The Story of Why We Have Camp at the Cameron Trading Post
By Vicki Numkena, President and Founder, Visually Impaired/Blind Athletes of Northern Arizona (VIBA-NAZ)
By Vicki Numkena, President and Founder, Visually Impaired/Blind Athletes of Northern Arizona (VIBA-NAZ)
The dream of Camp Abilities Four Corners grew within my heart for many years, as I worked throughout Arizona as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired. When I neared retirement, these dreams started to feel like they might become reality! The Board of Directors for VIBA-NAZ was created, and we began fundraising to bring my dream to fruition.
During one of my many trips from SW Colorado (where I live) across the Navajo Nation, in 2021, I decided to stop at the Cameron Trading Post (Hotel, Restaurant, Gift Shop, Museum etc.) to ask for a donation from their gift shop. VIBA-NAZ was getting ready for our first annual On-line Silent Auction, and I thought something from their gift shop would help us have a successful event.
During one of my many trips from SW Colorado (where I live) across the Navajo Nation, in 2021, I decided to stop at the Cameron Trading Post (Hotel, Restaurant, Gift Shop, Museum etc.) to ask for a donation from their gift shop. VIBA-NAZ was getting ready for our first annual On-line Silent Auction, and I thought something from their gift shop would help us have a successful event.
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I met with Josh Atkinson, the owner and General Manager of the Cameron Trading Post (CTP). He was very interested in our camp and asked a lot of questions. At the end of our visit, he told me he had more questions and that he would email me. After a few weeks, while driving by the Trading Post, I decided to drop in to see why I hadn’t heard from him and maybe answer any other questions, and get that donation from the gift shop!
After some discussion, Josh paused for a minute, then looked at me and said, “How about you just have your camp stay here (in the hotel) and eat meals (in our restaurant) for free for the entire week of camp?” I was astonished! I’d been hoping for a donation of a t-shirt from the gift store, but Josh gave us so much more! I walked out of the Trading Post that day with tears in my eyes, feeling like a Zombie! I was shaking and numb!
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That was 5 years ago, and Josh and his crew at the Cameron Trading Post have been taking care of the athletes and staff of Camp Abilities Four Corners every second week of June since then!
His generosity saves us $35,000-$40,000 every year that we don’t have to fund raise. We could not have an annual camp if we had to find that kind of money. We would probably only be able to have camp every other year, or even every 3 years!
His generosity saves us $35,000-$40,000 every year that we don’t have to fund raise. We could not have an annual camp if we had to find that kind of money. We would probably only be able to have camp every other year, or even every 3 years!
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Can I brag just a little? We stay in the most beautiful, comfortable rooms of any camp, I am sure! Many of the rooms have balconies that look out onto the Little Colorado River and offer the best views of sunsets across northern Arizona.
And then, there’s the meals! We had one student athlete who ate a Navajo Taco (so big it falls off the sides of the dinner plate) every night at camp! We have another athlete who orders the Navajo Beef Stew every night of camp and laments that he must wait another year before he can have it again!
We are forever indebted to Josh and everyone at the Cameron Trading Post, in Cameron, Arizona (on the Navajo Reservation) for their generous gift to Camp Abilities Four Corners. Ahèheé! (Navajo for Thank you!)
And then, there’s the meals! We had one student athlete who ate a Navajo Taco (so big it falls off the sides of the dinner plate) every night at camp! We have another athlete who orders the Navajo Beef Stew every night of camp and laments that he must wait another year before he can have it again!
We are forever indebted to Josh and everyone at the Cameron Trading Post, in Cameron, Arizona (on the Navajo Reservation) for their generous gift to Camp Abilities Four Corners. Ahèheé! (Navajo for Thank you!)
