JOHNSTON, Iowa — Iowa kids, ages 7-14, that are a part of the deaf community are coming together at Johnston Little League for the Iowa Baseball Camp for the Deaf.
"We really want to provide access for children who are deaf and hard of hearing to be able to learn baseball and socialize with other deaf and hard of hearing peers from the area," said Dylan Heuer, the camp's director.
During the morning, campers go through all sorts of baseball drills and a scrimmage.
Some of these campers will go on to play baseball at the high school level, or maybe even higher. Some campers won't, but they still walk away from the camp learning the skills of baseball and teamwork in a friendly community.
"Most of these campers go to school, they go to church, class, whatever but they feel alone," Heuer said. "They might be the only kid that (doesn't) have any other deaf peers, and so they feel isolated and frustrated. They're brushed off. And so this camp is really to provide access to everyone, that you can meet other deaf friends and sign with them."
While making friends, the campers learn the power of teamwork.
"We have to work together as a team," said Addy Warrior, a camper from Greenfield. "Like when we're throwing the ball, you have to make sure your team is paying attention, that you're looking at each other before you're doing any of our activities."
Along with teamwork, they learn patience.
"We've learned you have to be patient, that sometimes you got to sit on the bench and wait for to be your turn," said Skyler Pinegar, a camper from Des Moines.
Heuer, along with many of the other volunteers, were once campers themselves.
"It really gives me pride to know that as you, as all these kids have grown up, it's like, oh, you learned as a camper, and now I can take the knowledge I learned and give it back to the next group of kids."
On Thursday night, the camp will head to Principal Park where the campers will get to throw out the first pitch and sing the National Anthem and during the Seventh Inning Stretch for the Iowa Cubs game against the St. Paul Saints.
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