Accessing Adventure

By Scott Ker

Jeff moves towards the 17-foot sea kayak resting on the sunlit shore of Georgian Bay. With the hull of the boat secured, Jeff slides into the cockpit. A rush of apprehension, excitement and exhilaration spreads throughout his body. As his first paddle strokes cut the water, Jeff’s comfort level increases and the boat steadies. Both kayak and paddler are moved from the experience of cerebral palsy into a new sense of freedom, independence and accomplishment.

Jeff Peters is just one of many Canadians with disabilities who are becoming involved in inclusive outdoor programs. Jeff’s seven-day sea kayaking trip reflects the appeal of the movement towards inclusion. In his own words, the kayaking "made me feel like people with disabilities aren’t that different."

Whether you’re interested in sea kayaking, scuba diving, canoeing, cycling, tandem skydiving, horseback riding or just spending quiet time at a wilderness lodge with family and friends, the variety of outdoor recreational opportunities available to individuals with disabilities is increasing significantly.

Factors that have contributed to this growth include an overall expanding market for outdoor/adventure travel, mainstream integration, technological improvements in outdoor equipment adaptations, and specific initiatives from both the private and public sectors. These factors all combine to create an exciting new world of opportunity.

Bill Vastis has worked as a Counsellor and Leader-in-Training Coordinator at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) camp in Ontario for the past three summers. According to Bill, who has a visual disability, his most rewarding responsibility "is to adapt outdoor programs to best suit the needs of the people I’m working with." Bill’s infectious curiosity spurs him to seek solutions for the challenge at hand.

Bill has a great love of nature and the outdoors. His long-term goal is to become more involved in outdoor programs in a teaching and programming capacity. As the movement to inclusiveness in outdoor programs progresses, greater opportunities will arise for people like Bill to become increasingly active in a variety of roles.

The Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability has taken a prominent role in initiating and supporting inclusive outdoor recreation programs across Canada. The Alliance’s achievements include the creation of an up-to-date listing of inclusive programs for all provinces.

In 1995, the Alliance worked in association with the Canadian Recreation Canoe Association (CRCA) to develop Canada’s first-ever National Inclusion Canoe School. This year, CRCA is offering two National Inclusion Schools, for eastern and western Canada. These schools provide a forum for selected representative instructors from provincial and territorial canoe associations to share ideas pertaining to public awareness, promotion, and planning of inclusive programs. The goal at the forum is to train instructors to be better prepared for teaching and implementing programs for individuals of all ability levels and, upon the instructors’ return, to create awareness in their respective province or territory with local groups or individuals.

Edda Marie Favretto-Post believes that outdoor programming is important because "it shows what people who have [disabilities] can do, given support... and deters the underestimation of what [they] are able to do and enjoy doing."

Edda, who has a physical disability, participated in a week-long sea kayaking/canoe program organized by the Canadian Outward Bound Wilderness School. Edda believes that fresh air and sunlight are an important part of a healthy lifestyle. She feels there need to be more inclusive outdoor programs for people with physical disabilities.

Recreation Integration at the University of Victoria offers a wide range of outdoor choices through its Outdoor Explorations program. Activities include rafting, sailing, surfing, sea kayaking and tandem sky diving. These "exploratory" programs act as initial introductions to different outdoor activities. Recreation Integration promotes integration by working with other outdoor recreational service providers to create more inclusive programs in the greater community.

Inclusive programs in Alberta and Saskatchewan include Camp Bonaventure and Camp Horizon, which respectively offer fully integrated summer outdoor programs covering climbing, rafting, horseback riding, and canoeing.

When Richard Holloway began his seven-day canoe trip, he confessed he was "‘illiterate’ to canoeing and camping, having never been in a canoe, over a portage, or put in the support of other human beings." By the end of the adventure, Richard, who has a visual disability, felt that "through the progression of trust and confidence, my confidence in myself and others increased." Richard’s planned future endeavours include a guided fishing trip in the Northwest Territories in the summer ahead.

Roy Whilhelm, Inclusion Representative for the Ontario Recreation Canoe Association, says that ORCA is "moving towards inclusion." Roy has played an important role in the development of inclusive programs through personal initiatives on equipment design, teaching integrated canoe programs through Paddle Skills (London), and promoting public awareness.

Ontario has seen an increase in the number of agencies and organizations that offer inclusive programs. Outdoor Centres such as Boundless Adventures and the Kinark Outdoor Education Centre service groups offer a full range of instructed outdoor activities amid a wilderness lodge setting.

The Canadian Outward Bound Wilderness School offers the seven-day integrated canoeing/kayaking program referred to above. It includes a rock-climbing and high-ropes component. Equinox Adventures includes persons of all abilities in its white water kayaking and rock-climbing clinics. Paul Sevcik, Director of Equinox, says, "The adventure market is growing exponentially... virtually every user group is increasing."

Other Ontario-based organizations include Canadian Wilderness Trips, which will customize outdoor trips in Algonquin Park; Ability Adventure, which delivers year-round programs including dog-sledding, canoeing and kayaking; and Variety Village, where learning-to-kayak sessions are held in its pool.

In Manitoba, Camp Pioneer is a wilderness camp for children, adults and families. The camp is fully accessible and trips are integrated.

Last year saw the creation of the first-ever Partnerships in Travel Conference, held in Toronto. This successful event was co-coordinated by Catherine Smart, Ontario Recreation Coordinator for the Ontario March of Dimes. This conference was an opportunity for Catherine, who has taken an active role in creating and promoting inclusive outdoor opportunities, to bring a united focus to inclusion efforts in the travel and tourism industry for persons with disabilities.

In Quebec, another province with substantial outdoor possibilities, Keroul (based in Montreal) consults on travel opportunities for people with disabilities. More information on inclusive programs can also be found through the Quebec Camping Association.

For Casey, a wheelchair user, his canoe trip wasn’t long enough. While involved in Outward Bound’s Access to Adventure program, Casey said the outdoor experience was valuable in "giving people the opportunity to learn new skills [and] understanding more about nature." Casey’s comments signify the importance of integration: "[If] everyone goes on the level of mutual respect, they don’t look for inadequacies."

Tracy Jardine of the Recreation Council on Disability in Nova Scotia (RCDNS) believes that, in general, the increase in inclusive services is a combination of "people with disabilities becoming more involved and more visible, and of more programs being implemented that reach out to everyone."

From horseback riding to skiing to sailing, Nova Scotia offers a wide variety of outdoor opportunities for persons of all abilities. This year, Nova Scotia is also the site for the Canadian Recreation Canoe Association’s National Inclusion School for representatives from eastern Canada associations.

A more secluded option is Tim Atkins’ Mersey River Chalets, a lodge tucked in the Nova Scotia wilderness. Mersey River Chalets is a wheelchair accessible facility situated on the border of the Keji National Park. Canoeing and kayaking are both available, as is water access to Keji. According to Atkins, one positive outcome of Mersey River Chalets’ success has been a greater awareness of accessibility issues in the local business community, including tourism.

When Mary Lister is asked about why she is involved in outdoor activities, her response is, "Why not?!" Mary, in her 60s with cerebral palsy, has been globe-trotting for the past 30 years. The attraction to inclusive outdoor programs for Mary is the feeling that "when we’re in a canoe, we’re all pretty much the same." As Mary sees it, "the outdoors is an equalizer," and Mary likes to feel she’s involved in the same activities as everyone else.

While the Canadian tourism and adventure travel industry continues to grow, and as awareness and commitment to inclusion programs continue to evolve, the ripple effect will expand to related industries, making adventure travel for people of all abilities a reality. Coinciding with government and private-sector initiatives and technological innovations, the variety and depth of programs offered will broaden. As integration grows, and barriers to involvement -- both physical and attitudinal -- are bridged, a greater network of information and services will continue to provide more programs for all people.

As the sun begins to set on Georgian Bay, Jeff turns his sea kayak back to camp. The quiet waters in the secluded cove open up to the kayak’s sleek bow, guided by Jeff’s determination of where he wants to go. Next year, maybe...

(Scott Kerby is an Outdoor Instructor and Teacher. Scott developed New Passages, Wilderness Education, and consults in Toronto, Ontario, on outdoor education and inclusion programs. He can be reached at (416) 691-4502, or by e-mail: kerby@inforamp.net)

RESOURCES

Mersey River Chalets
Queen’s County, Nova Scotia
Tel.: (902) 682-2443

Recreation Council on Disability in Nova Scotia (RCDNS)
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Tel./TTY: (902) 455-6482
Fax: (902) 455-3063

PEI Rec. and Sport for the Physically Challenged
Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Tel.: (902) 368-4540

Association Quebecoise de loisir pour personnes handicappees (AQLPH)
Montreal, Quebec
Tel.: (514) 252-3144

Ability Adventure
Mississauga, Ontario
Tel.: (902) 274-2353
E-mail: ability@yesic.com

Active Living Alliance for Canadians With a Disability
Ottawa, Ontario
Tel.: (613) 748-5748, 1-800-771-1663
Fax: (613) 748-5782
E-mail: disability.alliance@rtm.activeliving.ca

Canadian Outward Bound Wilderness School
Toronto, Ontario
Tel.: (416) 421-8111 or 1-800-688-9273
Fax: (416) 421-9062
E-mail: obcanada@hookup.net
Website: http://www.outwardbound.ca

Canadian Recreational Canoe Association
Merrickville, Ontario
Tel.: (613) 269-2910
Fax: (613) 269-2908
E-mail: staff@crca.ca
Website: http://www.crca.ca/

Camp Pioneer
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Tel.: (204) 663-1481

Camp Horizon
Bragg Creek, Saskatchewan
Tel.: (902) 949-3818

Camp Bonaventure
Calgary, Alberta
Tel.: (403) 269-9133

Variety Village
Scarborough, Ontario
Tel.: (416) 699-7167