Recreation : Sports Camp to Focus on Disabled Athletes

More than 40 disabled athletes will be taught skills in archery, basketball, tennis, track and field and weight training at the third Wheelchair Sports Camp at Cal State Northridge beginning Monday.

The five-day camp also will offer aquatics instruction at Castaic Lake. Fifteen disabled instructors and counselors will teach basic sports skills to youths aged 8 to 18.

Camp participants are required to have good mobility in their arms. Instruction will be offered in basic skills such as dribbling, shooting a basketball, lifting weights and maneuvering through an obstacle course.

Actor Billy Barty and a team of “Hollywood shorties” will play the CSUN football team in a basketball game at 1 p.m. Wednesday. The exhibition is part of the camp’s activities and is open to the public.

The camp is conducted by the the Los Angeles City Recreation and Parks Department along with the National Wheelchair Tennis Foundation and CSUN.

Information: 818-885-3205.

Water sports: The Wilderness Institute of Woodland Hills will stage an introductory class in sea-kayak paddling Saturday at Castaic Lake.

The class offers instruction in basic kayak paddling as well as safety and rescue skills. There is also an introductory sea-kayak paddling class for disabled athletes Sunday at Castaic Lake.

Climbing: A ropes course and independence-training class is being offered Saturday in the Santa Monica Mountains for youths aged 14 to 17. The class is designed to teach climbing skills and help students improve their self-confidence by overcoming obstacles.

Information: 818-887-7831.

Softball: The City parks and recreation department is accepting applications for its winter softball league.

A drawing will be held July 16, the last day applications will be accepted, to add 100 new teams to the various slo-pitch softball leagues. Eight hundred teams are expected to compete in the league, which runs from September through December.

Information: 818-783-0738.

Swimming: Recreation and lap-swimming sessions are held daily at the pool at Cal State Northridge.

The pool, located at the University Student Union, is open to the public on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Information: 818-885-2491.

Parachuting: The Sport Parachuting School of Van Nuys offers an instruction class to acquaint students with the basics of parachuting.

Information: 818-994-0711.

Basketball: Sign-ups for the Winnetka Recreation Center summer basketball league are open to boys and girls aged 7 to 15.

Information: 818-341-1430.