Support, Incorporated
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By Travis Wilson For the year of 2006, 28 different individuals were able to access the 64 available slots for outdoor adventures and/or traditional vacations through our BACPAC program. Each trip was intrinsically different from any other; accommodating various levels of cognizance, physical ability, personal care needs and recreational/activity tastes. Early in 2006 an interest level questionnaire was given to people served by Support, Incorporated in order to help guide the planning of adventures so that they were more person driven. The information gathered from roughly forty-five respondents were the driving force behind the introduction of less expensive day-trip adventures, like the very popular mountain fishing day trips, as well as the Renaissance Festival. The survey also gave indicators to freshen destinations to include trips to the Royal Gorge area, the State Fair, and cabin stays in the wilderness, along with re-affirming old favorites like trips to Las Vegas and the Wyoming Dude Ranch. Six overnight trips and four day-trips, adapted for a wide range of people with developmental disabilities took place this year as a part of Bold Adventures Creating Possibilities and Challenges (BACPAC): ů June: Mountain Fishing Day trip up to Dillon Reservoir and Georgetown Lake Summer Fun Camp in Glenwood Springs (2 nights, 3 days) ů July: Renaissance Festival Day trip in Larkspur, CO Wilderness-On-Wheels Mountain Fishing Day trip outside of Bailey, CO Wyoming Dude Ranch and Frontier Days Rodeo (3 nights, 4 days) ů August: Bear Creek Lake Fishing Day Trip/Red Rocks in Morrison, CO Steamboat Lake Camper-Cabin Trip (2 nights, 3 days) Colorado State Fair and Rodeo in Pueblo, CO (2 nights, 3 days) ů September: Mueller State Park/Royal Gorge Cabin Trip (3 nights, 4 days) ů November: Las Vegas adventure in Las Vegas, NV (2 nights, 3 days) Many people enjoyed classic overnight trips like the Summer Fun Camp, the Wyoming Dude Ranch, and Las Vegas this year. Participants needing more assistance with personal care needs were able to enjoy a shortened version of the Summer Fun Camp in Glenwood Springs again this year. Travelers experienced the therapeutic and relaxing effects of the Hot Springs Pool for an entire afternoon, along with shopping and sight seeing from the top of the mountain overlooking Glenwood Springs through use of a gondola ride. The relaxing environment of the Rocky Mountain School was the perfect backdrop for BACPAC’ers to fully take in the mountain air and participate in dancing and musical activities with their peers. Adventurers at the Dude Ranch in Wyoming were able to horse back ride, swim, tube, boat, sing around a campfire, and attend the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo along with visiting old Fort Laramie. Las Vegas provided a challenge for BACPAC’ers this year with very cool windy weather, but participants were still able to take in the sights and sounds of the “strip,” along with viewing an animatronic show depicting ancient roman mythology, coupled with a lot of shopping, eating, gambling, and viewing of fine art and wild animals. New overnight adventures guided by the feedback received from the interest survey included destinations to Steamboat Springs, the Royal Gorge region, and the Colorado State Fair. In the Steamboat Springs region campers stayed in cabins back-dropped to beautiful Steamboat Lake. This trip enabled folks with higher abilities to use and learn skills to participate in the communal experience of camping through helping out with various tasks around the campsite. A lengthy and educational wilderness hike was taken after a gondola ride to the top of the mountain where adventurers took in the sights and sounds of nature. During an evening, while enjoying pizza, BACPAC’ers were treated to a free outdoor concert on the side of the mountain that included a lot of dancing and singing by participants. The people who went on the Mueller State Park trip enjoyed the luxury of staying in a very well furnished cabin that back-dropped Pikes Peak and had Deer so close they came right up to the deck. Adventurers were able to gamble and ride a historic mining train trip in Cripple Creek one day, and experience the breathtaking beauty of the Royal Gorge on another day. Many people gained the courage to ride a tram car dangling on only a cable across the full length of the gorge, while others braved going to the bottom of the gorge for a completely different viewpoint. Cowboy boots, hotdogs, and carnival rides were the name of the game at the Colorado State Fair where participants experienced education about livestock and farm animals, enjoyed a petting zoo, shopped, created sand art, and then enjoyed a pro rodeo followed by a country western concert by Blake Shelton. People on this trip were also able to take in the splendor of the Garden of the Gods and take a guided tour of the United States Olympic Training Facility. Some of the most popular trips of the BACPAC season were the variety of new day trips including fishing at various locations in the front range region along with experiencing and learning about medieval times at the Renaissance Faire. One fishing trip enabled people with physical challenges to fish and hike at a place called Wilderness On Wheels, an all wheelchair accessible/planked trail and fishing system accommodating for people with all abilities. In the stocked pond at this location participants were able to experience the thrill and excitement of reeling numerous fish in along with tactilely learning about fish through touch. Through jousting, music, food, shopping, and character entertainment, participants were immersed in a lively and rich environment at the Renaissance Festival. One participant felt inspired and purchased his own knightly garb as a souvenir in hopes of wearing it again next year. For 2007, BACPAC will continue to provide fresh and entertaining experiences that are tailored to people with various abilities including many of the popular vacation spots along with some new ones and will again remain cutting edge so that trips are flexible and centered on a group’s areas of strengths and dreams.
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