The opening day of the Special Olympics Missouri Sports Camp at the Campus for Life in south Jefferson City saw a variety of activities to test the mind and the body.
The camp, which runs through the end of the month, engages special needs participants with sports, crafts and life-skill programs.
After checking in bags and registering medication, campers met with team leaders and their smaller camp cohort to begin socializing.
SOMO has hosted the sports camp for 26 years.
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Campers in search of fun, friendships at SOMO sports camp
Julie Smith/News Tribune photo: Mark Harris reacts with excitement as Glenda Gipson tells him about some of the other activities that will be going on during this week's sports camp at Special Olympics Campus for Life in south Jefferson City.
Julie Smith/News Tribune photo: As taught Monday morning, June 27, 2022, by Glenda Gipson, Mark Harris continues to pull thread through the pieces of material to make the first initial of his name on a quilt block. Gipson and other members of the James River Mountain Man Association are demonstrating quilting and many other activities that will be going on during this week's sports camp at Special Olympics Campus for Life in south Jefferson City.
Julie Smith/News Tribune photo: Mark Harris holds up the quilt block onto which he sewed the first initial of his name. Harris, who is from Kansas City, is attending this week's sports camp at Special Olympics Missouri Campus for Life.
Julie Smith/News Tribune photo: Frank Powers, right, returns to the table to retrieve a fur to shows campers on the opening day of SOMO Sports Camp at the Campus for Life. Assisting with pelts and antlers is Michelle Gablesberger of the Conservation Federation of Missouri. All were at the campus Monday to help with the camp which features a host of activities special athletes can take part.
Julie Smith/News Tribune photo: Frank Powers holds up antlers to see if campers can identify the type of animal from which they were shed. Powers, who is from Holden, is with the Missouri Hunter Education Instructors Association and was at the Campus for Life Monday to help with SOMO Sports Camp.
Julie Smith/News Tribune photo: Frank Powers holds up antlers to see if campers can identify the type of animal from which they were shed. Powers, who is from Holden, is with the Missouri Hunter Education Instructors Association and was at the Campus for Life Monday to help with SOMO Sports Camp.
Julie Smith/News Tribune photo: With assistance from Michelle Gablesberger, Frank Powers and Gablesberger hold up different types of antlers to see if campers can identify the particular animal from which they were shed. Powers, who is from Holden, is with the Missouri Hunter Education Instructors Association and Gablesberger is with Conservation Federation of Missouri and were at the Campus for Life Monday, June 27, 2022, to help with SOMO Sports Camp.
Julie Smith/News Tribune photo: Tyler Schwartze, right, shows athletes a moose antler Monday during the opening day of SOMO Sports Camp at the Campus for Life. Schwartze is with the Conservation Federation of MIssouri and helped to put on this activity for camp participants who came from across the state to take part in the camp.
Julie Smith/News Tribune photo: Neil Grigsby shows Charlie Culp, near, at what point to release the tomahawk during the tomahawk throw Monday, June 27, 2022, at Special Olympics Missouri's Training for Life campus. SOMO is hosting a sports camp this week which features more than a dozen different activities over the week-long camp. Grigsby is from Concordia and part of the James River Mountain Man Association, the group helping to put on activities for the this week's attendees.
Julie Smith/News Tribune photo: Craig Robinson works with Mary McManus during the tomahawk throw Monday, June 27, 2022, at Special Olympics Missouri's Training for Life campus. SOMO is hosting a sports camp this week which features more than a dozen different activities over the week-long camp. Robinson is from Lake Pomme de Terre and part of the James River Mountain Man Association, one group helping to put on activities the this week's SOMO Sports Camp attendees. McManus is from Jefferson City.
Julie Smith/News Tribune photo: Neil Grigsby watches as Charlie Culp, near, releases the tomahawk during the tomahawk throw Monday, June 27, 2022, at Special Olympics Missouri's Training for Life campus. SOMO is hosting a sports camp this week which features more than a dozen different activities over the week-long camp. Grigsby is from Concordia and part of the James River Mountain Man Association, the group helping to put on activities for the this week's attendees.
Julie Smith/News Tribune photo: Mary McManus poses next to the tomahawk she stuck in the stump Monday's tomahawk toss at SOMO's Campus for Life. This week will see dozens of athletes from across the state competing in numerous activities at SOMO Sports Camp. Members of the James River Mountain Man Association helped Monday, June 27, 2022, and will continue to be on hand this week at SOMO for various competitions.