Kara Lapso
Aug 21, 2024
We have been so excited to collaborate with Recreation Club an organization based in Shaker Heights, OH, dedicated to promoting outdoor activities for all ability levels. Recreation Club provides a safe, engaging environment for teens and adults with autism and other intellectual disabilities.
Every Saturday, Recreation Club offers a full day of structured time to enjoy physical activities, fresh air, and meaningful social connections for teens and adults with autism and other intellectual disabilities. The programming includes bike riding, hiking, and even a meal. At the same time, they provide the family caregivers with a much-needed 8-hour break to recharge, avoid burnout, and connect with their spouse, other children, and friends.
The work that Recreation Club is doing is so important. The incredible mental and physical health benefits of spending time in nature are widely known yet people with intellectual disabilities commonly have barriers to experiencing these benefits. Recreation Club breaks down these barriers by providing the training, support, and guidance for their participants by providing 1:1 or 2:1 staff to participant support during their adventures.
OTC is working with Recreation Club to identify new hiking opportunities across Cuyahoga, Summit, Portage, and Geauga Counties (ideally within about 20-minutes of Solon or Aurora). Both out-and-back and loop trails are suitable, with a preference for route nearby that include 5 miles of trail for more advanced hikers and 2 miles of easy trail (under 5% grade) for those who need a gentler path. The club is flexible with trail surfaces and can manage minimally technical trails with some roots.
Recreation Club is also seeking a location on or near a body of water to provide paddling experiences for their participants. Ideally, they would like to rent double kayaks or have the option for one kayak to be towed by another. They are particularly interested in flat water areas, such as lakes or reservoirs. While two of the ten participants will not be paddling, they will thoroughly enjoy the experience of being out on the water. Please note that all participants will have one-on-one support from paid staff, or in some cases, two-to-one support.
We are collecting trail and paddle info in this spreadsheet. Are there trails or paddling companies we are missing? Please Kara@opentrailcollective.org with any suggestions! We'd love to know about your favorites!