Published: May 07, 2008 10:56 pm            

Outdoor challenge hosts more than 700

Kyle Hughes and Austin Elliott picked themselves up off the ground.

“You still lost!” Kyle called to his classmates as he brushed off a few pieces of grass from his sleeve.

The two 11-year-olds had fallen down in their attempt to win a game of tug-of-war.

From the sideline, Virgil Allen stood laughing.

“They’re having a ball,” he said.

Allen was with his son Keith Mills and his fifth-grade classmates from Bon Air Elementary School.

The students were participating in a special event hosted by the Sagamore Council Boy Scouts of America, Wednesday. For 20 years the Sagamore Council has hosted the Learning for Life Outdoor Challenge, a program designed to instill confidence and life skills in children with learning and physical disabilities.

More than 700 special education students from Howard, Miami, Wabash and Grant counties wandered the park grounds of Oakbrook Valley despite pending rain showers and a gloomy sky.

“These students really benefit from having new experiences,” said event coordinator Claudia Van Noy. “They expand their horizons.”

Van Noy said the event hosts a variety of games and activities for students so they can learn new skills. It also allows them to take part in activities where they are often excluded.

Wednesday’s event included BB gun safety, archery, horseback riding, a petting zoo, tug-of-war, ladder golf, face painting, games and obstacle courses.

“We feel like it’s very important to offer this to special-needs students. They always tell us it’s the highlight of their year,” Van Noy said.

As she said that, she noted that many of the teachers look forward to the outdoor challenge as well. From her spot in a golf cart, she watched special education teacher Rob Becker join his students in a game of tug of war.

“Come on, Mr. Becker! Help us,” shouted seventh-grader Jordan Taylor.

Joining a line of sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade boys from Lafayette Park Middle School, Becker felt himself lose a game of tug-of-war — to a group of girls.

“There’s like 20,000 of you!” Becker told his opponents to excuse his humiliating defeat.

“Boys are supposed to win no matter what,” chimed in one of his seventh-grade girls, Jammie Bunch.

Becker couldn’t defend himself. Before he could come up with another excuse, his students were heading toward the archery event.

“Probably one of the biggest things for [the children] is they can be themselves today,” he said. “They can just have fun. ... There are no expectations of them.”

Becker said it’s a nice change of pace for students who sometimes struggle in the classroom.

“Most of my students do not work on grade level. They’re still expected to pass ISTEP exams. Others have difficulty with social skills. Making friends is not easy for them.”

When his students come to Oakbrook Valley once a year, Becker said, “They feel a part of the group and not excluded from the group.”

“In general, they have hearts of gold. They want to be successful. They’re a blast to work with.”

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.