Tips for Safe Exploring Archives - Page 2 of 2

Check out this insightful article Summer Activities for People with Disabilities: Inclusive and Accessible Fun – United Cerebral Palsy. Glean insight why this topic is impactful not just for the individual with the disabilities but also, friends, family and the entire community. Learn about opportunities in your area, and partner organizations offering fun and resources.

Check out this blog post from United Cerebral Palsy Organization, Traveling with a Disability: A Guide to Accessibility – United Cerebral Palsy , which dives into the basics for planning your outdoor adventures to maximize your confidence, enjoyment, convince and safety.

Beach mats improve accessibility to beaches in Cape May. Credit: Office of Governor Murphy

Who’s ready to hit the beaches? Exciting reports about accessibility are coming from the southernmost reach of our beautiful state!

Cape May County has announced the unveiling of more than a mile stretch of beach now accessible for individuals with mobility concerns.

This is all made possible by the installation of a beach mat. This mat system provides a flat, stabilized surface atop the soft sand, making it easier for assistive mobility devices like wheelchairs, scooters, crutches, canes, or walkers. Accessibility features like these beach mats allow friends and families to have shared experiences in nature and outdoor recreation, which will only create a healthier lifestyle for all in the community.

Check out the Cape May Promenade which leads to Cove Beach, past Convention Hall. Here, you will find the beach entrance with an accessible beach mat! It is truly amazing to see local communities take on this humbling, well-needed, and deserved initiative for inclusion and accessibility. We hope this news spreads and inspires others to follow suit within their public spaces.

Similarly, Access Nature supported the New Jersey State Park Service (NJSPS) last summer at the Atsion Lake Recreation Area in Shamong, NJ. After facilitated discussion and resources that Access Nature provided to the NJSPS, the recreation area acquired beach mats that allow visitors with mobility concerns down to the water’s edge. To further enhance accessibility and inclusion, Pinelands Preservation Alliance and the Access Nature initiative donated two beach wheelchairs to the site so individuals who need assistance can borrow the equipment while they visit.

You can learn more about Atsion Lake Recreation Area and check out the ADA-accessible beach mat here!

Learn more about ongoing projects for the “Pinelands is for Everyone” and statewide “Nature: Accessible for All” initiatives by visiting The Pinelands is for Everyone webpage. If you are interested in learning how to apply similar outdoor accessibility projects to spaces near you, use our contact form to connect with us.

Nature is for everyone who seeks to enjoy its splendor – that is our motto. Spending time outside offers many physical and mental health benefits. These benefits include stress reduction, social bonding, and exercise. However, knowing how and what to plan for and finding places to enjoy outdoor recreation can seem daunting. There are countless variables to be considered when planning an outdoor adventure, especially when you have mobility or sensory concerns, deafness, or blindness.

There are many variables when planning an outdoor adventure, especially when you have mobility or sensory concerns, deafness, or blindness.

At the end of last year, The Nature Conservancy came to Pinelands Preservation Alliance (PPA) and the Access Nature initiative about an opportunity to collaborate on educational and tutorial films they have entitled Nature 101: Be An Insider, Outside!

These videos are geared towards novice outdoor enthusiasts and were created to inform those who may not have experienced outdoor adventures but are interested in doing so, with the proper knowledge and resources to make it a pleasant experience. The video that I helped with deals with accessibility considerations for folks with disabilities. Its premise is to promote the fact that the outdoors are for everyone. We want to build up this concept so that it becomes ingrained in our society’s way of thinking. This new way of thinking will encourage land managers, public officials, and the general public to consider ways to make their sites, amenities, and activities more inclusive for all.

We hope you will watch and learn about the valuable resources and considerations needed for you to enjoy your outdoor adventures. By going to the PPA YouTube Channel you can access these videos. You can also visit The Nature Conservancy Hiking 101 webpage.