Stacie Oulton

Public Information Officer

(303) 987-7058

staoul@lakewood.org

Homemade cookies, handwritten thank you cards and a banner are on their way to wildland firefighters in Colorado Springs, Boulder and elsewhere because of the thoughtfulness of youth with disabilities participating in a Lakewood summer camp.

One of the campers with Lakewood's Camp Paha came up with the idea to show appreciation to the hard-working, dedicated firefighters, and the other participants jumped on-board. Lakewood's Camp Paha is a unique program because it offers a summer camp experience to those ages 6 to 17 who have various disabilities. Camp Paha provides an array of activities including swimming, sports, games, music, arts and crafts and field trips to the campers.

Members of the Colorado Department of Public Safety picked up the cookies, cards and banner at the camp facility and are conveying the items to firefighters. The department includes the Colorado State Patrol and the Division of Fire Prevention and Control.

"This has been an incredible experience for the campers, and we are simply floored and inspired by their generosity," said Mark Snow, who coordinates the camp as well as Lakewood's Recreation and Inclusion Services for Everyone (RISE).

Colorado State Trooper Josh Lewis, standing on the right in uniform, and Kathy Sasak, the deputy executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety, standing second from right, pick up homemade cookies and handwritten thank you notes from children attending Lakewood's Camp Paha.

Camp Paha participants give a thumbs up while holding their thank you banner for firefighters battling wildland blazes in Colorado.