Atlanta, GA,
14
February
2018
|
09:00 AM
America/New_York

Online Registration Opens for Adventure Skills Workshop 2018

Online registration is now open for Shepherd Center's annual Adventure Skills Workshop (ASW), set for May 18 to 20, 2018 at Lake Martin in Jackson’s Gap, Alabama. Participants can register online at Shepherd.org/ASW.

“Adventure Skills Workshop offers participants a sense of adventure and independence,” says recreation therapy manager Kelly Edens, CTRS. “From trying new activities and perfecting old ones to meeting new friends, ASW is a highlight of every year for our participants, staff and volunteers.”

This weekend event is designed for people ages 15 and older with spinal cord injury or disease, acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, post-polio syndrome, Guillain-Barre syndrome, transverse myelitis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Participants will get hands-on practice in outdoor activities they have always loved, as well as those they have always wanted to try, such as adaptive waterskiing, scuba diving, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, tennis, animal encounters, zip lining and wall climbing.

Participants who need assistance with self-care, transfers, mobility, following maps or directions, feeding or anything else, must bring a friend or family member.

ASW is held at Camp ASCCA, a wheelchair-accessible facility. The cost is $225 per person and includes meals, lodging, activities, instruction and a T-shirt. For family members or attendants, the cost is $200 and covers lodging, meals and a T-shirt. Directions and a detailed information packet will be sent upon receipt of application. Housing is in air-conditioned group cabins with a limited number of private rooms available.

The registration deadline is April 13. Space is limited, and registration is likely to close before the deadline date. In case of participant cancellations, organizers will maintain a waiting list after registration is full.

ASW is hosted by Shepherd Center’s Recreation Therapy Program with the mission to help people with a temporary or permanent disability caused by injury or disease to lead healthy and active lifestyles as independently as possible through the use of recreation activities, providing education, skill development and community reintegration opportunities.

Other recreation therapy events and activities are also scheduled for 2018:

  • Several health and wellness clinics, including adaptive golf, tennis and a para-triathlon clinic are planned throughout the year. These clinics are for individuals with a spinal cord injury, C-6 or below and other disabilities with similar physical function. The clinics provide the opportunity to become physically active and gain insight to achieve a well-balanced lifestyle.
  • This year’s Wheelchair Division of Atlanta’s AJC Peachtree Road Race will be held on July 4. It showcases more than 100 wheelchair athletes and is one of the most competitive 10k wheelchair races in the country. A qualifying time is required to participate. Online registration is expected to open later this month.

For a full list of events, click here. All events require pre-registration. For more information, contact Recreation Therapy manager Kelly Edens at kelly.edens@shepherd.org or 404-350-7793.

About Shepherd Center

Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems, Shepherd Center is ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.