The Blacksburg Breakfast Lions Club will host Lion’s on the Lake, an 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. picnic, on Saturday, June 22 at Claytor Lake State Park, Shelter # 2.
Blacksburg Breakfast Lions Club to host eighth Claytor Lake picnic for blind and visually impaired community, June 22.
In its eighth year, the event welcomes blind and visually impaired people of all ages to come out for boat rides, snacks, and fun.
Families, friends, or Lions who might assist with transportation are all welcome.
Park entrance fee is waived for Lions on the Lake participants
Feel free to bring games, musical instruments etc. to help enjoy the day!
Dr. Suzanne Ament, Radford University professor, Blacksburg Breakfast Lion and guitar player who is blind, helped imagine the lakeside festivities.
“It came about as I am blind and recalled my childhood and how different groups did events like hikes or skiing for blind kids,” she said in an email. “Since I’ve been in Lions in Blacksburg since 2002, I thought our club might come up with something to do.”
The club had connections to boats, but the event got started, but it was slow to launch.
“In 2012 we had one first-grader and me,” said Ament, “but we’ve grown significantly now people of all ages and their families come out.”
That first-grader, now in high school, has come every year. Announcement encourages anyone to bring a musical instrument. Ament plays guitar and it’s become a rollicking time.
“We now have a shelter, added in grilling hot dogs a year or so ago – before it was just snacks – and I have done some music. Blind musicians, Dennis Helm and Daniel Jenkins, from Roanoke have played on occasion,” she said.
Music and games and a lakeside cookout is also brings the blind and visually impaired community together.
“People have seemed to enjoy the event. It also means that people who might not meet each other can interact, network, make friends, and, who knows, maybe even do some problem solving.”
After the Roanoke group called RAVE, an organization for blind and visually impaired folks, closed there has not been any real way to for the community to connect.
“When you are blind, or are a parent or family member of someone who is blind, there can be lots of questions and concerns,” Ament said.
“This event has lots of potential and most of all is just a good day at the lake. We have not taken on swimming, but if families come out, the swimming area is not that far away,” she said.
Ament said transportation can be an issue, but this year, New Vision, part of Goodwill, is organizing vans to carry people from Roanoke and the NRV.
“So if someone needs transportation they should contact me. We’ll do first-come first-serve and two seats per blind individual,”
For more information and to RSVP so they have an idea of who is coming, call Dr. Ament at 540-381-0963 or seament@radford.edu
For information and directions to Claytor Lake State park, go to
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/claytor-lake#general_information
or www.stateparks.com/claytor_lake.html
—- Staff reports
Liz, I don’t have any pictures but Tawana French may wel have some from past years. I hpe I copied them on this