Wood River Ability Program (WRAP) Activities Focus for 2007
In 2007 The Wood River Ability Program, in conjunction with associated
partners, will host seven recreation-rehabilitation programs for
recently wounded U.S. Veterans form Afghanistan and Iraq.
2007 Program Descriptions:
Wounded Hero’s Alpine Camp (January 2007)
In January 2007 WRAP and associated partners hosted the third annual
Wounded Hero’s Alpine ski program. Twenty-six veterans and their family
and friends participated in a six day winter alpine program developing
skills in skiing and snow boarding in Sun Valley, Idaho. Participants
had four days of on-snow activities assisted by instructors from the
Sun Valley Ski and Snow board School.
Cross Country Development Camp (February 2007)
The February 2007 Cross Country Training Camp will host 20 invited
participants for a six day program in Sun Valley. A mixture of adaptive
athletes will be selected from among war vets; elite athletes in the
general population; and promising youngsters with adaptive needs.
Participants in the Cross-country Development Camp will be training for
possible positions on the US disabled ski team. Previous Sun
Valley based cross-country Development Camps have successfully
identified and trained two current members of the US team.
Alpine Ski Reunion (March 2007)
In March WRAP working together with Brooke Medical Center and eight
sponsoring organizations will host a reunion to which the 45 recently
wounded U.S Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and 20 family members as well
as an estimated 10 medical staff who participated in the 2005 and 2006
Sun Valley Alpine Camps will be invited. Funding and available
staff support will allow for a total of fifteen (15) participants for
the first annual alpine reunion. Positions will be filled on a
“first-to-reply, first to-be-included” basis.
The six day event will include two travel days and four days of alpine
skiing/snow boarding, and lots of reminiscing and story-telling.
Middle Fork of the Salmon River Trip (July 2007)
This six day trip to a wilderness lodge will include 20 recently
wounded veterans, 10 family and friends and 12 support staff. The
purpose of the Middle Fork Lodge Trip is to introduce and reintroduce
recently wounded veterans to the outdoors and outdoor recreation
activities and help veterans and their families refocus their lives by
engaging in wilderness white water rafting, skeet shooting, fly
fishing, camping and related outdoor recreation.
White Water Rafting Trips (August 2007)
This will be the first year of a program that provides opportunity for
two groups of 10 recently wounded veterans, 5 family members/friends,
and 5 staff/guides to spend 2 days traveling and 5 days rafting and
camping on wild and scenic rivers in Idaho. The thrills, adventure and
challenge of white water rafting is invigorating to nearly everyone who
tries it. Teamwork, upper body strength and coordination are needed to
make it through narrow passages, class three rapids and along the flat
water passage between camp sites.
Surf Camp (September 2007)
This will be the second year of a program that helps disabled
participants develop skills in surfing at Pismo Beach California. This
program will reunite WRAP participants from the cross-country
development program for a week of surfing and team-building in
preparation for the 2008 winter program in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Hunting Trip (September 2007)
Deer and elk hunting opportunities are plentiful in Idaho. Several
residents of the Wood River Valley have suggested that arranging
hunting trips for disabled veterans could be accomplished without much
difficulty. WRAP proposes to explore the possibility of this
opportunity by hosting two (2) October hunting trips for five recently
wounded veterans.
WRAP Evaluation Year 1-3
2007 will be the third winter of a Sun Valley based Cross-Country
Development Camp designed and implemented by Marc Mast. 2007 will be
the second year of the Vets Summer program and the second year of a
surfing program coordinated by Marc Mast. This phase of the work
program will provide in-depth evaluation of these programs by: 1)
participants, 2) their families, 3) medical staff from Brooke
Army Medical Center and, 4) program administrators of adaptive sports
programs at other mountain sports centers. The evaluation will be
conducted by an independent group of university graduate students and
coordinated by the WRAP staff.
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