Para-athlete organises Australia's first sports camp for vision-impaired children

Vision-impaired para-athlete Lily Piccolo is set to launch Australia's first summer sports camp for children and teenagers who are blind or have low vision. It's called Camp Abilities and the program will feature swimming, tandem cycling and other outdoor adventures in January 2027 at The Tops Conference Centre in Stanwell Tops.

Lily is a Shellharbour disability advocate who discovered the transformative power of the Camp Abilities program last year while coaching at one of the American summer camps.

“The camp I attended in the USA was life-changing for the kids who attended,” Lily says.

“They came away with greater confidence, new friends and had so much fun trying different sports and activities.

"For too long, kids with vision impairment have been excluded from sports, so having a camp where they can try adaptive sports is one of the first steps in helping these kids develop a love for being active.”

Founded in the US in 1996, Camp Abilities aims to provide a safe and supported space for ages eight to 18 to come together to be active, try adapted sports, build confidence and make new friends.

After loving her time as a Camp Abilities coach, Lily knew she had to pull out all the stops to get a similar program up and running locally, so she started speaking about her experience to community groups.

The Rotary Club of Dapto heard Lily's inspiring story and came onboard as a major sponsor, enabling an Australian branch to be established sooner than expected.

“Rotary’s support means everything,” Lily says.

“They don’t just provide funding – they bring leadership, credibility and an incredible network of people who believe in service and inclusion. Their commitment has given Camp Abilities Australia a strong foundation from day one.”

"Beyond the first camp, Rotary offers something even more powerful – a national and international network of clubs with a shared commitment to strengthening communities. Through Rotary’s extensive connections across Australia, there is real potential for Camp Abilities to grow sustainably and expand into other regions in the future.”

Lily is thrilled to bring Camp Abilities to Australia, as she says there's nothing like it here.  

Each participant will be paired with their own one-on-one coach for the entire camp so they can have individual support, guidance and encouragement. Specialist coaches will lead the adapted sports and activities, creating safe, inclusive and fun experiences, giving every camper the opportunity to participate fully and succeed.

“The combination of personal support and expert coaching helps each young athlete grow in confidence.” Lily says.

Camp Abilities founder Dr Lauren Lieberman will be attending Australia’s first event, accompanied by specialist US coaches.

Australian Paralympian Taylor Gosens has committed to be a specialist coach. Taylor became only the second woman to represent Australia in para judo when she competed at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. In addition, the University of Wollongong will provide specialist coaches from its physical education programs.

The owner of Stand-Up Paddleboarding Shellharbour Rebecca Dunning – the national SUP surfing champion who will head to the World Championships later this year – has also stepped up to support the worthy cause. 

Sports to be offered include judo, tennis, tandem cycling, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, dance, outdoor adventure activities and swimming.

For more information, contact info@campabilitiesaustralia.com, 0432 322 477 or follow on Facebook.