On a bright April morning at the Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse, young athletes ages 5 to 16 gathered for an experience that would challenge their abilities, expand their horizons, and connect them with a supportive community. The 2026 CAF-Idaho Kids Camp brought together cycling and archery in a single-day clinic designed to introduce children with physical disabilities to adaptive sports while building skills and confidence in a fun, encouraging environment. 

A Day of Discovery and Growth

The Challenged Athletes Foundation’s Idaho chapter created this camp with a clear mission: meet every athlete where they are. Whether a child had never touched a bow or sat on a cycling handcycle, or whether they arrived ready to refine existing skills, coaches and volunteers ensured each participant found their place. 

What made this clinic particularly special was the mentorship component. Participants from CAF’s four-week Archery Program—athletes who had spent the previous four Saturdays building their own archery skills—stepped into new roles as guides and encouragers. These young mentors helped demonstrate techniques, offered tips, and cheered on their peers, creating a collaborative atmosphere where everyone learned together. 

Cycling: Pedaling Toward Independence

Coaches Becki Walters and CJ Brown led the cycling portion of the camp, guiding eight young athletes through instruction sessions before taking to the campus grounds as a group. The coaches focused on bike handling, safety awareness, and building the kind of muscle memory that transforms tentative first attempts into confident rides. 

As athletes circled the Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse, their growing smiles reflected more than just the joy of movement. Each rotation represented increased independence, physical strength, and the realization that cycling could become part of their active lifestyle. 

Hitting the Mark: Archery Excellence

Under the expert guidance of Coach Samantha Tucker—a member of the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Archery Team—young archers learned the fundamentals of stance, draw, aim, and release. Tucker’s hands-on instruction and carefully designed drills helped each athlete understand the precision and focus required in archery.

The range came alive with concentration and excitement as athletes worked to meet their mark. When stuffed animal prizes were revealed as targets, the energy intensified. Cheers erupted with each successful shot, and true to the camp’s inclusive spirit, every participant went home a winner after finding success on the range. 

The sport of archery offers unique benefits for athletes with physical disabilities. It builds upper body strength, enhances focus and concentration, and provides a competitive outlet where athletes of all ability levels can excel on equal footing.