Gallery - Hot Air Ballooning (2011)

There are just four wheelchair-accessible hot air balloons in the country, and with the support of the community and our donors, we were able to bring one to Camp Promise-West. Pilot Pat Murphy of the Reach for the Stars Hot Air Balloon Foundation drove more than 1,200 miles from his home in Temecula, California, along with Pilot Bob, to give our campers the gift of flight. But nothing's ever quite as simple as it seems. Because our camp is shaded by beautiful trees, we had to go off-site on our first Camp Promise field trip to Volunteer Park, a short drive from camp. Special thanks to Key Pen Parks for their willingness to cooperate with their insurance company and our pilot to make it possible for us to have a location to take flight. Around the Sound Transportation ran a shuttle service to and from camp to get all of our campers out to the park (and back!). Our propane was donated by Peninsula Propane Services who said "it would be an honor" to provide propane for such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

And since ballooning is weather-dependent and an early morning activity, we could not have gotten all 35 of our campers in the air without the flexibility and cooperation of all of our volunteers and outside vendors. Check out the gallery and news coverage below.

Check out our other photos from Camp Promise! Archery, Around Camp, Arts 'N Crafts,  Boating and Fishing, Campfire, Casino Night, Drama, Hot Air Ballooning, Karaoke, Meal Time, Prom, Special Activities, Sports, Swimming, Talent Show, Theme Dances, Theme Days, and Volunteers.