Adventure extends to all at Common Ground
Cache Valley is known for its outdoor activities. From boating to hiking, there is something for every outdoor enthusiast to do.
When the weather starts to get warm, outdoor organizations usually get ready for more activity. However, one Logan outdoor organization caters to a different crowd.
Common Ground is a nonprofit outdoor organization based out of Logan. This year, it is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Started in 1993, Common Ground helps people with all types of disabilities enjoy different outdoor activities such as camping, hiking and river rafting. But it takes a lot of planning to put these types of programs on.
“As a nonprofit organization, about 90 percent of our money is donated from the public and from private donors,” said Sammie MacFarlane, executive director of Common Ground. “We receive no government funding, so we rely heavily on donations.”
Common Ground serves about 2,400 people per year. Because Common Ground is nonprofit, they rely on the help of volunteers.
“Since we opened, we’ve had over 650 students from USU who have come on a regular basis to help volunteer for the programs,” MacFarlane said. “Having lots of volunteers really help makes the programs run a lot smoother.”
On average, there are six to eight volunteers per program. There are special programs the organization puts on called “Destination Trips,” where there can be more people than usual.
This year, Common Ground is putting on a special program to help celebrate their anniversary. They are taking a group of visually-impaired people on a bike ride around the Grand Canyon. This program is being promoted by the Gibney Family Foundation, a program providing resources to the visually impaired.
“Our destination trips are some of the most popular that we put on,” said Lauri Muller, programs manager. “We have a cycling event in July that we are really excited for. We have a lot of people coming, which is really good for this organization.”
Muller said 90 percent of the people who come to Common Ground are under the poverty line, so having low-cost activities is one way to let people with disabilities have a good time without spending much money.
Lauri has been working for Common Ground since 2001, and she said she loves it.
“Before I started working at Common Ground, I did work with certain rehab services to help bring people with disabilities on these trips,” Muller said. “I have been really impressed with this organization and the way that they’ve handled things. It feels really good helping people.”
For some people at Common Ground, the thought of help people with disabilities is very important.
“I have been director here for two years and it has been an awesome experience,” said Bryce Patten, program director for Common Ground. “It is just amazing to see the smiles that we put on people’s faces.”
Even though the organization has people come from all over the country, Patten said having the organization headquartered in Logan gives the programs a hometown feel.
“We’ve really enjoyed having most of our programs here in the Cache Valley,” Patten said. “Being part of the community is just one way that we have been able to thrive.”
The organization helps plan more than 350 activities a year. Some of those include the Grand Canyon event in July and rafting trips in Arizona and Colorado. Patten said these types of activities are what help define the organization.
“We are open to people of all disabilities, and we want them to feel as comfortable as possible,” Patten said. “Having different programs allows to cater to different disabilities and to ultimately have people come back.”
Muller said one of the ultimate goals of the organization is to help promote relationship building among volunteers and participants.
“We want to be able to have that lifelong relationship and keep it going,” Muller said. “Having our upcoming July program is one way to do that. With the visually impaired, we want to be able to be the eyes for the people.”
Over the past 20 years, Common Ground has established a great relationship with the city of Logan and the Cache Valley, MacFarlane said.
“We have developed a very good reputation with the people of Cache Valley,” she said. “With people coming back to support us every year, we hope we will continue to have many more successful years.”
– conner.comeau@aggiemail.usu.edu