Clinton Valley Council Opens disAbled Awareness Trail at Camp Agawam

[mmhardy 10]

From the Lake Orion, Michigan Observer& Eccentric Newspaper

 

New trail teaches youth about disabilities

By Jenna Kloeckner - Staff Writer

 

A new "disAbled Awareness Trail" in Camp Agawam in Lake Orion is up and running.

 

Developed by the Chief Pontiac Trail Committee - a volunteer group administered by the Clinton Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America (CVC-BSA) - and other Boy Scout leaders, the trail's purpose is to inform the public about programs for Boy Scouts with disabilities.

 

"The trail represents that Scouting is for all," said Mike Hardy, public relations chair for CVC-BSA, an organization that strives to accomplish the mission of the Boy Scouts of America by providing various programs and activities to local youth.

 

"A lot of people don't really know what resources are out there for kids with disabilities," he said."We're trying to gain awareness with the trail and show people that Scouts with disabilities are welcome."

 

Dave Putt, scoutmaster for Troop 210 in Sterling Heights and member of a district committee of the CVC-BSA, is responsible for putting the idea of the trail into action.

 

The idea came from a vision from the late Ron Emmit, a member of the Chief Pontiac Trail Committee.

 

"His vision never materialized. It sat dormant for about eight years," Putt said. "I found out about it last year and decided to get it going. It was a great idea, and I just wanted to get it done."

 

Intended for use by organized youth groups, the trail serves to educate Scouts and other youth about the challenges those with disabilities face on a day-to-day basis.

 

Putt said there are seven educational and interactive activity stations along the quarter-mile long trail. Some stations require visitors to use their sense of touch, such as the animal track station, where visitors close their eyes and try to identify five hard plastic animal tracks posted on a sign.

 

At another station, visitors again close their eyes and stick their hand in a "mystery box" filled with various natural objects, and try to figure out what the items are.

 

Other stations require visitors to use their sense of smell. One station contains eight plastic vials filled with different scents. Putt said there are two vials of each scent, and visitors must smell the vials and try to find the matching scents.

 

Also included on the trail are a rope walk and a station where visitors can learn sign language.

 

In essence, Putt said the trail puts Boy Scouts and other

youth into the shoes of a disabled person, which is an excellent learning experience. "For example," he said, "if a troop has a disabled Scout in it, the other members of the troop will have empathy."

 

Although the trail is open for youth groups, Putt said it is only in its first phase. He plans to add tags to the trees and wildflowers - written in Braille - and add Braille to all the existing signs on the trail.

 

Also, he wants to blacktop the trail, which is hard-packed ground right now, implement an audio tour and create a Web site. But to get past phase one, Putt said he needs all the help and support he can get.

 

"If the trail generates enough help and support, we can eventually make it available to everyone."

 

The "disAbled Awareness Trail" is on Clarkston Road, one mile west of Lapeer Road. For more information, call Dave Putt at (586) 752-5176, or e-mail him at dputt5@yahoo.com.