SAVE THE DATES FOR 2026 Summer Sports Camp

 

 MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT:

MOBALE is proud to announce that we will be partnering with the University of New Hampshire to present the …

 2026 UNH Wildcat Sports Education Camp for the Blind

 Dates: Sunday June 28 – Thursday July 2, 2026

Location: University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H. campus, overnight lodging in safe & secure dormitories with adult supervision

 Who can participate: Boys & Girls aged 10-18 (Senior in high school) who are blind or visually impaired from Maine & other New England states

Cost per athlete: $100 – includes housing, use of athletic facilities, meals & camp Tee-shirt. NOTE: sponsorships are available for athletes from Maine and former MOBALE athletes from other states who may need financial assistance

Funding: The 2026 UNH Wildcat Sports Education Camp for the Blind is generously supported by The Gibney Family Foundation (TGFF), whose mission focuses on fostering independence for individuals who are blind by partnering with organizations to build sustainable resources. Thanks to this support, we are able to keep program costs affordable for athletes. Please reach out if the program fee creates a financial hardship.

 Registration Deadline: May 1, 2026

 WHAT WILL THE 2026 UNH WILDCAT SPORTS EDCATION CAMP OFFER TO YOUTH ATHLETES WHO ARE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED?

MOBALE will take a major role in developing and directing the camp using the familiar vigorous, instructional, and FUN model of the Sports Education Camp (SEC) that we have presented for the past 10 years in Waterville, Maine.

 The SEC will provide special instructional strategies, adapted rules, equipment and playing surfaces designed to address the unique needs of youth who are blind and visually impaired to enable them to develop motor and coordination skills so they can participate in sports with knowledge, skill and confidence that they can meet any challenge they may face.  

 You will recognize competitive sports of:

·        Goalball

·        Wrestling

·        Track and Field

·        Disc Golf

  Additional sports may include:

·        Rock climbing

·        Tandem biking

·        Fitness and strength training

·        Beep kickball

·        Yoga

·        Swimming

 MOBALE staff/volunteers bring unique and robust skills and experiences of professionals in the field of education and rehabilitation of the blind as well as adults and junior counselors who are former MOBALE athletes and are themselves, blind and visually impaired.

NEW & EXCITING!

The University of New Hampshire graduate students from the Master’s Program of Kinesiology and Adapted Physical Education will join the MOBALE staff as trainers and counselors to offer their expertise which will bot challenge and support participant athletes.

CAMP BENEFITS:

In addition to offering opportunities and training in a variety of adapted sports, the SEC model actively promotes

·        Confidence-building

·        Sportsmanship

·        Leadership development

·        Self-advocacy skills

·        Orientation & mobility skills

·        Peer interactions and relationship-building

·        Safety awareness

·        Personal health and fitness habits

·        Experience a college campus environment    

And, of course . . .

FUN, FUN, FUN!

 

COMING SOON!

Please come back to visit this site for more information, updates, and a

Registration link

2025 Summer Sports Education Camp REVIEW & PHOTOS

Eight young athletes from Maine and New Hampshire gathered in Waterville, Maine on June 18-21 to participate in a diverse assortment of individual and group sports that were both challenging and FUN!

GROUP PHOTO - 2025 SEC

 2025 was the 10^th Anniversary of MOBALE Sports Education Camp (SEC) and this year followed the concept and practice of creating an experience where youth who are blind and visually impaired can explore new sports and physical activities, learn how to adapt equipment, rules, and playing fields to make them accessible, safe and FUN! In addition to participating in sports, athletes gained skills of independence in personal management during meals, travel, and “cabin time” as well as social and self-advocacy skills as they interacted with other athletes, camp counselors, and the staff of the Alfond Youth and Community Center and Camp Tracy.

WHAT DID WE DO? Can you believe . . . Soccer, Kickball, Swimming, Track & Field, Yoga, Wrestling, Archery, Disc Golf, Functional Fitness AND GOALBALL! Scroll down to see some photos of us!

We were very privileged to have fabulous volunteer counselors, Adria, Sheila, Jordan & Cheryl. Also, we were so proud to have counselors who were visually impaired, Izzy, Kyle, & Derek, who presented themselves as great role models for the young athletes. This year, we also had outstanding Junior Counselors, Gavin & Tyler, both former MOBALE athletes. 

GOALBALL - DEFENDING THE NET

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LEARNING TO PASS the GOALBALL

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ARCHERY

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NINJA ZONE-Obstacle Course

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WRESTLING

2025 Summer Sports Education Camp Award Winners

DISC GOLF, 1st Place

Will & Kayla

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 DISC GOLF, 2nd Place

Aubri & Rory

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 DISC GOLF, 3rd Place

 Opal & Delaney

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SPIRIT AWARD

Delaney K.

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ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 

Will H.

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VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR 

Cheryl G.

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ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR 

Alfond Youth & Community Center

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GUEST SPEAKER: 

2014 Paralympic Ski Racer,

College Professor

Lindsay Ball

2024 Summer Sports Camp Photos

                                        Goalball

Wrestling

                                       

                                      Disc Golf

                                  Rock Climbing

Tandem Biking

Summer Sports Camp 2023!

MOBALE Sports Education camp is 2023 was held at the Alfond Youth Center in Waterville, ME. It was a blast!

Disc Golf with Frisbee

Goalball

MOBALE Sports Education camp 2023 took place at the Alfond Youth Center in Waterville, Maine. We had athletes from around the state participate, including junior counselors and volunteers.

All of the athletes participated in track and field events, goalball, dance, swimming, rock climbing and other competitive recreational sports.

We took feedback from the athletes and we will be adding new sports this coming year in 2024.

Looking forward to another fun sports education camp this year  at the Alfond Youth Center in 2024!

Stay tuned for updated information.

2023 athletes and volunteers

More MONALE 2023 Pics

YOU can help MOBALE continue to offer sports education camps.

MOBALE   partners with Hannaford’s CLYNK, bottle return.   Please email MOBALESports@gmail.com and we will mail tags to you.

*Quick and easy donations can be made:

*Send a check to: MOBALE SPORTS   - C/O Amy Giroux 21 Boston Ave Winslow, ME 04901

 

STAY IN TOUCH WITH MOBALE….

LIKE US on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MOBALEMaine/

WEBSITE: www.mobale.org

EMAIL: MobaleSports@gmail.com

 

MOBALE Sports Education Camp 2022!

This year’s camp is at the Alfond Youth Center in Waterville
June 22, 23, 24 2023

Stay tuned for application information

 

SUMMER SPORTS EDUCATION CAMP - VISUALLY IMPAIRED ATHLETES WERE  BACK IN PERSON 2022

In 2022 went live at the Alfond Youth Center in Waterville. We had 12 athletes participate, including 2 junior counselors and 7 volunteers.

All of the athletes participated in track and field event, goalball, dance, swimming, rock climbing and other competitive recreational sports.

We took feedback from the athletes and we will be adding new sports this year in 2023.

Looking forward to another fun sports education camp this year  at the Alfond Youth Center from 6/22-6/24/23!

Stay tuned for updated information.

Photo caption: MOBALE Sports Camp group photo 2022

  VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Sadie Hammond

Sadie has worked with MOABALE for several years. This year she took initiative to teach accessible tennis to the athletes.  

She is willing to jump in and help in other activities as needed. We really appreciate her as part of the MOBALE team!

Photo Caption: Sadie teaching accessible tennis

MANY WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE:

YOU can help MOBALE continue to offer sports education camps.

MOBALE   partners with Hannaford’s CLYNK, bottle return.   Please email MOBALESports@gmail.com and we will mail tags to you.

*Quick and easy donations can be made:

*Send a check to: MOBALE SPORTS   - C/O Amy Giroux 21 Boston Ave Winslow, ME 04901

 

STAY IN TOUCH WITH MOBALE….

LIKE US on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MOBALEMaine/

WEBSITE: www.mobale.org

EMAIL: MobaleSports@gmail.com

 

SUMMER, 2020       …. A Summer Like No Other

 Newsletter:  Vol. 4, No. 1 – August, 2020

SUMMER SPORTS EDUCATION CAMP - VISUALLY IMPAIRED ATHLETES GO VIRTUAL      Just as the MOBALE board was gearing up with plans for the 2020 SEC, New England shut down as COVID-19 struck. It seemed that the SEC would have to be cancelled but everyone put their heads together and came up with a VIRTUAL SPORTS CAMP. Six athletes came to “Zoom” camp for three mornings and got to know each other through ice-breaker and social activities. SEC volunteers lead the athletes in strengthening exercises, yoga, and karate. On the last day, they participated in balance and endurance challenges. A special guest,  Mark Lucas, president of the USABA, joined the group and talked about and answered questions about the many and varied types of athletic activities that blind and visually impaired participate and compete in throughout the country including water skiing and biathalons, a sport that combines Nordic skiing and target shooting with a rifle!

 A HUGE THUMBS UP and thanks to Alicia Stevens, for all her hard work to organize and monitor all the “Zoomers” throughout the event. Thanks also, to the many volunteers who ran the activities and cheered on all the athletes.  CONGRATS to all the athletes, who did a great job keeping up their spirits for this unique event. AWARDS WENT TO: Strongman: Donovan Casse, In the Zone: Sam Cassellius, Most Enthusiastic: Liam Marchesi, Karate Kid: Ben Shamberger, Team Captain: Kayla Giroux, Parent of the Year: Zach Johnson. YOU TOOK IT ON AND GOT IT DONE! 

  VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Sydney Mason

Every year, athletes are asked what their favorite activity is at the SEC, and karate is always high on the list. For the past, 9 years, 17 year-old Sydney has volunteered at the SEC, starting out as camp photographer and gopher. But for the last 3, she has been our martial arts Sensei, which means “teacher”. At age 5, inspired by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers, Sydney began karate lessons. Now, after years of hard work, she is a second degree black belt in Kempo Karate, black belt in Korean Sword and blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu and has won numerous awards at competitions all over New England.  “When I teach people with visual impairments, it makes me think really deeply about all of the moves…I have to use my words at all times”. It is a challenge because Sydney usually relies on students observing and replicating what they see her doing to learn positions and moves. Virtual camp brought a greater challenge in that she could not provide physical help to the athletes. She also got a little taste of what it is like not having visual cues, because she could not see the athletes on her screen. This year was “definitely different…I relied completely on the other volunteers”, Sydney remarked. Karate is very accessible to people with visual impairment and SEC athletes are inspired by Sydney’s dedication to the sport and her high expectations for them to learn and achieve. And, she is their most enthusiastic cheerleader! An unquestionably worthy role model and tireless helper, we are proud to honor and award Sydney Mason, the MOBALE SEC 2020 Volunteer of the Year. Best of Luck in college!

 

MANY WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE: YOU can help MOBALE continue to offer sports education camps…

*MOBALE partners with Hannaford CLYNK, bottle return.  Contact Michelle at 207-208-6354 for labels.

*Quick and easy donations can be made online with PAYPAL

*Send a check to: MOBALE SPORTS   - 899 Middlesex Rd  -  Topsham, MAINE  - 04086

 STAY IN TOUCH WITH MOBALE….               

LIKE US on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MOBALEMaine/                                               

WEBSITE: www.mobale.org          EMAIL: MobaleSports@gmail.com

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