High Adventure is within the reach of all valley residents
Imagine planning an adventurous rafting or biking trip with a group of family or friends; everyone is excited to push themselves to farther distances or higher heights and enjoy the great outdoors together. Now imagine not being able to ride a conventional bike or row a canoe like most people.
Common Ground Outdoor Adventures, located at 290 N. 400 East in Logan, seeks to remedy these situations.
“We provide opportunities for people of all ages and abilities,” said Samantha Macfarlane, executive director of Common Ground.
Currently, there are approximately 300 participants from Cache, Box Elder, Weber and Rich counties who range in age from 3 to 85 years old in the program.
Depending on the season, activities offered at Common Ground include canoeing, rafting, water skiing, rock climbing, cycling, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing and nature arts and crafts. The organization has several types of adaptive equipment including hand cycles and tricycles.
“I love to be in the outdoors, so I want to provide other people with the same opportunity,” Macfarlane said.
The organization’s Web site www.cache.net/~cground/ quotes Helen Keller as one of its themes. It reads “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” The group is striving to let every individual realize that.
Common Ground Outdoor Adventures was created in 1993 as part of a larger organization, Options for Independence. In 1997, it became a non-profit organization because “there was a lot of demand and people with disabilities didn’t have the same opportunities other people had,” Macfarlane said.
The grant given for program start-up in 1997 ended in December, so Common Ground is completely self-sufficient now. They rely completely on volunteer work and donations to keep the facility in working order.
Kyle Stephens, a participant in the program who also works as the organization’s outreach coordinator, has recently expressed his gratitude for the program by donating $2,000 he won as a Pinnacle Award recipient. Common Ground has also received donations from the Christopher Reeve Foundation, the George and Dolores Eccles Foundation, the Marriner S. Eccles Foundation and others, Stephens said.
Participants are charged minimal fees for the activities to help them take ownership in the organization, Macfarlane said. If they cannot pay immediately, people can volunteer in the office in a work-for-play program to earn the activity, or they can sell water bottles to cover the fees.
Ron Boone, an office assistant at Common Ground, said when he was hired there 8 years ago, the program “gave me a purpose in life.” He really enjoys working with young people, loves doing the activities with them and seeing what it does for them.
“It gives a chance for people with disabilities to get outdoors and do things they wouldn’t normally be able to do,” Boone said.
Both he and Macfarlane agree, participants are benefited by increased physical fitness, confidence, boosted self-esteem and strong friendships from the program.
Those interested in volunteering at Common Ground can call 713-0288. Also this year, Common Ground is sponsoring a Christmas-card art contest. Anyone can enter art work to compete for placement on the organization’s Christmas cards that will be sold later this year for a fund-raiser.
The deadline for this competition is Oct. 8. Common Ground hopes to raise $6,000 this year. Call 713-0288 for more information.