Author: Higher Ground

Understanding Therapeutic Recreation and Higher Ground’s Leadership Over 25 Years

What is Therapeutic Recreation?

Therapeutic recreation is a holistic approach to enhancing physical, emotional, and social well-being through recreational activities. It empowers individuals with disabilities, illnesses, or other challenges to engage in meaningful activities that promote growth, recovery, and connection.

Whether it’s skiing down a mountain, hiking through scenic trails, or participating in a cooking class, therapeutic recreation activities are tailored to meet the unique needs of each participant. These experiences foster independence, build confidence, and provide a sense of accomplishment.

Therapeutic recreation goes beyond leisure—it’s about enhancing quality of life. The benefits extend far beyond the activity itself, including improved physical health, social integration, emotional resilience, and an overall sense of belonging.

Veteran Fishing
Scuba Divers

Higher Ground’s Role as a Pioneer in Therapeutic Recreation

For over 25 years, Higher Ground has been a leader in therapeutic recreation, making it a cornerstone of their mission. By harnessing the transformative power of recreation, Higher Ground ensures that individuals of all abilities can experience the joy and healing these programs provide.

1. Programs for All Abilities

Higher Ground’s programs are designed to meet the diverse needs of the disability community, as well as veterans and first responders. From adaptive skiing and snowboarding in the winter to cycling, climbing, and hiking in the summer, these activities allow participants to thrive regardless of physical or cognitive limitations.

2. Expertise and Innovation

The Higher Ground team includes certified therapeutic recreation specialists, adaptive sports professionals, and experienced volunteers who ensure every program is both safe and impactful. The organization continuously innovates by introducing new activities and improving accessibility through:

  • State-of-the-art adaptive equipment
  • Cutting-edge practices and techniques

3. Expanding the Field’s Reach

Over the past 25 years, Higher Ground has shared its expertise with other organizations and advocated for the importance of therapeutic recreation nationwide. This work has inspired similar programs and raised awareness about the value of recreation in healing and personal development.

4. Partnerships and Community Impact

Higher Ground has built lasting partnerships with local and national organizations, schools, and community groups. Collaborations with entities such as the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind, Sun Valley Resort, and the Department of Veterans Affairs have enabled the organization to:

  • Serve a broader audience
  • Create programming tailored to specific needs

5. A Track Record of Transformative Impact

The true measure of Higher Ground’s success lies in the stories of its participants. Over the years, individuals have:

  • Regained confidence
  • Rebuilt relationships
  • Found joy and purpose through recreation

These moments reaffirm Higher Ground’s commitment to therapeutic recreation and its unparalleled ability to transform lives.

Looking Ahead

As Higher Ground celebrates 25 years of leadership in therapeutic recreation, the organization remains dedicated to expanding its reach and impact. Their vision is to become the nation’s leader in providing accessible recreation opportunities and to advocate for therapeutic recreation as an essential service for those in need.

Join Us in Making a Difference

Whether you’re a participant, a volunteer, or a supporter, there’s a place for you at Higher Ground. Together, we can continue to redefine what’s possible through the power of therapeutic recreation.

Learn more about Higher Ground’s programs and how you can get involved by visiting Higher Ground.

Written by:

Higher Ground

Published on:

January 24, 2025

Sun Valley: The Best Place for Adaptive Sports

Nestled in the breathtaking Sawtooth Mountains, Sun Valley is renowned for its world-class outdoor recreation. What truly sets it apart, however, is its ability to provide exceptional opportunities for adaptive sports. With state-of-the-art facilities, a supportive community, and an abundance of natural beauty, Sun Valley has become a top destination for athletes of all abilities.

Why Sun Valley is Perfect for Adaptive Sports

1. Unmatched Outdoor Adventure

Sun Valley offers a wide variety of outdoor activities that cater to people with varying needs and abilities. From skiing and snowboarding to hiking, cycling, and fly fishing, specialized programs and adaptive equipment ensure that everyone can participate.

Skiing is a standout in the adaptive sports community, with adaptive equipment like sit-skis and mono-skis enabling individuals with mobility impairments to experience the thrill of the slopes. Programs led by organizations like Higher Ground give athletes the chance to enjoy winter sports in a safe and accessible way.

2. Top-Tier Facilities

Sun Valley boasts exceptional resorts and outdoor spaces with facilities designed to meet the needs of adaptive athletes. From specialized equipment rentals to certified adaptive instructors and accessible trails, the area’s infrastructure ensures a seamless experience for all participants.

The Sun Valley Resort features easy-to-navigate lifts, accessible restrooms, and breathtaking mountain views, making it an ideal location for adaptive sports. With such accommodations, athletes of all abilities can fully enjoy the resort’s offerings.

3. A Supportive Community

One of the strongest aspects of Sun Valley’s adaptive sports scene is its welcoming and supportive community. Local volunteers, instructors, and athletes work together to create an environment where adaptive athletes are encouraged to pursue their goals and embrace new challenges.

Organizations like Higher Ground play a pivotal role in this network, offering therapeutic recreation and education to veterans, first responders, and individuals with disabilities. Their specialized programs empower athletes to not only enjoy adaptive sports but also thrive through them.

4. Year-Round Activities

Although Sun Valley is known for its winter sports, adaptive athletes can stay active year-round. When the snow melts, the region’s stunning scenery offers endless outdoor adventures, including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and paddleboarding.

Local programs ensure that adaptive equipment is available for these activities, allowing athletes to enjoy the beauty of Sun Valley no matter the season.

5. Therapeutic Benefits

Adaptive sports in Sun Valley provide more than just physical activity—they offer profound therapeutic benefits. Many participants find that engaging in these sports builds confidence, fosters independence, and encourages emotional healing.

Programs run by Higher Ground emphasize not only recreation but also the empowerment and healing that sports can bring. Through tailored activities and professional support, athletes build a sense of accomplishment and well-being.

6. Growing Opportunities

Each year, Sun Valley continues to expand its offerings for adaptive athletes. Enhanced accessibility and new programs ensure the region evolves to meet the growing needs of the adaptive sports community.

As more athletes are drawn to the area, the possibilities for new experiences and adventures continue to grow. Whether you’re a veteran, a first responder, or someone exploring adaptive sports for the first time, Sun Valley provides an environment where everyone can succeed.

An Unmatched Destination for Adaptive Sports

Sun Valley is truly a remarkable destination for adaptive sports, offering endless opportunities to grow, explore, and achieve. With its unmatched combination of natural beauty, expert guidance, and a passionate community, there’s no limit to what you can accomplish in this extraordinary place.

Written by:

Higher Ground

Published on:

January 18, 2025

Higher Ground Kicks Off Veterans Snow Sports

Read the original article here.

For more than 25 years, the Sun Valley non-profit Higher Ground has helped people of all abilities deal with trauma and social rehabilitation.

With recreation, therapy, and continued support, we bridge the gap between disability and belonging.

Known as a premier therapeutic support service across the country, Higher Ground has raised the bar for adaptive recreation and psychological support. Offering innovative therapeutic recreation, adaptive sports as well as Veterans and First-Responders Programs, it helps individuals with disabilities reintegrate their body and minds largely using the rigors and challenges of outdoor activity. From scuba, mountain biking, mountaineering, climbing, skiing, surfing, and cycling, their programs run the gamut of what therapy can look like, done in the wild.

Veterans Snow Sports

A week ago, HG wrapped its first Veteran’s Snow Sports program of the year with eight veterans and 16 volunteers they’re just getting started on helping veterans win the winter this season.

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Kristian King is the program manager for the Veterans and First Responders program. He has a master’s in clinical psychology and has worked with HG for eight years. King is passionate, about its ground-breaking work.

“I think what’s great about recreational therapy is that it’s giving people immediate feedback to be able to gain resiliency, adaptability, and flexibility through recreation and leisure,” he said. “So people are able to kind of widen that window of tolerance, if you will.”

“It’s like they stepped out of their houses to come to our program, right?” King said. “So that’s a step in itself. And then they actually show up to a novel environment where they don’t know anyone. HG sets a really great tone through our volunteers, our donors, our staff to set that safe environment and container for them to almost kind of fall forward.“

Baby Steps

“As a veteran or a first responder, they’re coming from a field or an operation where there’s not much room for error,” he continued. “So now they realize, oh, those skills served me once, right, being aware, being cognizant. But now they’re in a space where it’s like, oh, I can make mistakes but this is also serving me. I can fall on my ski run and get back up. It’s kind of like that saying, “It’s not how you fall, it’s how you get back up.”

Trauma recovery is a beautiful and beguilingly simplistic endeavor. The rigors of service often instill a type of discipline that borders on trauma and HG helps these veterans massage that discipline into physical and psychological socialization through this unique interaction with accompanied outdoor activity.

“In this most recent program pretty much every single participant was in some form of post-traumatic growth. We had one, she was in the Navy in a top position as an officer and had just got out two years ago. Then we had someone who had gotten out a decade ago, but was a new amputee. It’s like everyone is at a different page in their journey, but I think the camaraderie and unity within having similar backgrounds really set the tone for them to be able to feel supported and in a space where they can actually be vulnerable. That’s another thing: vulnerability within service, like there’s no space or time for that, right? So this gave them space to be able to take their masks off, and it’s like ‘I’m okay, I’m doing fine, I can push through the pain’ and they realize their problems and issues are valid and they’re able to learn from each other.”

Word of Mouth

HG runs 24 programs a year across the nation and works with Veterans Affairs to serve veterans through its own grant funding. King leads about eight programs a year, ranging from the Palo Alto cycling program to a SoCal surfing program, ocean sports, scuba and skiing. With three full-time staff members including King, Alaina Wilson, and HG alum Adam Shick their volunteer staff numbers are at 20. A small crew doing brilliant work.

Who Can Attend?

So how can you attend or refer a friend? There are four qualifiers for attending:

  • Physical injuries or Polytrauma
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Military Sexual Trauma (MST)

MST is an often misunderstood and shunned condition where both men and women experience sexual assault in the military and often from their superiors.

“In this most recent program pretty much every single participant was in some form of post-traumatic growth. We had one, she was in the Navy in a top position as an officer and had just got out two years ago. Then we had someone who had gotten out a decade ago, but was a new amputee. It’s like everyone is at a different page in their journey, but I think the camaraderie and unity within having similar backgrounds really set the tone for them to be able to feel supported and in a space where they can actually be vulnerable. That’s another thing: vulnerability within service, like there’s no space or time for that, right? So this gave them space to be able to take their masks off, and it’s like ‘I’m okay, I’m doing fine, I can push through the pain’ and they realize their problems and issues are valid and they’re able to learn from each other.”

A Legacy of Impact

HG has a righteous authenticity due to 25 years of therapeutic experience across the country. It works in every season of the year. Relying largely on word of mouth, it has helped more than 1,000 participants while growing to a 28-week-long program year largely through word of mouth alone.

If you know someone who might benefit, check out HG’s message, speak to a representative and take the first step in bringing someone out of the darkness and into the light.

Read the original article here.

Written by:

Higher Ground

Published on:

December 24, 2024

Spend a Day in Someone Else’s Skis: The Muffy Davis Cup

The Muffy Davis Cup is the first and only experiential adaptive ski race of its kind. Scheduled for March 9th, this event showcases adaptive skiing disciplines and innovations in accessible sports technology.

What to Expect

The Muffy Davis Cup features eight teams of five competitors, each training in a different adaptive skiing discipline. These disciplines include:

  • Blind/Low Vision and Guide: One racer skis with visual impairments while their guide directs them down the course.
  • Ski Bike: A bike-like apparatus designed for skiing.
  • Three-Track Skiing: Using one ski and two outriggers for balance and control.
  • Monoski: A sit-ski mounted on a single ski.
  • Biski: A sit-ski with two skis for added stability.

A Groundbreaking Addition: The TetraSki

This year’s race debuts an exciting new addition: the TetraSki. Made possible through fundraising at the 2024 Muffy Davis Cup, the TetraSki employs sip-and-puff technology, allowing racers to steer the ski using their breath. This innovation opens new possibilities for individuals with physical disabilities to experience the thrill of skiing.

More Than a Race

The Muffy Davis Cup is more than just a competition—it’s an opportunity for participants to truly understand the challenges and triumphs of adaptive skiing. By training and competing in these disciplines, racers “spend a day in someone else’s skis,” gaining profound insight into the skill, strength, and resilience required.

Adaptive Skiing Glossary

  • Monoski: A sit-ski with one ski beneath a bucket (a seat for the skier).
  • Biski: A sit-ski with two skis for additional stability.
  • Outriggers: Poles with small skis on their ends, used to help balance in three-track, four-track, or sit-ski disciplines.
  • TetraSki: An adaptive ski controlled using sip-and-puff technology to steer with breath.

Breaking Barriers

The Muffy Davis Cup is a powerful reminder of how adaptive sports break barriers and foster connections. This March, experience the inspiring world of adaptive skiing and see how innovation and determination are creating new possibilities, one turn at a time.

Written by:

Higher Ground

Published on:

October 13, 2024