Local people with disabilities had a unique opportunity earlier this month with a challenge that included stations to learn about Canada.

It was hosted by the Community Recreational Initiatives Society, better known as CRIS Adaptive Adventures, a charitable organization founded in 2001 to assist people with disabilities experience nature and outdoor recreation.

On Friday, August 11, 48 CRIS participants and volunteers took part in the Canadian Youth Challenge thanks in part to $5,000 in funding from the Central Okanagan Foundation香蕉视频直播檚 Canada 150 grants program.

The challenge was designed to bring together young people with disabilities in the 15 to 30 age range, and to help them learn about Canada and its history while enjoying outdoor activities.

香蕉视频直播淲e created a 10 station course representing each province where they learned about some aspect of that province while using all of our adaptive equipment,香蕉视频直播� explained Dawn Widdifield, CRIS香蕉视频直播� executive director. 香蕉视频直播淔or example, for Alberta they dug up dinosaur bones on the beach, and for the Maritimes we kayaked out to 香蕉视频直播榠slands香蕉视频直播� in the water.香蕉视频直播�

An important aspect of the event was interaction amongst CRIS participants who are often isolated due to physical, developmental, mental or behavioural disabilities.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 great because on our regular CRIS adventures they usually only get to interact with one or two other people on the trip, whereas at this event they were in groups of five or more and able to socialize with people of similar ages,香蕉视频直播� Widdifield added.

CRIS currently works with over 170 participants throughout the Okanagan and has a roster of as many volunteers who give time to assist people with disabilities on short to multi-day outdoor adventures.

香蕉视频直播淲e work with those who have any kind of impairment, anything that it is disabling them from accessing the outdoors. We break down those barriers using adaptive equipment.香蕉视频直播�

The organization has specialized non-flippable kayaks, adaptive tandem bicycles, and trail rider chairs for hiking. In the winter, participants can enjoy snowshoeing and cross country skiing in adaptive equipment and special sleighs. However, such specialized equipment can be expensive.

香蕉视频直播淥ur trail riders can cost between $6,000 and $8,000 each,香蕉视频直播� said Widdifield. 香蕉视频直播淩ight now we are fortunate to have received battery-assisted trail riders, so that when we香蕉视频直播檙e on a hilly hike like up Mount Boucherie, it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 take as many people to pull uphill. Then those volunteers are freed up to do more trips with other participants.香蕉视频直播�