Opening the outdoors: Valley Adaptive Sports breaks barriers for people with disabilities

REXBURG – Eastern Idaho, renowned for its stunning views, hiking trails and alpine ski access, offers diverse outdoor recreation opportunities. However, individuals with cognitive, developmental or physical disabilities are often cut off from these opportunities.

Valley Adaptive Sports (VAS), a non-profit organization created in 2022, facilitates recreational opportunities for people with disabilities in Teton Valley, Idaho and surrounding areas.

“People are people and we all want to have that enjoyment. We all want to share experiences
with friends and family by getting outside and recreating in some way,” said VAS Executive
Director Nate Carey.

Before starting Valley Adaptive Sports, Carey ran Teton Adaptive Sports, another adaptive recreation company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. But after seeing the needs elsewhere, Carey felt like more needed to be done.

“We wanted to open up more opportunities for accessible recreation in all sports. So we started to focus on Teton County, Idaho,” Carey said.

Activities offered by VAS

VAS offers a diverse array of activities for athletes with disabilities, made possible through partnerships with local businesses and organizations. These activities include adaptive cycling, skiing, swimming, rock climbing, sled hockey, horseback riding and fishing. VAS hosts events year-round, such as sled hockey games, the Wydaho Adaptive Mountain Bike Festival, the Challenged Athletes Foundation East Idaho Ski Camp and Camp BullWheel fishing floats. These events provide ample opportunities for participants to engage in outdoor sports and activities that are often inaccessible to people with disabilities.

Through these events, VAS helps people of all abilities share the enjoyment of outdoor recreation with their families and communities.

Collaborative Approach

VAS is able to offer such a wide range of activities through its unique business model focused on collaboration. By bridging financial and social barriers, VAS provides equipment, scholarships, partner training and direct programming for athletes with disabilities.

“Our model is one of partnership. It’s the only way we can move as fast as we have, and bring resources to the community,” Carey said.

This collaborative approach includes working with local experts, sharing knowledge and
resources and ensuring that everyone has access to the necessary equipment and training.
To provide adaptive rock climbing, VAS partners with Teton Rock Gym, where employees
receive training to work with individuals with disabilities. VAS also supplies specific climbing equipment to make the activity accessible to more participants.

Other VAS partners include Grand Targhee Resort, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, WYDAHO
Adaptive Mountain Bike Rendezvous, Camp BullWheel, Teton Valley Aquatics and Jackson
Hole Therapeutic Riding. These partnerships enable VAS to continually expand its reach and
offer a variety of adaptive recreation options for people with disabilities.

Who Can Participate?

Whether you are an experienced adaptive athlete, or someone who loves sports but has been
prevented by disabilities, VAS will “Do our best to get you outside,” Carey said.

Anyone who has clinical diagnoses of autism, Down syndrome, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and even dementia qualify. Less severe cognitive conditions include attention deficit disorder (ADD) and learning disabilities in general. Developmental disability is a severe, long-term disability that can affect cognitive ability, physical functioning, or both.

Some examples of physical disability include: Cerebral palsy, Spinal cord injury, Amputation, Multiple sclerosis, Spina bifida, Muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease and others. If you are unsure if you qualify, please reach out to VAS through email at valleyadaptivesports@gmail.com.

Impact

Adaptive outdoor experiences and technology are both rare and costly, leaving a gap in
opportunities for people with disabilities. VAS bridges this gap, providing recreational
opportunities that were previously out of reach for many.

In just two years, VAS has significantly impacted the lives of Teton Valley’s disabled residents. The organization served 83 individuals in 2023, a 345 percent increase from the previous year. They hosted 24 sled hockey sessions, 23 cycling lessons, 48 swimming lessons and eight rock climbing lessons, while also providing 42 scholarships for ski lessons and purchasing two Wraptor Nordic Xc skis.

Josh B. described his experience as “Totally liberating to learn that I could do a new spor.!”

Alan W. shared: “Climbing is something I never thought I would do. VAS, Teton Rock Gym and an adaptive climbing rig made it possible.”

For many participants, VAS’ support makes outdoor recreation possible despite financial
barriers. As Brian S. explained: “I am a working professional, but with supporting a family, there was no way I could buy that type of equipment. So I was really grateful for their help.”

Get Involved

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in a VAS supported activity, check out the VAS website — here.

Make sure to check out their events calendar to see the dates of upcoming events and activities. If you have any questions about scholarships, activities, training, volunteering, or just want to find out more, email VAS at valleyadaptivesports@gmail.com.

If you would like to donate, you can do so through their website, or this PayPal link. Your donation supports adaptive recreation opportunities in Teton Valley, Idaho.

“We all love to live here. Making Teton Valley more accessible to everyone of all ages and
visitors feels like a combined effort,” Carey said.