Mission The Adaptive Sports Center enriches the lives of people with disabilities and other specific needs through exceptional outdoor adventures. Vision Create a world where outdoor adventures are accessible and extraordinary for everyone, and where each individual’s abilities are celebrated and embraced by participants, families, and their communities. Our Approach The Adaptive Sports Center sets the standard of excellence for adaptive adventure and recreation. We prioritize the inclusion of friends and family and advocate for ability and independence, which are integral to our mission. We incorporate therapeutic recreation practices and employ state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. Our highly skilled and dedicated staff is our greatest asset and is essential in delivering a premier experience for our participants. Our outstanding community facilitates access to the incredible mountains, beautiful rivers, and lakes of Gunnison County, Colorado, for our participants. Our outdoor adventures encourage participants to push beyond their perceived limitations, while being guided by our expert and caring staff. We believe successful outdoor adventures have a positive enduring effect on self-efficacy, health, independence, and overall well-being. The great outdoors is the venue where our remarkable activities take place, and we continually strive to be good stewards of the environment. Values Access The ASC welcomes anyone and everyone with a desire to participate, providing unparalleled access to outdoor adventures in the picturesque mountains of Colorado. We strive to eliminate common barriers such as programming costs and travel and accommodation costs. Advocacy Advocating for people with disabilities and other unique considerations is core to our mission. We are advocates for accessibility and equality on local, national, and international levels. Collaboration The ASC collaborates with local and national organizations. We have ongoing relationships with rehabilitation hospitals, veterans’ organizations, schools, other adaptive programs, foundations, and universities. Empowerment Our participants have shared the immediate benefits of participation in our programs, including a sense of empowerment that comes from successfully learning new skills. Studies show that participation in adaptive sports improves overall health, quality of life, self-confidence, and general level of activity. Enviromental Stewardship Experiencing the natural world is core to our mission. We believe in protecting the environment and responsibly managing our natural resources. We implement green practices whenever possible and follow Leave No Trace practices in the field. Family Outdoor recreation is something to be shared; therefore, the ASC provides adventures for our participants and encourages their families and closest friends to join in the fun. Come make lasting memories together! Fun We believe in fun – smiles, laughter, play, singing, costumes, celebrations, dancing, high fives, and joy! Inclusion We proudly serve anyone who identifies as having a disablity as well as people with unique considerations including youth at-risk, cancer survivors, the elderly, burn survivors, those with diabetes, post- traumatic stress disorder, learning differences, and much more. Integrity You can depend on us to be trustworthy, ethical, dependable, honest, and transparent. Learning The ASC is celebrated throughout the world as an organization committed to creating and expanding recreational opportunities and experiential learning for people with disabilities and other unique considerations. To achieve this, we constantly learn new ways to improve what we do and how we do them through our emphasis on training, certifications, as well as personal and professional development. Safety While outdoor adventure is not without inherent risks, we believe the peace of mind that comes with a well-run organization and professional staff is pivotal to being able to focus on the task at hand – enjoying the experience. The ASC has a long and sound history of reducing and managing risks. Self-Efficacy A belief in oneself to try and do difficult and interesting things is vital to successfully navigating life. The ASC engages in rewarding adventure-based experiences which are an effective way for all people to grow, build confidence, and transfer the skills needed to seek out and manage life’s various challenges and opportunities. Wellness The outstanding programs provided by the ASC empowers our participants to live healthier and more active lives.
