Campers Take Flight on the Sea and High in Sky

By JAMES D'AMBROSIO

It was a perfect early morning on Vineyard Haven harbor. All was
quiet but for a few gulls arguing over a crab. White-hulled boats
glistened upon the glassy emerald surface as a light breeze painted
ripples here and there. And the clear blue sky invited flight for anyone
willing to accept the offer. Nineteen-year-old Jabberwocky camper
Rebekah Larko was more than ready, and as the large red, white and blue
silken chute filled with air above the deck of MV Oceansports's
sleek parasailing craft, Rebekah was lifted from the confines of her
wheelchair and flew like a bird.

"Bekah is the kind of person who likes to do everything and
anything," said John Knower, a camp counselor in his eighth year
at Camp Jabberwocky. "She was the first to get on all the rides at
the agricultural fair, and she never stopped smiling and
laughing."

And so it was aloft. As Rebekah rose 600 feet above the earth, her
palsy-tightened limbs relaxed, her arms gently waving in the breeze. Her
smile shone as everyone in the boat cheered her on. She was free.

"This is what these kids were talking about a year later from
when they first tried it," said John's father, Jack Knower,
a special education teacher who has been with Jabberwocky for the past
23 years. "A lot of these kids can't move around and need
assistance at all times. When you look up in the sky and see them
suspended from this beautiful chute, relaxed and floating, they're
moving along without being pushed around or carried or lifted by
someone. It's simply an amazing gift for them."

As Rebekah flew through the air with the greatest of ease, jet skis
passed by and circled the boat. Jabberwocky campers were safely
sandwiched between an experienced driver and a counselor sitting behind.
Uncontrollable laughter rang out as the water machines glided along,
pushing spray up and away to the sides.

Capt. Mark Clarke, owner and operator of MV Oceansports, a big man
with a big heart, laughed loudly amid the collective joy all around him
as he piloted the boat. This was his idea two years ago, and the results
were more than he ever expected.

"For this brief period of time, they're doing what
everybody else can do," said Mr. Clarke. "To see them up
there, or flying on the water on the jet skis, is so amazing to me, I
can't even put it into words. I just feel so good for them."

Mr. Clarke is the son of the late John Clarke, skipper of the
well-known Alden, Laissez Faire. Mr. Clarke said his father used to take
the Jabberwocky campers sailing on his wooden boat, and he feels
compelled to carry on the tradition. Mr. Clarke has personal experience
with handicapped persons, having an older brother with epilepsy.
"I know what it means for these people to get out there and do
something exciting that frees them from whatever physical limitations
they may have," he said.

Even after taking more than 200,000 people up in a parasailing chute
without incident, including a 90-year-old woman and a few young men
making marriage proposals, this is the moment Mr. Clarke says he looks
forward to all year. "I plan to do this for Jabberwocky for as
long as they accept my invitation to fly," he said.

Rebekah returned to the deck and her harness was unclipped from the
chute. Mr. Clarke carried her gently to the cushioned seat and into the
arms of her counselor, Jen Doubilet. Rebekah was writhing with
excitement and motioned to communicate. Ms. Doubilet held up a
see-through plexiglass board with a blue alphabet, and Rebekah spelled
words and sentences with her eyes as Ms. Doubilet called them out.

"I felt like a bird," said Rebekah. "I was so
relaxed up there. I want to do it again."

Twelve-year-old Michael Delson wasn't so sure he wanted to do
it at all. Admitting that he flew to Italy at 27,000 feet, he said he
wasn't scared then because the plane had windows. "There
aren't any windows here," said Michael slowly, his speech
impaired by cerebral palsy.

"I'm afraid of heights. I don't think I can do
this," he added as he watched 20-year-old Michael Anderson clipped
into the chute and ready to fly. "I'm Michael
Anderson," he yelled out. "And I'm going
flying!"

As the camper was lifted high into the air, the younger Michael
readied his harness with newfound motivation. "If Michael Anderson
can do it, I can do it!" he said. And after a generous flight,
Michael Delson returned to earth with new purpose. "I loved
it!" he called out. "I love this camp. It's the best
ever. I could see the whole Island except I couldn't see the
chocolate factory. I want to go up a million and one times again!"

After several more campers took to the skies, flying high and
skimming the waves, the boat and watercraft returned to shore. The
Jabberwocky kids were helped off the vessels and back into their bright
red bus.

Twenty-year-old Kara Johansen lingered in her chair, and signaled
her counselor for the letter board. "This is the best part of
summer," she said. "Jabberwocky is the best place in the
world for me because people see me for me, and not for my wheelchair. I
flew today. And I was very tall."