Resource Category: Inclusive Nature Programming

Organizational Summary

Our Mission: Connecting and transforming communities through the power of trails.

We drive our mission by fostering positive change in key areas:

• Professional Development and Education: Promoting well-trained trail professionals and volunteers.
• Advocacy: Forming coalitions to shape pro-trail policies at all government levels.
• Data and Research: Cultivating support through partnerships.
• Funding and Resources: Enhancing access for under-resourced organizations and underserved communities.

Organizational Summary

We create programs and opportunities for sustainable positive impacts on the health, well-being, safety and strength of our oceans and communities. We develop and implement innovative programs and events that build personal, emotional connections between communities and the oceans we share. Our vision is for people to have life-long, personal connections to the water along with the knowledge, skills and tools that will make those experiences safe, empowering and Ocean Positive. Blue Journey Unified Programs (BJUP) offer 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. In prone paddle-boarding participants lie down face first on a lifeguard racing board-style craft and move through the water using their hands and arms. The sport provides a unique opportunity for people with SCI/D/MC to participate in an athletic/recreational activity with minimal need for special equipment or accommodation. When people with and without SCI/D/MC paddle next to each other it is virtually impossible to discern who arrived at the beach in a wheelchair. Prone paddle-boarding, kayaking and open water swimming are globally practiced activities that are all components of international open water sports as well as being individual aquatic sport disciplines practiced at open water venues around the world. In prone paddle-boarding participants lie down face first on special race boards and move through the water using their hands and arms. The sport provides a unique opportunity for people with SCI/D/MC to participate in an activity with minimal need for adapted equipment or accommodation. When people with and without SCI/D/MC paddle next to each other it is virtually impossible to discern who arrived at the beach in a wheelchair. The inclusion of racing kayaks known as surf skis provide those who may have physical barriers to laying down prone or who prefer a different activity the chance to enhance their strength, endurance and balance that allows them to explore local waters side by side with those with and without SCI/D/MC. Swimming is recognized as a valuable rehabilitation and exercise modality for anyone with or without a physical challenge. The addition of open water opportunities with professional coaches allows participants to immerse themselves in an outdoor activity that also frees them from many limitations they may find on land.
To do all this, BJUP creates communities of people with and without SCI/D/MC that come together on a regular basis to train and socialize. This sustainable, ongoing program focus creates opportunities for people with SCI/D/MC to paddle with friends and family for recreation and/or athletic training and competition in both adaptive and non-adaptive sports events. Swimming, paddle-boarding and kayaking can increase physical and emotional well-being and ameliorate secondary conditions commonly experienced by people with SCI/D/MC, including poor posture, muscle imbalances, compromised skin integrity, decreased cardio-vascular and pulmonary health, and muscle spasticity.

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)

Organizational Summary

Primary mission is to preserve the Pine Barrens ecosystem, promote public engagement in the preservation and enjoyment of natural resources, and advance the acquisition of land and development rights for conservation.

We seek to connect people with nature by promoting universal and equitable enjoyment of the benefits of our natural resources.

With Pinelands Adventures and The Pinelands Is for Everyone, we help people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities explore nature through health-giving recreation – and so develop a genuine devotion to environmental protection.

Through Rancocas Creek Farm, our regenerative vegetable farm, we are developing an array of projects and partnerships to increase sustainable farming and bring healthy food from local farmers to all South Jersey families.

We are dedicated to furthering justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our staff and our work. Everyone should have access to recreation, clean air and water and the scenic beauty the Pinelands provides. Pinelands Preservation Alliance does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its program or activities. Read our justice, equity, diversity and inclusion vision statement.