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<p>FALLS TWP. &#8212; The string of warm, sunny weather Northeastern Pennsylvania was enjoying was interrupted last week by overcast skies and the threat of rain.</p><p>But that didn&#8217;t seem to matter to the 16 or so young campers gathered by the boat launch at the edge of the Susquehanna River.</p><p>They had been fitted with life jackets and listened to a safety speech, and were eagerly awaiting to be assigned kayaks and canoes to head out on a downriver adventure.</p><p>It could have been a scene from any summer camp in the region, except for the fact that most of the children gathered were either blind or visually impaired.</p><p>They were enjoying the day as part of the Northeast Sight Services&#8217; Camp Sight.</p><p>Camp Sight is part of Northeast Sight Services&#8217; InSight Kids Club of NEPA, which is organized in partnership with Community Services for Sight. According to NSS, the club allows blind and visually impaired children to get together and enjoy both recreational and instructional opportunities as a group.</p><p>&#8220;It was fun. I had a good time,&#8221; 13-year-old Byron said of the trip down the Susquehanna.</p><p>He added that the kayak trip is just one of many activities he and other campers get to do thanks to Camp Sight.</p><p>&#8220;We went ice skating one year &#8230; (and) horseback riding, which I never get to do,&#8221; Byron said when asked what else he has done at camp.</p><p>&#8220;We just do a lot of cool things at camp that I don&#8217;t really get to do in real life outside of camp.&#8221;</p><p>The camp serves a vital function for visually impaired children, according to Northeast Sight Services officials, allowing them to socialize.</p><p>&#8220;The incidence of vision loss is very small for children &#8212; and so a child with a visual impairment may never encounter another child with the same challenges,&#8221; Northeast Sight Services Development Director Amy Feldman said in an email. &#8220;Our programming allows these children to meet each other and make lifelong friendships.</p><p>&#8220;We know how important is it for children who are blind and visually impaired to learn the social and daily living skills that they will need to grow into independent, productive members of our community. We also know how important it is for these wonderful kids to have a network of support with peers who are living with some of the same challenges. Our InSight Kids Club of NEPA and Camp Sight are an amazing combination of both, ensuring a well-rounded experience for all participating kids.&#8221;</p><p>The campers seem to agree.</p><p>&#8220;Camp gives us a chance to do a lot of things we normally can&#8217;t do,&#8221; said 17-year-old Anthony, adding that the program has given him a chance to make friends dealing with the same issues he is.</p><p>The camp ran from July 8 through Friday with 25 campers attending Northeast Sight Services summer programming in addition to the camp.</p><p>In June, the campers went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for a touch-tour, and in August they will go to Knoebels Amusement Resort.</p><p>For more information on Camp Sight, the InSight Kids Club or Northeast Sight Services, go to www.northeastsight.org or email info@northeastsight.org.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Campers from Northeast Sight Service&#8217;s Camp Sight get a canoe ride down the Susquehanna River in Falls Township earlier this month. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_20190711_113133.jpg</photo0><caption0>Campers from Northeast Sight Service&#8217;s Camp Sight get a canoe ride down the Susquehanna River in Falls Township earlier this month. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Soprano</p><p>jsoprano@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Soprano at 570-991-6393 or on Twitter @TLnews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Camp Sight helps visually impaired kids enjoy summer