Picture this.
It’s the middle of May, the weather is beautiful, and you are in Payson, Arizona, at the Whispering Hope Ranch, a recently renovated campsite.
The new cabins house 12 beds each, and the sidewalks throughout the facility have been widened for wheelchair accessibility. There are donkeys, horses, llamas, sheep, pigs and other animals suitable for riding, petting or simply admiring up close or from afar.
At any moment, a game of bocce ball or wheelchair volleyball can break out, a good old-fashioned campfire is ignited, and arts and crafts projects are underway. You can go fishing on the lake, meet and talk with other individuals with spinal cord injuries, or try your luck at the blackjack and poker tables during Casino Night.
These and many other recreational and social events filled four phenomenal days at the Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association’s first annual retreat, May 17 through May 21.
“Our ultimate goal was to plan a retreat to bring together people with SCI in a safe, comfortable environment,” explains Amy Rocker, Community Relations Director for the Association.
“Some individuals were newly injured and were looking for recreational activities,” Ms, Rocker continues. “Others had not been on a vacation of any kind for a very long time. This was an opportunity to bring people together for a lot of fun, informal networking, and relaxation.”
Fifty-five participants – including individuals with SCI, volunteers, Association staff and board members – attended the retreat. Approximately 25 to 30 of the participants were individuals with SCI.
Rebecca Burch, Project Manager at the Arizona Governor’s Council on Spinal and Head Injuries, attended the retreat as well as some of the planning committee meetings.
|
“There is always a certain camaraderie among individuals with SCI," says Ms. Burch. “This retreat was not only a great consumer-directed event, but a real learning experience for the newly injured individuals.”
The unique aspect of the retreat was that it was a fun, informal break to meet with other people and have a good time.
“I loved the facility, and the staff was wonderful,” adds Ms. Burch. “There were lots of activities to choose from. For me personally, fishing was a definite highlight.”
Ms. Rocker, who chaired the committee that coordinated the event, applauds the hard work of the committee members who helped to plan the retreat.
“Our planning committee worked really well together,” she says. “It’s amazing how one idea can take off and turn into something this wonderful.”
The committee coordinated the activities and made sure that there were enough volunteers, as well as two caregivers to provide assistance to individuals with high-level injuries. A nurse was also on-hand during the four-day retreat.
The feedback from the retreat evaluations has been overwhelmingly positive. The Whispering Hope camp, which is about 80 percent accessible, can accommodate up to 120 people.
It is Ms. Rocker’s goal to see the facility filled to capacity for next year’s retreat.
For more information about the Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association retreat, please contact Amy Rocker at (602) 239-5929 or toll free at (877) 778-6588 |
