CRIS Volunteers Ryan Jopling (front) and Frank Costello (rear) tote Keith Dixon in a Trail Rider on Camp Day.

All summer I have been hearing reports about how Agur Lake Camp has been transformed, but I have not had the opportunity to check it out. Until now. On September 25th Camp Day dawned cloudy and cold. I crossed my fingers that the rain would hold off, and aimed my van west along the washboard road, climbing to Agur lake.

I used my “handicapped” privileges and parked by the meadow, unloading my power chair to get to the information booth where I was to work. The ground was rough, but my chair managed with little difficulty. When it came time to head up the hill to watch the opening ceremony for the two new cabins, I followed the road up a hill. However, over the top I hit a lengthy stretch of sand and my wheels started spinning. Two parking lot attendants pushed me back on the firm part of the trail. There was no choice but to go back down. I would miss the ceremony.

The CRIS group came to my rescue. Their Trail Riders were ready, so getting me there was a snap. The ceremony began just as I arrived. They had waited for me.

After the ribbon cutting the CRIS crew took me back to the information booth. I resumed my duties, selling memberships and explaining the camp to new comers. Suddenly, I had a heightened interest in trails. My sand trap crisis would not have happened if the trails had been built. I was to learn even more that day about the need for trails.

During a lull my colleague Amanda and I decided to ask for a Trail Rider excursion to the spit that runs out across the middle of Agur lake. The CRIS volunteers agreed and we were on our way. Very soon the sandy trail ended and we faced rough underbrush in dense forest. Corrie walked ahead of us choosing a path. Ryan took the front handles of my Trail Rider, and Frank took the rear. We tackled the underbrush head on.

I noticed that Corrie pointed out each rock, stump and log before Ryan reached it. We had successfully forced ourselves through several very dense bits of underbrush when Frank said,

“Keith, I thought you might like to know that I am visually impaired.” There was a pause while he waited for his words to sink in. Then he went on,

“Ryan is visually impaired also. That’s why Corrie points out the obstacles for him.”

We were approaching a rocky ridge that looked impossible to go over. Going around involved crossing over a steep incline with a long drop to the water below. I felt myself go tense. If either of those guys stumbled we could all end up rolling down the hill into the water. They probably couldn’t see how high we were. But I could, and suddenly I had an unusually strong fear of heights. I gritted my teeth, but said nothing.

Watching Ryan and hoping he wouldn’t stumble, I began to notice how incredibly good his balance was. By the time we reached the end of the spit, and stopped to rest and chat, I felt totally confident of my safety in their hands. It dawned on me, how disabilities, when shared can cancel themselves out. Frank and Ryan had legs that could take us through terrain which I could never navigate on my own. I had eyes that could see every detail of this wilderness terrain in a way theirs never could. Together we had the potential to go places that would be inaccessible if we chose to go alone.

With that insight, I realized, what Agur Lake Camp is all about. We are pooling our resources in order to reach goals that no one person could achieve on their own. In the process personal freedom and understanding are vastly expanded. I know mine was!

I returned to the information booth with an important new insight to share!

 

Camp Day 2011

Summerland, Sept. 25, 2011 - With the cutting of two yellow ribbons, Amanda Lewis and Barbara Hatton officially opened Agur Lake Camp today. Lewis is a Director of the Camp’s Board and Hatton is the President. Hatton thanked the many community organizations and businesses that have contributed time, money and materials for building the two new cabins. The ceremony was witnessed by a crowd of supporters who had come to the site to enjoy a day at the wilderness camp. The cottages, which Hatton hopes will be ready for occupancy next summer, will eventually become a cluster of cottages, plus a central lodge. 

On Sunday, rides in adaptive trail-riders were operated by the Community Recreational Initiatives Society (CRIS) from neighbouring Kelowna, for those with disabilities. The rides, manned by volunteers, traversed the rugged terrain on the camp property, displaying for the riders wilderness scenes which will be visible by wheelchair when the camp trails are complete.

The Peachland Lions ran a refreshments-by-donation booth on site with the procedes going to Agur Lake Camp.