Adaptive Recreation Opportunities: Aiming for Independence

The City of Fort Collins Recreation Division provides equal and quality recreation for community members with disabilities. Adaptive Recreation Opportunities (ARO) strives to ensure that people with disabilities have the necessary accommodations or support to participate in any recreation program at their highest level of independence. Specialized programming is also offered to increase opportunities and meet unique needs of individuals. A Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist oversees the creation of support for each person and the specialized program offerings made available. So what do you like to do? Aquatics? Sports and games? Arts and Crafts? YOU CAN DO IT and ARO is here to help.

The Adaptive Recreation Opportunities program provides unique services and classes to individuals of all ages and abilities. Exciting learning opportunities are available through internships and volunteering.

11th Annual Just Fore Ladies Golf Tournament

The 19th Annual Just Fore Ladies Golf Tournament presented by Front Range Event Rental is June 14 at the Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins.

The golf tournament is a 9-hole, 4-person scramble format. Registration begins at 6:30 AM with a shotgun start at 8:00 AM.

The cost is $50 per golfer which includes golf, breakfast, prizes, lunch and beverages. The tournament will benefit the City of Fort Collins Adaptive Recreation Department.

Contact Jenna Van Fossan at (970) 224-6125 for more information about the event or to register a team!

Portable Pool Lift at EPIC

The City of Fort Collins Aquatics area has exceeded the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines in order to increase opportunities and user friendliness for people with disabilities. EPIC recently purchased a new portable chair lift, allowing access to every section of the pool.

The lift requires no mounting to the pool deck and has a 300 pound lifting capacity. Please ask the pool manager on duty to move the lift to any desired location for easy access into the water. The lift itself can be operated independently by the user utilizing a remote control, or by an attendant for assistance. This lift allows people with disabilities more freedom to utilize different areas of the pool ultimately improving their overall experience at this facility.

We are excited to continue to meet the needs of community members in the City of Fort Collins.

Goalball: A Fun Recreational League!

Goalball, offered by the City of Fort Collins Adaptive Recreation Opportunities program, doubled in size this season in comparison to last winter/spring. Eight individuals with visual impairments participated in a four week session of this intense sport on Saturdays, March 29, April 5, April 12 and April 19 from 10:30 AM until Noon at the Youth Activity Center Gym. Experienced and novice athletes played goalball together to form a fun recreational league. Special thanks go to the many volunteers that assisted to make this sport happen. We look forward to another successful goalball program in the fall.

Chase Deshon, ARO Intern

Chase was born and raised in Fort Collins. He has accomplished Eagle Scout rank with a bronze palm in Boy Scouts along with a Black Belt Degree in American Tae Kwon Do. Currently, Chase is a senior at Colorado State University finishing his Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Exercise Science with a concentration in Health Promotion. Chase has always loved working in the community and interacting with others. He enjoys playing computer games, going to movies, biking, sports, rock concerts, and watching storms pass by or through Fort Collins. He also loves teaching shooting sports during the summer when possible. He hopes to meet many people with ARO.

Kristen Faurot, ARO Team Leader

Kristen just recently moved to Colorado from California and is absolutely loving it. She graduated from California State University of Chico with a Bachelors Degree in Recreation and Parks Management with a Therapeutic Recreation emphasis in December. Kristen is working towards getting a Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy. She am excited to be a part of the community and looking forward to meeting everybody.

Lindsay Hepp, ARO Team Leader

Lindsay Hepp is in her first year of the Occupational Therapy graduate program at Colorado State University. She is involved in numerous outdoor activities from hiking to ice climbing. Lindsay will be leading the MS water aerobics program and wheelchair sports this spring and looks forward to meeting you all on ARO’s numerous outings!

"Recreation Works" - Passport to Recreation Profile

Are you interested in finding out about recreation and leisure programs that are right for you? Do you want to meet new friends, be active and have fun? If you have answered yes, then don't spend another day sitting at home when you can be having the adventures of your life!

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