Story Archives - Page 11 of 12 - Nature: Accessible for All

Ocean Positive creates programs and opportunities for sustainable positive impacts on the health, well-being, safety and strength of our oceans and communities.

Blue Journey Unified Programs (BJUP) offers adults living with Spinal Cord Injuries, Disorders and Movement Challenges (SCI/D/MC) the opportunities to play, train and compete year around in open water sport disciplines of paddle-boarding, swimming and kayak. The program offers pool training (swimming and prone paddle-boarding) in the winter and open-water prone paddle-boarding, kayak and swimming programming in the summer.

Blue Journey Unified innovative program:
– Brings together a community of adult athletes and professionals in sustainable partnerships
– Provides people with SCI/D/MC the opportunity to train, play or compete alongside non-SCI/D/MC or Challenged friends and family to take part in both adaptive and non-adaptive community aquatic sports events
– Provides an activity that increases flexibility as a result of the unique prone position, sense of balance from the work involved in staying on the board, and endurance, cardiovascular health, strength, and resulting mobility from the regular physical activity.

Measurable goals for BJUP include:
– Increased physical capacity and well-being measured by flexibility, endurance, strength, mobility, and sense of balance
– Increased community participation measured by attendance at or participation in BJUP practice sessions, multi-discipline aquatic events, and other non-aquatic activities with BJUP team members
– Increased Quality of life measured by Spinal Cord Injury–Quality of Life (SCI-QOL)
– Reach out about pop-up paddles and other sessions in some new waters.

Want to host a session in waters closer to your home for a team or community? Contact Ocean Positive via email and they will work with you about setting up sessions.

Attention beachgoers! Don’t let ocean and shoreline hazards keep you from enjoying your time at the beach this summer; instead, boost your “Blue IQ” through this episode. Listen to ocean and coastal safety expert Bruckner Chase discuss common beach hazards and best practices to keep you and your loved ones safe in the surf. Hosted by the NOAA.

This 2023 article by WHYY focuses on the collaborative work we are undertaking with state parks and other land managers at the federal, local, and non-profit levels to work on solutions that change planning and policy for individuals with disabilities, so there is more inclusion and equity in natural outdoor spaces.

Check out the amazing work that Flat Rock Brook Nature Center has completed!! We are proud partners of the Nature Center in our efforts to make nature sites, trails, and programming more inclusive and accessible for individuals of varying abilities. The Nature Center was a recipient of a modest stipend from the Nature Accessible for All initiative facilitated by Pinelands Preservation Alliance to help them complete the restoration and accessibility work at there site.

Visitors now have access to the new nature-based playground, the orange loop trail, picnic groves and comfort station.

The area features several ADA-compliant features including ramps, the bridge across the brook, picnic tables and our nature-themed playground abides by Jake’s Law design mandates.

Please call the center at (201) 567-1265 / email them at questions@flatrockbrook.org if you have any questions.

Also check out there website and social media pages to learn more – Flat Rock Brook

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.