This July 2025, Dr. Peter Kalenda traveled to The Center for Courageous Kids in Scottsville, Kentucky to volunteer as a snorkel instructor for XLH Camp with his husband, Dr. Logan Rath (SUNY Geneseo alumnus). The children at this camp had XLH or other rare bone diseases and the camp is uniquely designed to help meet their needs.
As an extension of his work in STEM Education in the School of Education, they offered snorkel classes to 42 children to help them develop a love of exploring aquatic environments. For many, this was a life changing experience. Dr. Rath, who has XLH, served as a role model for these children with XLH who often feel as though they cannot engage in athletic activities, such as snorkeling. The instructors also brought their scuba gear and modeled scuba diving - Dr. Rath showed how he can make scuba diving modified for those with XLH using gear such as split fins.
All students received a high-quality mask, snorkel, fins, and backpack to keep that were purchased by the XLH Network and our local Rochester Scuba Diving Shop, RU4Scuba. Dr. Kalenda and Dr. Rath created special XLH Snorkel Certificates that were provided to children as they left camp.
The XLH Network was impressed and thankful with the Snorkel Diver course and have invited them back next year - potentially extending instruction to include ecology, conservation, freediving, and mermaiding (a form of freediving using a monofin).