A day of fun on the slopes with the FVSRA group this year in Breckenridge.
In a remarkable 23-year collaboration, Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) and Fox Valley Special Recreation Association (FVSRA) have partnered to bring the joy of outdoor adventures to FVSRA participants through BOEC’s Adaptive Ski and Snowboard Program and Wilderness Programs. This past January, a group of eight FVSRA participants and two staff members traveled to Breckenridge to ski with BOEC and enjoy five days together at BOEC’s Scott Griffith Lodge.
Rania Samawi, FVSRA Therapeutic Recreation Coordinator, shares their experience.
“FVSRA participants had the privilege of returning to Breckenridge, Colorado for an exciting week of skiing. While many participants were here to fine-tune their skiing skills, a few participants had the chance to ski for the first time ever! Throughout the week, FVSRA staff were able to see participants set personal ski goals and day after day, beat those set goals. From adding to their daily number of slopes to increasing the difficulty of each ski run, they achieved it all! Our adventurous group spent their days on the snowy mountains and their nights playing games, cooking dinner, relaxing with yoga, and dancing their way into the next adventure. We are already looking forward to next year’s ski trip!”
The FVSRA group enjoying a yoga class with Bhava Yoga here in Breckenridge.
For more than 45 years, Fox Valley Special Recreation Association (FVSRA) has been serving people with disabilities in Aurora, Illinois and surrounding areas. FVSRA offers over 600 programs of all varieties from sports to crafting to performing arts allowing participants to engage year-round and in line with their interests. This organization believes in social inclusion, ensuring that those of all ages with disabilities have equal opportunities as those without disabilities. In addition to local activities and outings, FVSRA offers trips to other states like Wisconsin to visit an adventure park or to Colorado for a skiing trip.
FVSRA on a Colorado based summer course rafting down Ruby Horsethief.
In addition to a trip to Breckenridge for skiing with BOEC’s Adaptive Ski and Snowboard Program, FVSRA also participated for several years in BOEC’s summer Wilderness programming taking river trips on the Ruby Horsethief section of the Colorado River. More recently the group has been focused on winter trips where alpine skiing, dance parties, cooking, karaoke, and talent shows fill their days. This group is particularly helpful and interested in cooking meals which allows them to learn new skills helping them achieve goals set for their week with the BOEC.
In addition to these high energy activities, the participants also enjoy adaptive yoga with long time BOEC instructor and generous supporter, Jane Barber, movie nights, and soaking in Breckenridge life. These participants learn more than new yoga poses and ski technique on these trips. They are also working on goals such as increasing self esteem, positive social interactions, and gaining independence.
“They are a fun-loving group and we are grateful to have this partnership for over 20 years. The consistency of their clients has allowed our staff to build relationships and friendships with their participants over the years,” says Claire DiCola, BOEC Admissions Director. Claire herself has been involved with FVSRA for 20 years, starting when she was a winter intern during the 2004-05 season. In fact, participants with FVSRA were the first group that Claire helped teach as an adaptive skiing instructor!
Maeve Ennis, a ski instructor for the BOEC Adaptive Ski and Snowboard program, has worked with FVSRA over the past couple of years and shares her experience,
“Working with this group means a week of feeling like you’re with family and just having a good time. The whole group has known each other for years, some even decades, and they welcome the BOEC staff with open arms each time they visit. I have never laughed more with a program at BOEC and it’s been my favorite course each year. I love hearing each participant’s story, whether that’s going to the national weightlifting championships for the Special Olympics or how this trip reminds them of skiing with their dad. The connections and memories made from my time course directing for Fox Valley the last two seasons I will cherish for a long, long time.”
All smiles at dinner time at the Scott Griffith Lodge for FVSRA. (Heddy, Heidi, David, Ben, Dustin - L to R)
Gardner Popp, BOEC’s Volunteer Coordinator, another multi-year instructor with FVSRA is pictured below in a yoga pose with David. She says,
“I was very fortunate to have been assigned to the Fox Valley course during my winter internship with BOEC in the winter of 2019-20. Their infectious joy, love of dance parties, and warm smiles create an environment that allows everyone involved to feel like family. Five years later, Dustin, David, and I still only refer to one another as “brother” and “sister.” I specifically remember after working with this incredible group of adults in 2019, that my time with BOEC was only beginning.The individuals that come year after year with Fox Valley Special Recreation Association embody all that BOEC stands for and we are a lucky organization to have them!”
David doing adaptive yoga with BOEC’s Gardner Popp
A friendship built over years of ski trips.
BOEC customizes adaptive programs for agencies, schools, veteran’s groups and many others. Our staff will work with you to design programs to meet your specific needs, abilities and goals. To learn more about these programs, please visit https://boec.org/programs/ or call Claire DiCola at 970-453-6422.
