visually impaired, family, friends and the community can come together and learn about each other through interactive, educational and fun activities. The determination and independence the campers demonstrate is truly inspiring. We are thrilled to share this with the public and welcome everyone to Camp Bloomfield."

The festival included a multitude of events, which both campers and visitors were allowed to participate in. The Blindness Discovery Area contained various presentations and displays on handicapped technology. It also had demonstrations of canes and seeing eye dogs. The Blindness Discovery Area also had arts and crafts and vision-altering presentation for sighted people.

Captain Carl's Marine Life Exhibit was a mini-aquarium where campers and visitors could touch and pick up various marine life while the host, Captain Carl, explained and taught people about the different animals.

The "Summer Games... With a Twist!" section was a selection of games where both sighted and blind people could compete together with blindfolds. Included in the games and activities were archery, three-legged races, freeze dancing, a hula-hoop contest, and a water bucket relay.

The Junior Blind of America was founded in 1953, and in the press release mentions that they are involved with nearly 8,000 people, providing programs and services to the visually impaired and their family members. They have six nationally recognized programs to help educate and rehabilitate, one of which is Camp Bloomfield.

According to the Junior Blind of America's

The organization has also expanded from provided youths with experience to providing care and rehabilitation to adults and seniors. In the 2000s, they introduced a program to help teens and young adults become career-focused. The JBA's

Sources:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-08-2007/0004621294&EDATE=

http://www.juniorblind.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about