SuperCamp Graduate Erin’s True Story

Many children at SuperCamp inspire themselves to achieve things they didn’t think they could do before camp. During a 2002 camp session, Erin inspired others to believe they could do the impossible.

Erin came to camp in a wheelchair, a victim of a car accident at a young age. Typically, this is a minor consideration for most of the events and programs during the 10-day SuperCamp. But Day 5 is no typical day. It is the outdoor adventure day.

One that demands climbing, jumping and breaking through physical limitations as a team. Erin’s team consulted, questioned, and racked their brains to find a way for her to compete without causing her any further physical injury. They didn’t know what to do and hoped something would present itself to help them include Erin.

One of the more difficult and physically demanding of the events is called “The Pole.” Campers must climb a ladder to the top of a wobbly, branchless tree. Once there, they must stand up on a small platform about a foot square, turn around, jump off and try to catch a bar about six feet away. They must do all of this while standing about 25 feet off the ground.

Finally, the day came. Campers of all walks of life poured into the events. They jumped, they climbed, they ran and they walked across rope bridges between trees. Erin sat patiently near a far tree.

During the event, one of the leaders was preparing a camper for the Pole when he sensed something to his left. He looked down and gazed right into the smiling face under the flaming red hair. It was Erin. She wanted to try the Pole.

Her team had the event they wanted. They prepared to support Erin as team leaders strapped Erin into the protective gear given to all campers and led her to the base of the tree. Then it was Erin versus the Pole.

Awkwardly, she got out of her wheel chair and started slowly up the tree. Every inch she had to gain at the expense of her arm muscles, since she has little to no strength in her legs. She got to the first rung of the ladder, then the second, and then the third. By now, her team had worked itself into a frenzy of cheers. When she hit the fourth rung, her team was yelling itself horse with chants of “Erin, Erin.”

Soon she was half way up and sweating profusely. Her teammates told her enough was enough. She had done more than they expected. It would be all right to quit.
But it wasn’t all right to Erin. Dragging her legs behind her, she climbed to the top of the Pole and pulled herself up to the wobbling base. She did it. Erin conquered the Pole. A girl who some thought would enjoy just being outside in the fresh country air had defeated what could be considered the hardest of the outdoor activities.

That night, Erin was the talk of conversation. When a large camper carried her tired frame to the front stage to share her experience, the camp treated her like a celebrity. She changed the focus of camp, not just for the campers, but staff as well. She was the model, for commitment, for determination, for what one person can do if they really believe.

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