Outlook Explorers Camp Brings Adventure and Connection to Local Youth With Vision Loss

Sometimes, confidence begins with a single moment, a decision to try.

 

To climb a little higher. To spend a night away from home. To step up to the plate. To introduce yourself to someone new.

 

These moments may seem small, but they often become the milestones that shape who we are. They challenge young people to trust themselves, take risks, build relationships and discover strengths they never knew they had.

 

For youth who are blind or visually impaired, the chance to experience those moments is not always easy to find. Often, the barrier isn’t the activity itself but a lack of understanding of what it takes to make an activity or environment accessible. Greater awareness can help change that, opening doors to experiences every young person deserves.

 

Anna is holding a bow and arrow as she practices archery.

 

And the need extends far beyond any one community. According to the 2024 American Community Survey, approximately 662,000 children in the United States were reported as having serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses, or being blind.

 

Behind that number are young people navigating the same milestones, challenges and possibilities as their peers. Ensuring vision loss does not limit access to those experiences is central to Outlook Enrichment’s mission. For the next generation, that commitment takes shape through opportunities like camp.

 

After a six-year hiatus, Outlook Explorers: Journey Beyond Sight Camp returned in July 2026, bringing together youth who are blind or visually impaired for a week of adventure, connection and discovery. Campers competed in adaptive sports, climbed a rock wall, practiced archery, soared on a zip line and stepped onto a stage to share their talents with peers.

 

For parent Libby Brumhaugh-Stenzel, watching that growth unfold was powerful.

“It is incredible to watch our children build trust, gain such confidence, willingness to try new things without judgment, and the new friendships are the best,” Brumhaugh-Stenzel shared.

 

A young male participant waves while seated on the back of a tandem bike. While a male counselor, the bike captain, is seated and smiling in the front.

 

Outlook Enrichment adaptive sports specialist Glen Wragge has seen how a week at camp can spark lasting confidence and independence.

“For many of our campers, it is the first time they spend the night away from home. It is also the first time they have a peer group that understands them; they don’t have to explain themselves. Their level of independence grows throughout the week. I hear comments throughout the week like, ‘I knew I could do it.’ Having an environment that the campers know is modified for their participation, that is safe and challenging, has the campers trying activities they never thought were possible, let alone an option for them,” shared Wragge.

 

Eventually, the climbing harnesses come off. The games end. New friends say goodbye, and campers return home. But what they discover about themselves can stay with them.

It lives in the courage to speak up, advocate for themselves, step into something unfamiliar or take on a challenge they once thought was out of reach. It lives in the friendships formed, the independence gained and a growing belief in what is possible.

 

For Outlook Enrichment, those are the moments that matter most. Not simply reaching the top of a climbing wall or hitting a target, but watching a young person recognize their own ability and hearing four words that can carry far beyond camp: “I can do this.”

 

"Amp Up Your Social Calendar - Browse Events." A young girl is rock climbing in the graphic.

 

Mark your calendars, Outlook Explorers camp is set to return July 18-23, 2027.

 

Help create more moments like these. Visit OutlookEN.org to learn more and discover how to get involved.

Bring On The Drama – Theater Clinic (All Ages)

Do you love movie actors or live theater? Are you destined to be a star, or maybe you’re just a little dramatic? We’re setting the stage for you to unleash your creativity. No experience or training necessary; this is all just for fun.

We will be meeting the following Saturdays in October and November:
October 3 @ 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
October 10 @ 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
October 24 @ 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
October 31 @ 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
November 7 @ 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Nebraska Art Council teaching artist Carrie Nath will lead this clinic. Expect a mix of impromptu acting exercises, scriptwriting, and skits.

We did a Take 1 of this clinic in 2019, and it was a blast. We can’t wait to see something new for Take 2! The $10 registration fee includes all 5 sessions, and we encourage participants to commit to attending all of them. The invite is open to all ages and vision levels.

Outlook Explorers: Journey Beyond Sight Camp 2027

The Adventure of a Lifetime Starts Here

Outlook Explorers: Journey Beyond Sight Camp brings youth who are blind or visually impaired together to test their limits, build friendships, and discover strengths they never knew they had. Whether joining us for the first time or returning to reconnect with friends, campers build confidence and independence in a community where they feel welcomed, supported, and celebrated.

Our camp will feature adaptive sports, outdoor adventures, creative activities, technology skill-building, and a talent show. Trained staff, adaptive sports specialists, and camp counselors help make activities accessible while encouraging campers to try new things, pursue their interests, and take pride in their accomplishments.

We will announce the 2027 activity schedule at a later date.

Key Details

Join Us As a Camp Counselor

Bring your energy and spirit of adventure to a week that can make a lasting difference for youth with vision loss. As a volunteer camp counselor, you’ll help campers feel included, connect with peers, and gain the confidence to try something new. Through your support and encouragement, you’ll help campers discover new interests and practice greater independence.

This is an ideal opportunity for physical and occupational therapy students, education majors, teachers, and anyone passionate about inclusion and youth development. Camp counselors must be 19 or older.

Have Questions?

If you have questions or need assistance completing the application, please contact Nina Rongisch at nrongisch@outlooken.org or 531-444-8864.

 

Registration Coming Soon

Golf League – Game at Westwood

We have not hit the greens with our golf group since early June. Whether you’ve been out swinging all summer or have not picked up a putter since we last saw you, we are getting back together in the name of golf!

This event is for folks who were either part of a golf league previously or have prior golf experience. We will pair blind and low-vision players with a volunteer golf cart/caddy for 9 holes at Westwood Golf Course.

We are also seeking volunteers with golf experience to drive golf carts, serve as caddies, and provide coaching, if needed, for players with vision loss.

Tee times are TBD until we can secure reservations the week before, but we will aim to book tee times around 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. I will do my best to fit you into the time slot that works best for you.

If you are new to golf, we’ll be starting a new golfer’s clinic this winter for people of all different experience levels. To keep up with the pace of play, this outing is only for golfers who participated in our league last season.

Horseback Riding (Ages 12+)

Giddy-up and get over to Platte River State Park for some horseback riding. We’ll hop in the saddle and enjoy a ride on a path through the woods of Platte River State Park. We have done this before and found the staff who work with the horses extremely knowledgeable. We will also be bringing members of our Outlook Adaptive Sports team for support. The ride lasts approximately 45 minutes. Each participant will ride as part of a large group but will be on their own horse. No experience is necessary, but if you are uncomfortable around animals or cannot hold on and support yourself independently, this may not be the right activity for you.

Parents of minors must meet Outlook staff at the Platte River State Park office to sign the required waiver.

Limited transportation will be available for adults departing from and returning to Outlook before and after the horseback ride. We plan to leave Outlook by 12 p.m. and return around 2:45 p.m.

It can be a little intimidating at first, but we encourage you to take a deep breath, lean back, and enjoy the ride! We’ve got your back, even on horseback. Take in the feeling of the fall season and wrap yourself up in the wilderness that the state of Nebraska has to offer.

Color Outside the Lines Art Workshop – Music and Poetry (All Ages)

Lyrics to songs are like poems put to music. For this year’s writing workshop, we’re inviting Matt Mason, Nebraska’s State Poet from 2019 to 2024, to help us combine music and writing. We’ll listen to music clips or song verses to get inspired and create poems or short stories. Whether a song takes you back to somewhere from your past or lets your imagination run wild to somewhere you’ve never been, we can’t wait to go there with you!

We will be writing on the spot and sharing with the group. We encourage writers to bring their preferred method of recording their poems. That could be your phone, a laptop, a Braille display, a marker and notepad, or a slate and stylus. Headphones are recommended. Multiple screen readers reading simultaneously can be distracting. We do have CCTVs and magnifiers available if needed.