Wilderness Tips

Many parks offer accessible features, including campsites, picnic areas and trails

At 21, Ashlee Dag is already a seasoned camper who’s racked up her fair share of black-fly bites and campfire tales. This summer, she’s gearing up for her 15th camping excursion with the Ontario March of Dimes (OMOD), a six-day experience that’s clearly the highlight of her year.

“I just love getting out,” the bubbly North Bay resident exclaims. “I love being outside and getting away from doctors. I get away from stairs and stares. I’d rather go camping than go to Disneyland.”

Living with both cerebral palsy and epilepsy, Dag enjoys the accommodations at camps like those provided by OMOD and Easter Seals, which have long offered summer recreational experiences for people with physical disabilities and a community of people who “get it.”

But for many Canadians living with disabilities, accessing the great, green wilderness may seem like a physical and emotional impossibility. The thought of driving a couple of hundred kilometres to a campsite, pitching a tent in the woods, and struggling to cook over a campfire may be daunting. However, a closer inspection suggests that this doesn’t have to be the case.

Diane Wilson, senior activity analyst in the visitor experience branch for Parks Canada, says that since the 1990s, when the federal government introduced its barrier-free policy, improvements in camping accessibility have become a priority for her department. “We are continuously upgrading infrastructure to improve the accessibility of our national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas,” she says. “Along with people with disabilities, we have an aging population, so we’re motivated to improve visitors’ experience. We’re working more and more with access groups to improve infrastructure and services, and on how we can communicate our offer to visitors.”

At present, Wilson says, there are over 20 accessible campsites spread across 60 areas nationally. Parks Canada manages 42 parks, and many of these feature accessible camping facilities. Provincial parks offer hundreds more opportunities for accessible camping as well.

Canada has very diverse geography, and our parks reflect this, ranging from mountainous wilderness and Arctic islands to grassy plains. Because of the varying locations and terrain, levels of accessibility vary widely. By planning and asking the right questions, campers can experience an abundance of the same pleasures as people without disabilities.

Good, accessible campsites follow the principals of Universal Design, a concept that encourages the pro-active use of products and space by people of varying abilities in anticipation of future design requirements.

“Aging in place” has become an important mantra of seniors in recent years, and both older people and those with disabilities are utilizing features such as grab bars and ramps in their homes. This allows them more independence and the ability to live with dignity in the place of their choosing.

Accessible campsites follow the same logic. A smooth surface on a nature trail can make all the difference to a person with a mobility disability, as can a ramp to someone using a wheelchair. Ramps, for example, should be built on a 1:12 ratio, 1:16 if possible, to offer users greater comfort and ease of movement.

Accessible campsite features and services should include asphalt on flat, smooth ground to aid in getting in and out of vehicles, and at least an extra four-foot radius to turn a wheelchair around. There should also be a clearance area of at least four feet around grills, which should be three feet high and include a swivelling base, to enable a person who uses a wheelchair to cook. Picnic tables should be at least 29 inches off the ground and include extensions at least 19 inches past the legs on both sides

When nature calls, what are you going to do? Indeed, accessible washrooms and outhouses are primary concerns for campers with disabilities, and “comfort stations,” as the government politely calls them, should also follow the principles of Universal Design. This includes wider doors, washrooms with grab bars and enough space to turn a wheelchair around, as well as roll-in showers with lowered nozzles and hand adaptors.

Wilson says that these accommodations are available in many national parks, and visitors can also find them in park features such as outdoor kitchen shelters and outdoor theatres.

Of course, the pleasure of camping goes beyond the campsite itself. Nature trails and exhibit centres are prominent features in most national parks, and these are often outfitted to be accessible to people with disabilities. (Note, however, that not all trails are accessible – Parks Canada focuses on a selection of trails in “front country” areas, so it’s a good idea to call ahead and inquire.)

Wilson says accommodations in these areas include the introduction of boardwalks wide enough for wheelchairs, railings for those who are blind or have low vision, and benches for people with mobility disabilities. Lowered fountains with larger levers and suitable grips are also starting to dot park landscapes. For educational programs at amphitheatres, a feature at many parks, Wilson says that interpreters for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing can often be arranged.

“From a parks perspective, we are trying to match visitors’ needs to services. Some people arrive with expectations that do not translate to all national parks, so it’s important to conduct research before arriving,” advises Wilson.

Since many parks only have one or two accessible campsites, it’s critical to check the Parks Canada website to review individual parks’ accessibility features. It’s also wise to call well in advance to make reservations and ask about adaptive equipment, such as the availability of all-terrain wheelchairs that can travel over rough patches of land or in water.

I’ve said it already, but it’s worth repeating: Some parks are more accessible and developed than others, so be sure to do your homework!

Inclusive camping and parks are gradually becoming a reality for many people with disabilities, and that in itself is a step in the right direction. Further incentives for camping include reduced rates for those with a disabled parking permit or a National Identity Card issued by CNIB.

For those who require a little extra encouragement, the final word comes from avid camper Ashlee Dag: “Go out and don’t be afraid to try something different. Bring a friend, pictures, a journal and an iPod, and relax. You only live once.”

Toronto social worker, writer and trainer Carter Hammett is a frequent contributor to Abilities. He wrote “Coach’s Corner” for our Winter 2007 issue. Carter can be reached at journalist4hire@yahoo.com.