Written by: Michael Qu, FCSN Voices Youth Reporter
Graphics by: Alice Sun, FCSN Voices Graphic Artist

At the Campbell Community Center Auxiliary Gym, sounds of footsteps and laughter rang out as special needs individuals engaged in basketball drills and team building exercises. With the arrival of summer and newfound free time, many participants eagerly embraced the opportunity to stay active and socialize. The classes, part of FCSN’s annual Summer Sports Program, featured basketball, badminton, and pickleball lessons. 

In its mission to help individuals with special needs and their families, FCSN has coordinated the Summer Sports Program for ten years. With the special needs community having limited access to recreational activities and structured sports programs, this initiative fills the crucial gap, providing opportunities for physical activity, social interaction, and personal development. Spanning over the course of two months, the program is separated into three units for each of the three offered sports. The goals of the classes align with FCSN’s broader goals of fostering inclusive environments where children with special needs can thrive and build essential life skills.

For many years, the Summer Sports Program offered a variety of stimulating sport activities to special needs individuals. From June 15 to July 28, classes one and a half hours long are held every Saturday and Sunday. In the classes, students participate in ball-handling drills, jogging, technique lessons, and more. Under the guidance of coaches and volunteers, students are able to partake in games and exercises that strengthen their body and develop key skills. With her own son participating in the program, FCSN Summer Sport Program Coordinator Christine Huynh works alongside other FCSN parents to ensure all logistics, from outreaching volunteers to hiring coaches, proceed smoothly. “We were looking for a program that can have them move around and be more social,” Huynh said.

As time progressed, the Summer Sports Program adapted to better accommodate the special needs community. For instance, laminated name tags were issued to each volunteer so that students could easily identify and communicate with them. Moreover, the sport pickleball, rising in popularity in recent years, was incorporated into the program. “This summer we tried out pickleball because it’s popular now everywhere. The parents have more options to choose for the good of their kids,” Huynh said.

However, the Summer Sports Program faces several challenges as it continues to carry out FCSN’s mission. Coordinating schedules was a constant battle, with balancing the program and personal life proving difficult at times. In such cases, Huynh had to find other parents to ensure the smooth flow of operation in her absence. By working together, the parents not only help maintain the program’s operations but also strengthen the sense of community and mutual support, creating a more resilient support network for their children and families.

As the program grows, accommodating an increasing number of participants also posed a logistical challenge. With the space of the gym limited, too many participants would result in overcrowding and a diminished experience for everyone involved. In the past, the program was only held on Sundays, so Huynh expanded sessions to additional days to better accommodate both volunteers and students. Temporarily mitigating the issue of space, Huynh and other parents are looking into long term solutions as well. “Next time, if there are too many people, we can rent a bigger gym,” Huynh said.

In the future, Huynh and the FCSN team plan to continue expanding and improving the Summer Sports Program to meet the growing needs of the special needs community. With the dedication and hard work of everyone involved, the Summer Sports Program will remain a cherished and vital resource for the special needs community. “I see them happy, and I’m happy … Each of them is different, and I think that you can see them grow,” Huynh said.