Photo Courtesy of Easter Seals Central Illinois

by Ryan Martin

This summer Easter Seals Central Illinois is offering multiple programs that allow children to do things they may have never done before.

One such program is the iCan Bike camp which is taking place in Bloomington from July 7th to the 11th.

For the past eight years Easter Seals Central Illinois has held the event in partnership with iCan Shine, a national nonprofit organization that collaborates with local organizations throughout the United States to conduct the camps.

Though the event is being held in Bloomington this year, it attracts participants from all over.

“People from Galesburg, Decatur, Champaign, Springfield, and all over the state come to the camp,” Tara Wellenreiter, of Easter Seals Central Illinois, said. “We’ve even had someone come from out of state before.”

Participants in the camp are usually eight to thirteen years old, but the camp has also had older teenagers and even some adults participate in the past.

The bikes used in the program look similar to a normal bicycle in the front, but has a roller (that resembles a kitchen rolling pin) in the back that can be replaced with a variety of sizes.

As the children become more comfortable during the camp the back roller can be replaced with smaller ones, allowing the participant to gradually adapt to the bike and learn how to balance.

“It’s a lot better than traditional training wheels which are either on or off,” Wellenreiter said. “It allows us to be more flexible and customize the bike to the child’s needs at the time.”

The bicycles were engineered and designed by Dr. Richard E. Klein who will be at the camp this summer.

To the children participating in the camp, it is more than just learning how to ride a bike.

“It’s about learning how to do something that they didn’t think they would be able to do, or may have struggled for years to do,” Wellenreiter said. “It gives them confidence and self esteem to think about what else there is that they can do that they may have thought impossible before.”

The camp is looking for volunteers who will work as spotters for the participants.

“Not only do they provide physical support of running or walking along side the child, but they also provide encouragement,” Wellenreiter said.

They are looking for volunteers who are both enthusiastic and encouraging, which shouldn’t be hard at this camp.

“Once you meet the kids you’re very excited for them,” Wellenreiter said. “This will be my 4th year participating and it’s always a highlight for me.”

Those looking to volunteer can do so through Easter Seals website at http://www.easterseals.com/ci or by calling Easter Seals Central Illinois at 309-686-1177.

Easter Seals in Peoria is also offering plenty of aquatic programs that will be open for registration towards the end of July.

The Easter Seals Peoria Service Center features a fully accessible warm water therapy pool with depths that range from three to five feet deep.

The warm water, which is maintained at 92 degrees Fahrenheit, offers many benefits.

“It’s very relaxing to your joints and muscles which makes swimming more tolerable to people with sensitivities like arthritis or Fibromyalgia,” Leslie Raine, Aquatic Supervisor for Easter Seals Peoria, said.

The warm water also improves range of motion, balance and coordination, muscular strength and endurance, circulation, and more.

This summer Easter Seals is also increasing the rental times available for the pool.

“If someone is interested in having a little gathering, a birthday party, or just wanting to come and relax with some friends for a couple of hours, we do rent our pool out to the community,” Raine said. “It’s $75 for 90 minutes, and that allows them access to the pool, the locker rooms, and a life guard.”

More information on the various aquatic programs offered at Easter Seals, as well as registration dates, you can either visit http://www.easterseals.com/ci or call 309-686-1177.

If you would like to rent out the pool, you can contact Leslie Raine by email at leslie.A.Rainey@osfhealthcare.org or by calling (309) 686-7755 extension 2221.