Growth is important to any business – and certainly to nonprofits. I’m pleased to note that Outdoors for All is growing. We’re offering more activities and life-enriching experiences for children and adults with disabilities than ever before. But with that growth also come some growing pains. Can we continue to fulfill current programming while we respond to new requests? Can we bring aboard new staff…
As many will recall, the “winter” of 2015 weather-wise was a huge disappointment. A year ago we were struggling to deliver as many of our seven weeks series of lessons as we could. Lack of snow delayed our operations by weeks in 2015. First, we moved our Nordic operations to Stevens Pass. Then as the season continued we tried our best to deliver lessons at…
We’re proud each year to send staff and volunteers to the Disabled Sports USA Ski Spectacular in Breckenridge, CO. This annual event could not be more aptly named. Hundreds of people gather each year for this spectacular week: individuals with disabilities, professional staff and volunteers in the field of rehabilitation, ski instructors and others gather together to learn from each other, teach, compete, network and…
The year 1995 was a year to remember for many reasons… Internationally, the war in Bosnia finally ended after three-and-a-half terrible years. In the Pacific Northwest, it was the year of Refuse to Lose when the Seattle Mariners rallied from 13 games back in August and made their improbable and incredible run into the post season. From Redmond, Microsoft released to much fanfare its Windows…
As I noted in a blog posting this spring, the Outdoors for All Foundation Board has been meeting to update our Strategic Plan. During these planning meetings and discussions, a key decision was affirmed: Outdoors for All will be an adaptive and therapeutic recreation provider for children and adults with disabilities dedicated to being both Collaboration: We go to you and Destination: You come to us…
Summer is a perfect time for kids to get out and enjoy the weather. As you can see on www.globosurfer.com/, there are loads of activities like kayaking and hiking that can be enjoyed in the sun. We believe that all kids should be able to enjoy their summer vacation, having fun with their family and friends. As a result, these months can provide children of…
Dear Friends, Twice a year, we conduct a quality assurance survey with Participants involved with Outdoors for All. We learned and affirmed some remarkable findings in our most recent survey from earlier this spring that your generous contributions as supporters and volunteers helped make possible. Participants reported that as a result of being active with Outdoors for All, that: 81% have improved social skills 83% said…
A promise was made back in 1979 to 35 individuals with disabilities that they could learn to ski. Thanks to the vision of Don Summers and the efforts of many others, while their friends and family members were learning to ski at Snoqualmie Pass, these individuals with disabilities would not be left behind. Instead, a commitment was made that they would be offered equal opportunities…
Balance, and the ability to maintain it, is crucial to being successful while skiing, cycling, rock climbing or kayaking. It’s also a crucial skill when dealing with the “winter” that we’ve just had here in the Pacific Northwest with snow levels ended up being 20% of normal. The “winter” of 2015, weather-wise, will go down in history as frankly, a terrible one. While the East…
What do we mean when we use the words adaptive recreation and why are these words especially applicable to this winter season of 2015? Well, let’s first be clear about adaptive recreation; that’s when you use modify activities and apply assistive technology so that participants with disabilities may play and participate alongside their peers who do not have disabilities. This, in essence, is what Outdoors…
