T.J. Jackson
TUSCUMBIA-T.J. Jackson calls Camp Courage, a Helen Keller Experience, the greatest event he has ever attended.
“Camp Courage is the best place on Earth,” said Jackson, of Valley. The 9-year-old was one of 12 children from throughout Alabama who attended Camp Courage Sept. 11-13. The intensive camp for children who are vision or hearing impaired, was based at Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen Keller, in Tuscumbia.
During the camp, the students toured Ivy Green, made candles and pottery, participated in team-building activities, went fishing on Pickwick Lake with the Muscle Shoals Trojan Bass Anglers and toured state Rep. Johnny Mack and Dr. Martha Morrow’s Cypress Cove Farm in Red Bay.
Abigail Alford
Students from the University of North Alabama and members of the Helen Keller Fellows served as teachers for the camp.
For Abigail Alford,14, of Scottsboro. Attending Camp Courage was a dream-come-true. Helen Keller is Alford’s hero.
“I’ve been dreaming about doing something like this since I was in kindergarten,” Alford said. “I used to worry about what people would think of me because my differences, but when I learned about Helen Keller, that no longer mattered. I knew if she could do it, I could too.”
Rachel Hyche
Rachel Hyche, 10, of Birmingham, is also a huge fan of Helen Keller and was thrilled to attend Camp Courage.
“Helen Keller opened up a whole new world to us, because she could do everything,” Hyche said.
The camp inspires the children to use their abilities to change the world, just as Helen Keller did.
Sue Pilkilton, director of Ivy Green and an organizer of Camp Courage, said the campers went home with a better understand of how Helen Keller became an inspiration to people around the world.
Johnny Mack Morrow said it’s impossible to spend time with the Camp Courage campers and be inspired by their accomplishments.
There is no charge to the campers or their families to attend Camp Courage. Sponsors of Camp Courage include; Helen Keller Birthplace Foundation, Optometry Cares – The American Optometric Association Foundation, University of North Alabama, Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau, Colbert County Commission, City of Tuscumbia, Colbert County Development Commission, Lauderdale County Development Commission, Helen Keller Hospital, Valley Credit Union, Jameson Inn Hotel and Conference Center of Sheffield, Timmy Horton Fishing, Alabama Mountain Lakes Association and Alabama Tourism Department.
