The Splog

The Fun Begins After Hours

2012-01-26T10:20:00.000-08:00

Splore's new Executive Director, Steve Coltrin, is headed north this evening for a Business After Hours event for some meet-and-greet and to share about Splore.

Stop by our booth at the event and see what we're up to these days and how you can get involved in the empowering adventures in our wild backyard.

A great way to help your business grow:

2012-01-06T11:29:00.000-08:00

Thank you to our clients and volunteers for another banner year at Splore!

2011 Highlights

Splore served 2460 clients between Salt Lake & Moab trips.
Splore trip participants represented 4408 user days
Started new Youth Leadership Career-Oriented Program through a partnership with University Neighborhood Partners, the College of Social Work and the College of Occupational Therapy at the University of Utah.

Purchased 6 New Wenonah Canoes through a grant from the Utah Family Foundation.
Purchased New Climbing Harnesses & Helmets through the support of REI and Black Diamond Equipment, Inc.
Ran a Veterans Rafting Trip as part of a BLM Pilot Program for Wounded Warriors.
Enhanced partnership with the US Forest Service through a $24,000 More Kids In the Woods Grant to provide trips at no cost to kids with and without disabilities.
Started partnership with City Academy to provide an After-School Outdoor Recreation Club for students with and without disabilities.

Kickin' Off the Season

2011-12-14T15:50:00.000-08:00

Winter came down to our home one night
Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,
And we, we were children once again.

~Bill Morgan, Jr.

We kicked off the winter season with our first snow shoe trip around Silver Lake up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Thanks to our new fleet of MSR snow shoes, our excursion through the wilderness was a blast!

Want to join the fun? If you would like to be part of a snow shoe trek with Splore, check our calendar for the next upcoming adventure: click here.

Campers Camping

2011-07-18T08:17:00.000-07:00

X-Splore Camp is Splore's inclusive day camp for children with and without disabilities. Over the course of the week, campers rock climb in Big Cottonwood Canyon, canoe at Little Dell Reservoir, ride horses at The Stable Place, do nature walks around Silver Lake and make new friends and memories!

Happy Campers canoeing on Little Dell Reservoir!

Sterling Kerr our camp counselor-in-training--he rocks!

Leading Horses at Brighton Meadows is fun!

Summer of Splore

2011-06-07T14:12:00.000-07:00

The Splog has returned! We are giving new life to the Splog (Splore Blog) this summer, keeping you filled with stories of adventure, joy, fun and new experiences for all. We are looking forward to another wonderful season in our Moab and Salt Lake offices, and hope to see you on the river/mountain/trail this summer.

New life for the Splog!

2010-10-22T15:21:00.000-07:00

The Splog will now be updated regularly with stories and testimonials from the Splore family (Splamily). Please email Tim if you have a story to share. Thanks!

Expert Village Video's on Adaptive Recreation

2008-12-18T14:42:00.000-08:00

Viewed by millions of people around the world, Expert Village is a website of "How To" videos. In March 2008, Splore worked with a local production company (ProCreative) to produce videos on accessible and adaptive recreation for people with disabilities. The videos show how Splore sets-up and provides rock climbing and canoeing programs for people with disabilities.

Check out the videos at Expert Village:

Canoeing:

http://www.expertvillage.com/video/141291_canoeing-disabled-3-points-contact.htm

Rock Climbing:

http://www.expertvillage.com/video/141066_adaptive-rock-climbing-people-with.htm

Each video has written transcripts available and some portions of the rock climbing video have an volunteer ASL interpreter.

Kayak Adventure

2008-11-26T08:54:00.001-08:00

In September 2008, Splore partnered with TRAILS to provide an Adaptive Paddle Camp for people who are paraplegic. Some participants came to a pool session to prep before the weekend trip. One participant filmed his experience, check it out on youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKwzA4C-8oE

Life as a SPLORE Volunteer

2008-05-27T11:36:00.000-07:00

Carol MacNicholl heard about SPLORE's need for volunteers and jumped at the opportunity. She recently attended SPLORE's volunteer raft training and is now a certified SPLORE raft volunteer, whoo hoo! Carol plans on attending the rock climbing and canoe training as well and seems to be on the fast lane towards becoming a SPLORE-rrific volunteer! She shares her story about her involvement with SPLORE so far...

After talking to my friend about SPLORE, I realized that I was missing a sense of community in my life and I wanted to reconnect with nature. SPLORE’s need for volunteers sounded like the ideal opportunity for me to recapture these values in my life. So I immediately signed up for SPLORE’s volunteer rafting training in Moab on the Colorado River.

Typically I would not be as eager to take part in events like this because of my hearing loss. On a daily basis, trying to follow spoken conversation can be difficult to follow and the end result for me is sometimes frustration or a feeling of detachment.

However, I felt like I would get the support I need through SPLORE and naturally, I felt embraced by SPLORE. They gave me the opportunity to experience something new without restricted capability to perform particular activities. When rafting, I was one of the rowers in the back of the raft so I could see and follow what was going on. I felt like the staff and volunteers had an open mind and showed patience when communicating with me. I am very grateful towards all the people I got to meet that weekend on the river.

The highlight of that weekend for me was our costume party where SPLORE provided these hilarious dresses, suits, wigs, and whatnot. As soon as I put on my clown wig and wild tie dye pants, I felt goofy but at the same time it gave me a right to be silly. I felt like it allowed each of us to step outside of our box of expectations and just be our ridiculous selves.

(Carol is pictured on the right with rainbow curly hair)

SPLORE made the trip effortless for me and gave me a sense of freedom where I was able to occupy my rightful place on earth which just made me the happiest person. I truly believe from the bottom of my heart that SPLORE respects each person and makes each person feel special.

All I can say to each of you....
Explore and find yourself in
SPLORE!

Increased Friendships

2008-04-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

Jenny, a teacher from a local elementary school was invited to participate in SPLORE’s ‘Experience Your Abilities Program’ (EYAP). EYAP is a program that emphasizes inclusion by inviting a special education class with mainstream students to recreate together.

Jenny wrote a letter to SPLORE about the school’s experience with SPLORE and the magnificent results that occurred thereafter.

Dear SPLORE,

We had the opportunity to participate with SPLORE in the month of December 2006. There were some difficulties at first since we were a new school and we had to convince the principal to let us be part of SPLORE. The next challenge was to get teachers to let their students participate, but were unwilling to commit. Two teachers eventually agreed to let their students attend.

The activities were well planned and organized by the SPLORE staff, as well as tons of fun. I would like to tell you some of the great things that have happened within my class that is a direct result of SPLORE.

The snowshoeing trip was amazing and I saw many relationships develop because of the friendships formed that day. Rachel is a girl in my class that struggles with social situations, who had a great experience with the girls in our snowshoeing group. She has made more friends since and is now playing jump rope with these girls at recess.

Kyle is a young man with Autism who is often in his own world and has no need for social interaction. He was drawn into a snowball fight and interacted in social ways that he rarely does. He was laughing and enjoying relationships in a way that we encourage, but don’t always get from him.

Many of the regular students we took with us were unsure of the situation they were getting themselves into. A few of them backed out or were pulled from going with us by parents who were overly cautious. The great thing that happened is the students who went had a marvelous time and came back to tell everyone else. We were bombarded by requests, from students we did not know, who wanted to be part of the fun. I would walk through the lunchroom and kids I did not know would stop me and say “When are you going again and can I come?”

Our students learned more about making friends, in new situations. Our students with Autism were excited, maybe overly excited, and had some new experiences that increased their awareness of others. Terry and Aaron had a new experience with horseback riding and loved it. They talked about it for days after.

All of our students loved the experience and are asking about next year. We have benefited with an increased friendships within our school. Even other teachers have approached me to learn more about your program.

We hope that we will be invited to participate again next year.

Thank you for the experience,

Jenny

A New Hobby for His Son

2008-04-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

After his son’s pediatrician recommended SPLORE, Eric decided to take a closer look at the program. Coincidentally, SPLORE was getting ready to launch their new Rock On! program designed specifically for children with autism. Eric thought the program might be a good fit for his son Jaden so he enrolled him in the eight week long Rock On! Program.

Jaden’s father shares that his son didn’t seem to respond to well to the team sports that he was previously enrolled in. He recognized that individual sports such as karate seemed to be a better fit for Jaden. So when Eric learned about SPLORE and their indoor rock climbing program, he thought it would be a good activity for his son. He found comfort in the one-on-one staff to participant ratio and the individual learning that would take place for his son.

The first day in the rock climbing gym was an exciting one for Jaden. He was a little apprehensive at first but with some encouragement from the staff he was soon hooked. His father articulates that Jaden’s level of responsiveness changed in a positive manner as he became more tuned into the activity. “He was more into the ‘now’ mindset” says Eric, “it was like he was on medication because he was so focused and followed guidance well.”

Eric believes that the staff working one-on-one with each child was truly the key to each child's success. “The staff had a variety of techniques that kept Jaden focused and motivated. Their energy and passion kept my son more driven than the average person would have been able to” he says. Attempts to rescue the stuffed animal high on the wall or to go off and hunt for the gummy worms were just a few of the staff’s motivating techniques.

Eric expresses that the Rock On! Program was a wonderful experience for his son and recommends it for other parents who have children with autism spectrum disorder. Since the end of the Rock On! Program, Eric has taken his son Jaden out rock climbing on the occasion. He hopes that his son’s interest in rock climbing will continue to grow and that he will soon be able to join his son sometime for a climb.

An Imprinted Smile

2008-03-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

After moving to Salt Lake City a couple of years ago, Debbie was driving along the road when she saw a fleet of red and green canoes with “SPLORE” plastered on each side of the canoes. As an avid canoe paddler, Debbie was immediately intriguted to where the canoes were going and began her quest to learn more about SPLORE.

Debbie was thrilled when she discovered that SPLORE was an outdoor agency for people with disabilities and special needs. Having an older sister with a disability, Debbie appreciates the experiences SPLORE provides for people who may otherwise never have the opportunity to take part in. She considers herself very fortunate to be able to volunteer and help others enjoy life through SPLORE’s recreational activities.

Debbie met Craig on a rafting trip back in June of 2006 with a group of individuals with TBI’s (traumatic brain injury). During the trip down the river, everyone was engaging in water fights, jumping in the water, hooting and hollering except for Craig. Debbie noticed Craig’s facial expressions were indifferent, he had a quiet nature about him and showed little interest in joining in the river experience. After sitting in the sun for so long without getting wet, Craig expressed that he felt very hot. Chris, his river raft guide, suggested that he get in the water to cool down. Craig did not appeal to the idea of getting wet in the river and was adamant about NOT going in the river for a dip.

After moving to the shore line and with some gentle encouragement Craig started to open up. In a few moments, Craig was lying down in the river fully, immersed by the cool soothing touch of the water as the sun shined warmly upon him. At that point Debbie saw a change take place, Craig’s face had brighten up a great deal and he had a huge smile on his face from ear to ear. It was quite the smile, for it has been imprinted in Debbie’s mind ever since.

For the next hour or so Debbie sat on the raft next to Craig who happily lingered about in the water. Together they chatted as the waves rhythmically came in and out, causing them to rise and descend with the water. Surrounded by the beauty of Mother Nature, the sounds of the waves gently crashing into the sandy shoreline and the red canyons standing tall behind them, Craig began to open up further. After spending some time together, Debbie learned that, before Craig’s accident he had been an avid swimmer thus explaining his adamant manner about encountering the water again. It seemed that Craig’s dip into the river brought back those familiar feelings of swimming that he holds closely to his heart.

Something that others may perceive as a small change was actually just the beginning for Craig. The following year Debbie saw Craig again on another SPLORE rafting trip. Only this time around he was a part of the crazy chaos on the river, taking part in the water fights, laughing, jumping into the river and taking it all in with a smile; something Craig once would have not done before.

Positive changes taking place is something Debbie takes pleasure in witnessing as a volunteer. She has continuously given her time and energy over the last two years on many of SPLORE's programs and overnight trips and has made many new friends along the way. She agrees that SPLORE grants people the opportunity to pursue outdoor adventures where many may have not thought possible. Like one participant once told her, “Everyone always told me no, you can’t, it isn’t do-able, it’s not alright but people like you at SPLORE have shown me I can.”

On a side note, Debbie often reiterates often that she doesn’t come out enough to volunteer; however, SPLORE thinks Debbie is letting her modest nature get in the way and that she truly is a knowledgeable and magnificent SPLORE volunteer!

A Family Adventure

2008-02-22T08:26:00.000-08:00

This is the Joseph family who recently moved here to Utah from Las Vegas. Aaron is their eleven-year old son who has autism. This winter they decided to give SPLORE a try, to get out of the house and to do something new and adventurous. Aaron’s Father, Cole shares what they’ve done so far…

Indoor Rock-climbing

The program was seven weeks of rock-climbing, with the trained SPLORE staff, teaching four autistic children the sport. Each child had someone assigned to them, to set up their equipment, spot for them, and encourage them. To say this was a success is a huge understatement. Our son Aaron absolutely loved it. Trepid at first, every climb built growing confidence and experience.

If you live in Utah, and want to get into this sport, I highly recommend Momentum. They have spectacular facilities. They even have a great web site. They have some climbs that are stories high, with a large variety of difficulty and terrain. This allowed the SPLORE folks to tailor different climbs to match the climbing level of each child.

So everyone was challenged, and everyone experienced a pinnacle. Aaron was able to make the highest climbs. Multiple times, and rang the bell at the top.

Cross-country Skiing

Since our first experience was so great, doing a simple, one day event at Solitude sounded like fun. The weather was great, the snow was fresh, and the atmosphere was easy and gentle. This time, we had a mix of people with disabilities, and different ages. My wife, Debbie, and I had a great time. It was easier that we had originally thought.

Having a prepared area that is dedicated to cross-country skiing definitely helps.

Aaron was okay for the first hour, but I don't think he was thrilled with the bindings on his skis. When he'd had enough, he just started off into the snow banks, with Susie chasing behind. This is just one example of the selfless and cheerful care that we've seen with the SPLORE staff and volunteers. In no time, Aaron was laughing again.

It's not the skiing. The point is the experience with family and new friends, and that's what was what we enjoyed about the day.

Snowshoeing at the Spruces

Again, we did a first for us as a family. In the summer, the Spruces at Big Cottonwood Canyon Campgrounds is a camper-land. But during the winter, it's under a few feet of snow. We had a new set of people and volunteers. We even had people with special sleds, who could not walk.
Yet here we were, all out in the winter forest, beautiful scenery, and a warm dose of human compassion.

There was a moment when one of the girls had fallen over on her sled.
We were all there, helping out as a team, even having a good laugh. We had such a good time. We actually end up buying some snowshoes for the three of us, and broke them in this last weekend. Without our SPLORE experience, I doubt that would have ever happened.

In summary...

Our experiences with SPLORE have been absolutely wonderful. The thing we like about SPLORE is the chance to do something new in a safe environment. Being around people who are trained, who are specifically spending their time so that others can live a fuller life is a good feeling. I have a lot of respect for the SPLORE crew, and the other participants. Their hearts are in the right place.

Joining a SPLORE event brings out the very best in the human spirit.

And the biggest payoff of all -- the smiles!

-- Cole

Breaking the "can't" Barrier

2008-02-08T08:52:00.001-08:00

Briana McCarty, one of our many awesome volunteers was an active volunteer for SPLORE during the early summer of 2007. She shares her SPLORE experience...

The world we live in today expects less of people with disabilities. People with varying abilities constantly face the word “can’t” or encounter people who have lower expectations of them because of their disability. Luckily there are organizations, like SPLORE, that challenge this handicapped thinking. These organizations are dedicated to expanding cultural expectations of what people with disabilities can accomplish and transforming old stereotypes into perspectives of unlimited possibilities.

Here is an example of what I mean: An eight year-old girl who is blind went on an overnight whitewater rafting trip down the Colorado River with her parents and younger sister. She was fearless in paddling Class I and II rapids, following the rhythmic chanting of her fellow crew members and the directions of her river guide. As the waves grew, so did her smile! She was having a great time. When her Mom shared her favorite moment of the trip, it was the transformational experience SPLORE facilitates through all its programs. “I never imagined that my daughter could be an active participant today,” she said. In two days, this family realized that they all had the same possibilities as any other family.

When confronted with the word “can’t,” I can only hope that all those who have been involved with SPLORE will look back on their experiences and know that they “can.”

A Musical Night

2008-01-31T10:16:00.000-08:00

About a year ago, I was on the prowl searching for potential internships and came across this one website, “SPLORE: Outdoor Adventures for People with Disabilities.” I thought to myself, “Okay, this could be the one”. And sure enough, I got the pleasure to intern for SPLORE during the summer season and I could have not been any happier.

Why did I choose to work for SPLORE? The short version would be the statement, “Outdoor Adventures”.

Now for the long version… because I have a (so called) disability myself. Yuppers, you heard me right, I’m deaf. When I was a kid, I was often known as the deaf girl with the strange accent. Frankly, I was sick of it and craved for people to acknowledge other characteristics that I possessed, to look beyond my hearing loss. In my life experiences, it was always during the recreational pursuits where I became known as Cara, the girl who likes to make candles, go beach combing, play capture the flag, and just so happens to have the super power abilities to turn off her hearing whenever she chooses to (with a simple click I don’t have to listen to people’s talking to me anymore, hehe. Seriously, I don’t do that though. Really, I don’t.)

So why am I telling you this? Because SPLORE provides exactly this. Everyone is each recognized for the unique individuals they are (never mind whatever perceived differences they may have), walls are taken down, barriers are broken and people are recognized for their personality and skills they possess.

One fond memory of mine during my internship with SPLORE is from a river trip down on the Colorado River. When we first met the group we would be taking down, it was quiet and there was a sense of uncertainty in the air. As we rode down the river people realized that they were freed from boundaries they may have had, such as their chair, use of social skills, mobility limitations or whatever other perceived differences they may have because there on the river they weren’t recognized as a population with disabilities but rather a multiple mass of unique individuals. Everyone was called by their own and true names and were recognized either as good dancers or comedians, athletes, powerful with the water gun, creative in the arts, incredibly good at UNO, good rowers, and oh, I could keep going but I think you get the idea. I see it happen all the time here and it is just magical to see the barriers come down like dominos being knocked over one by one.

One participant I met on that river trip was Dolores, who has such a bubbly personality that just grew overtime. Dolores and I connected quickly because we both had one thing in common, our deafness. It was arranged that Dolores and I would be in the same raft and I could have not been more thrilled. We spent that day out on the river chatting, swimming and picking water fights with others. I learned what Dolores did for a living, got to know some of her friends and learned more about who she was. I also learned that Dolores was not someone you want to pick a water fight with because once you pick a fight with her, she never grows tire of it! She’s like the little pink energizer bunny with the batteries that keeps going and going and going and goin!… and she keeps going even if her unfortunate victim is already soaked to the skin (and of course these water fights were always welcomed by the other). Dolores was constantly dumping cups of water on us too -yes even us, her own teammates were unfortunate sometimes too! Basically, don’t pick a water fight with her cuz you’ll lose, guaranteed.

That evening on shore, Dolores became so integrated in the community and made a music instrument, made a beautiful tie-dye shirt, and enjoyed a delicious dinner with all of us. When dusk arrived camp-fire songs were played and Dolores was reminded that she couldn’t hear and got frustrated. However, with an invitation to feel the vibrations of the music instruments and to feel the amplitude box connected to the guitar she told me with excitement that she could feel the music. I cannot emphasize how special that moment was for both of us. To acknowledge what it’s like to feel the music and to be able to share that with everyone. From that point on, Dolores pursed a night full of music with everyone and danced the evening away until it became dark with the stars circling us above. I can’t say enough about that day, but that day was definitely a beautiful day.

So the magic of SPLORE? It’s not something that can be defined in a simple sentence or even a paragraph….

When reminiscing on my SPLORE experience I can only smile from satisfaction when I think about how much pleasure Dolores got out of the whole trip as well as myself. But not only her or me, but countless other individuals got to enjoy life with us during the warm summer either rafting, canoeing, or even climbing and each of them, everyone got to pursue a higher quality of life…. And that is the magic of SPLORE.

Cara Frank successfully completed her internship with SPLORE and she is about to graduate from Western Washington University with a degree in Recreation. Cara recently re-joined the SPLORE team as the newest AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer. Cara is the Community Relations Officer and she can be reached at caraf@splore.org.

The "Magic" is Mutual

2007-12-01T13:59:00.000-08:00

“Wow, that trip was great. Thank you,” is a common compliment heard on several SPLORE trips. In today’s busy world, sometimes it’s easy to over-look the importance of such compliments, but SPLORE takes life at a slower and more appreciative pace, transforming everyone’s experience into something magical.

“Family and friends are always welcomed on SPLORE trips,” I remember telling one participant, ‘Jane.’”

“That’s great!” Jane replied. “I really think my dad will enjoy going with me. We used to raft a lot together when I was a kid, but we haven’t in years.”

Jane and her father would often raft, camp, fish and spend a lot of time outdoors together when she was younger. Their outdoor recreation time with one another was their bonding time together. Then, when Jane became a young adult, she was diagnosed as having schizophrenia. Her time spent outdoors with her father started to dwindle as her behavior and side-effects from her medications made it harder for her father to plan outdoor trips together.

Everyone met at Dewey Bridge for the rafting trip. Jane and her father came down early so they could camp out the night before; it was the first time they had gone camping in several years. The whole group was excited to get on the water and go rafting. Jane and her father were the first ones to hop into the rafts that morning. “This is going to be so much fun,” they both exclaimed. The duo enjoyed the scenic views of the Fisher Towers, the rowdy water fights, spotting great blue herons taking flight and skimming the top of the river, sleeping under the stars, campfire songs and getting splashed from the rapids. They enjoyed all of these experiences in the company of each other and all of the other participants, volunteers and staff.

All in all, it was a pretty common SPLORE trip, until the rafting ended on the second day. After a lot of fun on and off the river, it was time to say our good-byes. I was standing with Jane and her father on top of a hill. We were gazing off into the distance, taking in the dramatic views of the red sandstone cliffs with a storm rolling into the background and the Colorado River still rumbling below.

In an excited voice I asked, “Did you guys enjoy the trip!?!”

“Wow, yeah, the trip was great. Thank you SPLORE,” her dad replied in a whisper. He couldn’t turn to look at me when he said that; perhaps because he was too mesmerized by the beauty of southern Utah before him; or maybe it was because his eyes started to swell-up with tears as his daughter hugged his arm and said, “That was a trip of a life-time, thanks for coming Dad.”

SPLORE provides life-changing experiences to people with disabilities, as well as their family and friends throughout the year, but this time I realized I was a part of their experience and it in turn also gave me a life-changing experience.

Kenny and Carol

2007-10-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

Kenny and Carol are two long-time SPLORE participants. Both Kenny and Carol have Cerebral Palsy, a muscle condition which impacts mobility and muscle control. Here is their SPLORE story…

Kenny became involved with SPLORE in 1998. He always wanted to be involved with SPLORE, but it wasn’t until he started working full-time and learned that one of his co-workers was on the SPLORE Board of Trustees. Kenny had no more excuses to not check-out SPLORE as his co-worker pointed him in the right direction.

Kenny later met Carol and they were married in 2004. Less than a year later, Carol went on her first SPLORE trip in May of 2005. “I had so much fun!” she said.

One of Kenny’s best SPLORE memories is from a multi day trip on Cataract Canyon:

“We went clear down to Lake Powell. We camped right where the Green River dumps into the Colorado River. We went for a two hour hike that turned into a four or five hour hike because I don’t move as fast as everyone else, but to do it on my own two feet was amazing. The SPLORE staff members and volunteers were there to support me. They did not rush me up or down. And that is the magic of SPLORE.”

Kenny also loves the therapeutic benefits of being outdoors. “There’s a lot of beauty that Mother Nature has,” says Kenny.

He also enjoys the social aspect of SPLORE activities. He says he just likes, “sitting down and visiting with people.”

Carol echoes the importance of community on SPLORE trips, “It amazes me that when we get on a SPLORE trip, no one knows anyone. But when say goodbye, we’re crying because we’ve gotten to know one another and we don’t want to go home. We bond with people every time.”

Kenny and Carol both say that there are things in their life they thought they would never do because of their disabilities. Kenny said he never thought he would be able to buy his own house. Carol says she never thought she would be married. However, the two will celebrate their three-year anniversary in the home Kenny bought; it is clear that their dreams have come true.

Kenny’s message to the world, “Do not give up on your dreams, no matter what they are. They will always come true!”

And if your dreams have to do with outdoor adventure trips, then SPLORE is the organization for you!

“When you’re on a trip with SPLORE, Mother Nature cradles you, it makes you expand your thinking and your abilities,” Kenny said.

What else do Kenny and Carol have planned with SPLORE? Carol would like to try snow skiing. Kenny admits that he is, “a wimp when it comes to the cold,” but concedes that he might try a Yurt trip. Whatever is next for Kenny and Carol, it is clear that it will involve many more SPLORE adventures. Why? According to Kenny it is because, “You are family the first time you step foot on a trip with SPLORE. SPLORE pulls out the best in you!”

It's All About Trying New Things!

2007-10-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

Colleen O’Hara: “Look for me at Monday Night Connections!”

Colleen has been involved with SPLORE for about a year, trying all sorts of new outdoor recreation activities. For example, last winter Colleen went on a dog-sledding trip with SPLORE and this summer she went on her first whitewater rafting trip down the Colorado River. Colleen enjoys the opportunities SPLORE offers to be outside and enjoy the great outdoors. She also really looks forward to SPLORE’S Monday Night Connection activities, where she first became involved with SPLORE.

Monday Night Connections are a chance for SPLORE participants to get together and learn a new outdoor skill or enjoy different aspects of the great outdoors. Some of Colleen’s favorite Connections have been the knot tying clinic or nights involving art and craft activities. Colleen also enjoyed going downtown with SPLORE last year to look at the Christmas lights at Temple Square.

Colleen has a learning disability and because of her learning disability, she said she sometimes finds it difficult to make new friends. At Monday Night Connections, however, Colleen feels, “more comfortable trying to make friends with people because they (SPLORE staff, volunteers and participants) are more understanding of people with disabilities.”

She also likes the Monday Night Connections because anyone can be involved whether they have a mild disability or something more severe.

“Everyone is welcome at SPLORE!” Colleen says.

Colleen encourages other people to get involved with the Monday Night Connections. She especially encourages people who work to take a break from their routines and enjoy the opportunity to relax with SPLORE.

“It is really nice,” Colleen says, “to have one night out of the week to do something other than work. It is a great opportunity to try new outdoor things and get to know people.”

Colleen hopes that her next adventure with SPLORE will be learning to ski. As Colleen says, “It’s all about trying new things!”

World's Best Dance Party, Ever!

2007-09-20T14:37:00.000-07:00

Sarah Farnell, one of SPLORE’s amazing summer interns, reflects on her experiences working with people with disabilities, rafting and the magic of life-changing accessible recreation.

In July of 2007 I was honored to participate in the World’s Best Dance Party, Ever. It all began one fateful evening on an overnight rafting trip on the beautiful Colorado River. After a fun-filled day of braving the rapids, we settled down at camp to relax and have dinner. This is where the excitement of a typical rafting program might end; at SPLORE, however; this is where the excitement begins…

To truly appreciate the magic of the World’s Best Dance Party, Ever you have to know a thing or two about SPLORE and about the people who participate in our programs. I didn’t know too much about rafting before I started working with SPLORE. I thought I knew a few things though: rafting is dangerous and you have to be a great athlete to do it, right? Turns out, I was wrong for the first time Ever ;-)

Some of our clients are world class athletes; one is even training for the next Paralympics. I’ve learned that rafting is an extremely adaptable sport. Done right it can also be a very safe activity. Throughout my summer working at SPLORE, I have seen people with spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, developmental disabilities, and social and emotional challenges participate in SPLORE’S rafting program. Some clients sat back and enjoyed the ride and others jumped right in and helped row the boats.

OK, Back to the World’s Best Dance Party, Ever …

One particular trip that I was a part of is a good example of the mix of people that participate in SPLORE activities. Everyone ranged in age from early 20’s to late 60’s. Some of us had physical disabilities, some of us had developmental disabilities, and some of us were dealing with illnesses and emotional issues. What in the world did we have in common? Some people might think there was nothing a group of such diverse people could connect through, but that’s the beauty of SPLORE and the “World’s Best Dance Party, Ever!” Gordo, a SPLORE staff member John, a volunteer, provided rhythm for the dance party on their guitars. The rest of us provided percussion from instruments we had made and found and together we all danced! One of the clients was sad that she couldn’t hear the music because of her hearing loss, but Cara, a SPLORE staff member, taught her to “feel the music” through the vibrations. We danced and danced however we wanted to: from our lawn chairs, our wheelchairs, or on our feet. I’m only going to say this once: there is no “right” way to dance and don’t ever let anyone tell you differently!

I forgot to tell you about myself. I am an intern with SPLORE. Another thing about me is that I lost my sister to cancer in January. My whole world fell apart in that moment and I am still trying to pick myself back up. I have often felt disconnected from the world since then. Why am I telling you this? Because during the dance party, watching everyone laugh and dance and “feel the music,” I didn’t feel disconnected anymore. I let down my barriers. And that, to me, is what SPLORE is all about: tearing down barriers. Tearing down physical barriers that make outdoor recreation inaccessible to people with disabilities; tearing down financial barriers that make outdoor recreation monetarily inaccessible; and finally, tearing down interpersonal barriers that keep people apart from each other because of preconceived ideas about difference.

THAT is the magic of SPLORE!!!

10 Memorable Years with SPLORE!

2007-09-11T16:07:00.000-07:00

By Steve Powell

This year, 2007, SPLORE is celebrating its 30th Anniversary of providing life-changing, accessible and affordable outdoor adventures to people of all abilities, primarily focusing on people with disabilities, including their families, friends, volunteers, care providers and staff. SPLORE has served over 30,000 individuals during that time and I’m very happy to be one of them! This is my 10th year with SPLORE and I’m so grateful that I was introduced to this unique and wonderful organization. Many people wonder what the name SPLORE means. It originally stood for “Special Populations Learning Outdoor Recreation and Education”, but since then the term “special populations” is no longer used to describe “people with disabilities”, so now the name is no longer an acronym, and the organization is simply known as SPLORE. When I first became aware of SPLORE, the name reminded me of “explore” – and that’s just what I was looking for – the chance to experience and explore new possibilities and adventures. As a coincidence, the word "splore" in Scottish means "a frolic; revel; or carousal", which is a great description for the exciting activities SPLORE provides to their participants! The four primary programs that SPLORE offers include river rafting in southern Utah, canoeing in northern and southern Utah, rock climbing in northern Utah, and winter activities in northern Utah and Wyoming.

I was involved in a life-altering car accident in 1983 in which I severed my spinal cord, and also sustained many other life-threatening injuries, including traumatic separations and dislocations of both shoulders, which has left me with very weak shoulders joints. After my accident, I spent almost 2 years in two hospitals and a nursing home, and although I was paralyzed from the chest down and would need to use a wheelchair, I knew I still had a lot of living to do! For several years after my accident, I admit that I was rather depressed, but I began to feel better about myself as I met new friends and tried new activities. I was happy to learn there were still many things I could do. I really enjoyed the challenges that came my way because they gave me the chance to grow both physically and emotionally.

I’m a great enthusiast of the outdoors, and participating in various outdoor activities is something I thought I was forced to give up due to my injuries. But that was before I became involved with SPLORE. My very first trip with SPLORE 10 years ago was a 5-day canoeing trip down Labyrinth Canyon on the Green River in southern Utah. Although I was very excited about the opportunity to go on the trip, I was also concerned about my ability to spend several days in the wilderness and take care of my personal needs. But the outstanding and experienced SPLORE staff assured me they were there to help me with any special needs I have. Their primary desire is for everyone who participates to feel welcome regardless of their disability or particular needs.

I was so thankful and thrilled that I went on that first river trip with SPLORE. It was one of the most incredible experiences I had ever had in the previous 14 years since my accident. I never knew that I would once again be able to enjoy the beautiful back-country of Utah, or paddle lazily down one the most scenic stretches of river I had ever seen! And that one trip with SPLORE impressed and excited me so much that I knew that SPLORE was an organization that I really wanted to stay involved with. Since that time, in addition to other canoeing trips, I’ve also had the opportunity to experience many white-water river rafting trips. In the past 10 years, I’ve had the chance to raft on the Salmon River in Idaho, the Snake River in Wyoming, the Gunnison River in Colorado, and the Colorado, Green, and Yampa Rivers in Utah. I even had the opportunity to raft down the Grand Canyon for 10 days. Wow! – how exciting and memorable every one of the trips has been!

For my 10th year with SPLORE, I was once again looking for a new adventure. The opportunity was made available for me to join a group from Wyoming with mild cognitive disabilities called CES (Community Entry Services) to go on a 5-day rafting trip down the San Juan River in the four corners area of Utah. The trip was sponsored by SPLORE and hosted by the wonderful sister rafting outfitter Holiday River Expeditions in Salt Lake City. I was so excited to go because I had never been on that river before and also because the four corners area is so rich in the history of Native Americans including the Anasazi, Navajo, and Utes. Early cliff dwellings remain tucked away in sandstone alcoves and petroglyphs can still be viewed in several locations along the canyon walls. The San Juan River begins its 360-mile journey on the slopes of 13,150' Montezuma Peak in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, and threads its way through Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah to the border of northeastern Arizona. It is joined by the Piedra and Los Pinos Rivers in the reservoir behind Navajo Dam in northern New Mexico. It flows southwest out of the dam, gathering strength from the Animas, the La Plata, the Mancos, and the McElmo Rivers, before carving out a 1,000' twisting gorge through the Goosenecks in southeastern Utah. The river finally merges with the Colorado River at Lake Powell.

We began our portion of the trip on the 84 mile section of the river beginning near Blanding, UT at Sand Island, and ended at Clay Hills Crossing near Lake Powell. Because the river drops a gentle eight feet per mile, there are only a few rapids. However, the fun trade-off is the sand waves that occasionally surface out of nowhere. Caused by the water's movement against the silted river bottom, sand waves can build in the middle of a section of flat water, providing a few moments of magical fun and disappear as mysteriously as they appeared. The San Juan is a perfect river trip for families and those with more extensive disabilities who may not be able to tolerate the larger, higher class rapids of other river sections.

The first day we met as a group in Blanding and had a pre-trip meeting that evening with Drew, the head guide from Holiday, and we got the chance to meet one another. I had actually been on a couple previous trips with some of the participants from CES, so it was fun to see them again and meet new folks, too. It’s always great making new friends! I have no family in the area, so I always utilize volunteers from SPLORE who are also willing to be care providers to accompany me as my helper on trips. In the past, I’ve always met and known in advance who I was going with on a particular trip. But on this trip, I only knew her name – Sarah. She was a college student from Tennessee and was out here in Utah for the summer supporting SPLORE as a guide for the rafting program as part of her college internship. Megan, SPLORE’s Program Director, was kind enough to let Sarah off from her regular duties in Moab to assist me on the San Juan trip.

Sarah was very anxious and excited because she got to come on the San Juan trip as a care provider, and I was very happy because every volunteer care provider who has come with me on past trips have always been exceptional at helping me to enjoy the best trip possible. I knew if Megan asked Sarah to assist me, she was confident that Sarah would be just as ideal for this trip. It always makes trips so much more fun and memorable to have such thoughtful and compassionate people to share experiences with. I feel so fortunate that there are many kind and caring SPLORE volunteers who are always willing to help. I met Sarah that first evening which also happened to be my Birthday, and she was one of the most kind, sweetest, and fun-loving individuals I have ever met. We went to dinner together that evening after the meeting for my Birthday and I knew just from talking to her that the San Juan trip was going be a fun, wonderful and a memorable experience!

We spent the night in Blanding and the next morning we took a 30 minute shuttle ride to our put-in at Sand Island. It was a beautiful morning and everyone was anxious to get on the river. The group divided up into three rafts, and Sarah and I rode on a raft with Gordo as our guide. He’s a long-time SPLORE guide, and Sarah was happy to be letting him do the rowing so she could relax and we could get to know each other better. Each day on the river we would stop somewhere along the river for a great lunch and sometimes those who could walk might go on a little hike. But what I really enjoyed the most is when we arrived at our camp each evening, and everyone would gather together around camp for socializing, games, story-telling or whatever. It’s just so peaceful to relax out in the wilderness so far from the hustle and bustle of normal city life. Relatively few people get to experience such solitude and personal growth!

Every day on the San Juan was a new adventure including the beautiful flowing river, majestic cliffs and anticlines, stunning peaks and spires, roaming wildlife and soaring birds, evidence of the river’s early inhabitants, learning about early explorers, royal blue skies by day, the twinkling of a billion stars by night, the warm crackle of our nighttime fires, great food, and the love of new friends. About a third of the way down the river we passed the famous rock formation called Mexican Hat – what a fascinating creation of nature! Continuing northwest downriver we entered the Goosenecks, a spectacular chasm carved through the Pennsylvanian Hermosa Formation that meanders and folds back and forth for five miles on the river within only one linear mile.

Our most enjoyable evening was the last night when everyone dressed up in colorful clothes for some wacky fun and marshmallow toasting. Everyone was in such a fun-loving and silly mood! The next morning it was time to go back home, but everyone was sad as to how fast the trip went by. What I was most thankful for was how considerate and helpful Sarah was – she always thought of everything to make the trip just right! Sarah’s back in Tennessee now, but I’ll always remember what an outstanding example she was of what SPLORE is all about – people helping people to achieve the best experience possible! The San Juan trip was another wonderful physical and emotional journey that I’ll never forget and one that I’ll always be grateful for because it was so enriching and inspiring. It’s the “Magic of SPLORE” and I can hardly wait to go on my next SPLORE adventure. I’m really looking forward to my next exciting and memorable 10 years!

If you’re not already involved in SPLORE and would like to be, to learn more please access SPLORE’s website at http://www.splore.org/.

If you would like to support SPLORE’s mission as a general program volunteer, please check the Volunteer page at www.splore.org/volunteer.html.

If you would like to assist a SPLORE participant as a volunteer care provider, please refer to the Volunteer Care Provider page at www.splore.org/careproviders.html.

If you would like to help support SPLORE as a donor, please visit the Contribute page at www.splore.org/contribute.html and also the Harvest Moon Auction page at www.splore.org/auction.html for information about our annual fund-raising auction.

SPLORE Ooohaha!

2006-08-29T14:04:00.000-07:00

Throughout the SPLORE community, several of our participants get involved with a wide range of programs that SPLORE has to offer. Meet Ashlee and Amee, two sisters that have been involved with SPLORE events for the last couple of years and are now “Professional Adventure Girls!”

Here is what they have to say about some of their favorite list of adventures they’ve been on with SPLORE:

“Some of the fun things that I, Ashlee, have gotten to do with SPLORE are: rafting, rock climbing and of course, my favorite winter things are dog sledding and snowshoeing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; it was tons of fun! I have also learned how to ski up at Snowbird, which was so much fun too!”

“Some of the fun things that I Amee have done with SPLORE are rock climbing, river rafting, Monday Night Connections, pumpkin carving, tie-dying and movie nights.”

What do the girls have on their list next? More of everything they just listed! At first the girls were a little nervous to participate in some of the events, but once they got going and knew they had a SPLORE buddy to help them along, all fears were erased and they started to challenge themselves on their next outing. For example, Ashlee loves rafting but she’s unsure of rock climbing and Amee loves rock climbing but she’s unsure of rafting. The two decided to team up and said, “I’ll try your favorite activity if you try my favorite activity.” By the end of this summer, both girls have tried something new, shouting, “woohoos!” and, “SPLORE Ooohahas!” at the end of each trip.

The Magic of SPLORE is two sisters supporting each other, stepping out of their comfort zones to try something new and growing in confidence.

The Magic of SPLORE is:

2006-08-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

This post was written by Megan Beaty, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer that wrote this as a reflection upon a year of service at SPLORE.

It’s like that Adam Sandler Comedy “50-first dates.” If you’re familiar, you know that the flick is about Henry (Adam Sandler) who falls in love with Lucy (Drew Barrymore) one sunny Hawaiian morning at a diner. They share laughs over breakfast and Henry is convinced that he has finally met the girl of his dreams. Everything seems to be going great—she falls for him, he falls for her and the plot should lead to a perfect, “and they lived happily ever after…” but there’s a catch: Lucy has suffered from a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) which affects her short term memory retention. Every morning she wakes up and remembers virtually nothing about the day before, including the fact that she had a simply wonderful time with her new found love, Henry. Henry wakes up every morning for the rest of their life and vows to make Lucy fall in love with him for that day.

This is a fictional Hollywood chick-flick perfectly tailored to pull the emotional heart strings of every 20-something woman in America. We melt over the romantic idea of a woman who can’t remember the events of the day before falling in love with a man who’s every moment is spent reminding her of how she feels about him.

Warp back to the real world:

There are real people, probably living in your neighborhood, who have acquired a TBI and spend each day struggling to remember daily events, personal information and finding it near impossible to transfer any short term memories into long term memories. These are the people who often find making friends difficult, maintaining even the strongest pre-injury relationships, and holding a job difficult, at best. In severe cases, memory is not the only thing affected. Often times mobility, speech, social skills, the ability to live independently and ability to return to “normal” life is out the window.

These are the people who find the magic in SPLORE programming. Imagine yourself to have a fairly involved traumatic brain injury: You’ve lost your job, your spouse and children chose to move out of the picture, you require assistance to perform daily living skills like cooking, driving a car and using the bathroom. You have minimal income, below the poverty level, thanks to Disability wages. And forget about taking vacations…they cost too much and you have no transportation…never mind the fact that you can’t take care of your basic needs without a care provider.

Then you hear about SPLORE. An organization that understands your brain injury and it’s implications, provides support financially, offers you a ride and a personal care-provider (free of charge), and creates more than a vacation—SPLORE creates an experience, that even people who have memory deficits find memorable. Impossible?

Let me tell you that I have witnessed the magic of SPLORE. Let me tell you that it happens all the time and has been happening for 28 years. Let me TRY to put an intangible and indescribable feeling into words for you.

The Magic of SPLORE is:

Tim Paxton, a man with a TBI, who uses a wheelchair for mobility because his balance is, at best, “iffy” during a “normal” day. He’ll leave his wheelchair at home for a weekend dog sledding trip in Jackson, WY, and walks like a champ for three days with only an arm for balance. Who calls the SPLORE office and asks for specific staff members and specific upcoming events, but can’t remember to take his daily medication or where he laid down his sunglasses. Who struggles to take steps without assistance, but literally climbs half-way up a mountain in Big Cottonwood Canyon with a SPLORE buddy climber for support.

“Dennis James Hughes from Indianapolis, Indiana,” (he re-introduces himself with this name once every couple of hours), who finds joy in rafting, builds relationships with new people and has people take pictures so he can try to remember the trip later.

Debbie, who’s husband and children found her brain injury to be too much to handle and left her after a car accident several years back, who says she finds strength and hope thanks to the compassionate and fun-loving staff on each program.

Brian, who uses a wheelchair, being transferred from solid ground onto a 16 ft inflatable raft with an adapted seat on the front deck, only to launch into class 2/3 rapids the next day. The peace and relaxation he found sitting on the beach painting pictures and wooden souvenirs for his children back home. Waking up pumped to be on the river, and screaming “Who’s your daddy!?!?!” as the raft crashes through every wave.

Ervin, whose hesitant and cynical outlook on the rafting trip was painfully apparent the first night of a three day trip. He sat in the car angry, for the first three hours and scowled when he finally emerged for dinner and we asked him to sing for his supper. The magic is the apology for his angry behavior at the campfire on day two. The magic is a man who never thought he’d ever be able to raft, manning the oars all through the flat water sections of the Colorado River. The magic is a man who seems very closed off and angry on day one, forming relationships and literally hugging his guide at the end of the trip.

Those are stories about only ONE population, from only TWO different trips, in only ONE year from, only ONE SPLORE staff’s experience. On any given SPLORE program, there are people of every age, every ability level and every walk of life. SPLORE is a place where clients, staff and volunteers connect with nature, with themselves and with other people on a level that isn’t alive in the everyday grind. Imagine how many lives have been touched and how much magic has been made in 28 years of providing year-round, outdoor recreation programming for people with disabilities and special needs. Imagine the magic that is still to be created.

So, while Hollywood creates magic on the big screen, SPLORE is creating magic in your backyard. And, yeah, it’s not as publicized and we certainly don’t bring in as much money, but believe me when I say that the “Magic of SPLORE” is more powerful and more heartfelt than anything produced by a Hollywood screenplay. This storyline is real life. While the words on this page are powerful, they can’t describe the excitement of watching someone live out something seemingly impossible. It can’t simulate the on-fire feeling you get from connecting with new people on a personal level. And you can’t fabricate the real excitement and amazement you find in yourself and other people. You just can’t make this stuff up. The magic of SPLORE is just that – magic – and it captures the intangibles of life at their pinnacles.