Category: Accessiblity & Inclusion Resources
Last Tuesday, May 5th our partners over at Ocean Positive headed way inland to join 18 members of the NJ School of Conservation team for an inspiring training session talking about safe, inclusive outdoor recreation that builds communities and inspires others to care about the places we love from the ocean to the mountains.
This was done in conjunction with Pinelands Alliance’s – Nature Accessible for All campaign.
Ocean Positive was on the campus of NJ SOC for a Safe & Positive for All training — and what was supposed to be a 90-minute session turned into a genuine conversation about what it means to ensure that everyone who immerses themselves in nature can have a lifetime of safe and positive experiences.
What happens when you put 18 outdoor educators in a room and ask them to think about who might not feel safe or welcome in the spaces they steward? The staff at NJSOC, soon found out.
Educators. Field staff. People who spend their lives helping others connect with the natural world. They shared their inspiration and insight that makes this work matter.
By training the trainers, these best practices don’t stop with the 18 people in that room. They have the potential to reach the nearly 4,000 people who visit NJSOC each year for programs and field experiences — many of whom may be living with spinal cord injuries, movement and sensory limitations, or neurological differences that standard wilderness safety training too often overlooks.
The NJSOC team doesn’t just teach conservation — they live it. Making sure their programs are accessible and empowering for everyone is a natural extension of that mission.
Grateful to Kerry, Tanya, and the entire NJSOC team for having us. Nature is for everyone. Making that true in practice — not just in principle — takes training, intention, and teams like this one.
More great news for those advocating for more accessible trails and green spaces for passive recreation. U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver introduced the Parks to People Active Transportation Act, a bill which would dramatically expand federal funding for greenway path projects.
Greenway paths help connect communities to natural spaces and parks, and the bill would specifically work to create equity in access to recreation and the outdoors.
You can view the main story – HERE
There is some exciting news for residents of South Jersey in way of new accessible trails for passive recreation. In a news report Camden County breaks ground on first mile-plus segment of its planned 34-mile LINK Trail between Audubon and Haddon Heights, aiming to finish the off-road path by year’s end.
Read the full article – Camden County LINK Trail
New developments!! Burlington County has released a new report on findings of proposed new trail systems to expand its network of accessible trails . The county envisions 50 miles of new recreational trails network through 8 towns.
The 251-page Southern Regional Trails Feasibility Report details potential routes, construction costs and expected benefits for trail development.
The trail would span Mount Laurel, Moorestown, Maple Shade, Evesham, Medford, Tabernacle, Southampton and Shamong.
The full report is available online on the County’s website at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/23227/Southern-Regional-Trails-Feasibility-Report—January-23-2026.
These courses are designed to make learning American Sign Language engaging, accessible, and community centered.
CorpsTHAT group courses are perfect for:
-Beginners or those refreshing their ASL skills
-Individuals, families, educators, and professionals
-Anyone interested in Deaf culture and inclusive communication
What you can expect:
-Interactive group sessions
-Clear instruction with real-life signing practice
-A supportive and welcoming learning environment
-Focus on both ASL language and Deaf culture
Course details:
-Format: Group classes (virtual via Zoom)
-When: Winter, spring, summer and or fall
-Duration: 10 weeks for an hour twice a week sessions
Spots are limited for a maximum of 8 students per class to ensure quality interaction.
Here is a great resource for land managers seeking to complete trail and nature site accessibility improvements. The document provides ADA accessibility tools to determine if the surface is improved to a firm and stable surface. Offering low-cost, sustainable solutions for the improvement of ADA-accessible trails, more people will have access and connectivity will increase in our community.
This study outlines the long-term benefits of using naturally occurring, binders applied topically to unpaved trails and discusses the expected increases in firmness and stability.
Full article – http://National Institute for Transportation and Communities – ADA Accessible Trail Improvement