Wheelchair user on trail

(Re)Considering Trail Access

Appalachian Mountain Club

AMC Camp Dodge Trails Center, 1 Camp Dodge Road
Gorham, NH 03581
United States

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Family-Friendly

No

High Adventure

No

Setting

Indoor & Outdoor

About the Event

What does it look like to create trails and outdoor spaces that are more inviting, inclusive, and supportive of people living with different disabilities? This workshop combines a series of activities-presentations, case studies, panel discussions, hands-on adaptive equipment use, in-field trail assessment-that are co-led by disabled trail users.

The workshop aims to: (1) broaden participants' understanding about the experiences, needs, and challenges of individuals living with disabilities, and (2) provide concrete suggestions for how to identify, eliminate, or minimize infrastructure and informational barriers that prevent wider access to, and use of, trails and lands. Handouts and resources will be provided.

This one and a half day training will start at Camp Dodge at 12:30pm on Wednesday, August 9th for the classroom portion of this workshop. The following day, Thursday, August 10th will be the field portion, leaving Camp Dodge in a 12-passenger van at 9am and wrapping up back at Camp Dodge around 4:30pm.

Instructors: Enock Glidden (he, him, his) Outdoor Accessibility Specialist, Community Geographics An avid and accomplished outdoorsman, Enock can be found adventuring every season of the year throughout his home state of Maine. As a person born with a disability, Enock is a passionate advocate for making trails more accessible for all. He hikes extensively, assessing and writing about his experiences through the award-winning Maine Trail Finder website. His blogs and experiences have been shared widely in local, state, and national media outlets, and Maine Magazine named him one of their Mainers of the Year in 2022. Out on trail, Enock works directly with trail managers to assess both physical and communications barriers that can be minimized or eliminated to make those experiences more accessible and welcoming for everyone.

Kara Wooldrik (she, her, hers) Outdoor Equity Specialist, Community Geographics Kara's career has focused on creating experiences that inspire and equip people to create communities that are more healthy, equitable, just. and sustainable, for people and nature alike. For ten years she was the Executive Director of Portland Trails leading staff and volunteers to shift focus from "miles of trails and acres preserved" to "healthier and more connected and inclusive communities created." Kara has led both formal and informal immersive outdoor learning experiences for people at all stages of life. Kara chairs an international team of colleagues who are using trails in towns and cities as tools to address climate, equity, health. and transportation challenges.

Questions?

Contact Erik Samia at esamia@outdoors.org or (603) 986-0551.

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