In the short term, therapeutic recreation programs such as Challenge Aspen Military Opportunities (C.A.M.O.) provide disabled veterans the chance to participate in fun recreational activities, often in beautiful outdoor settings, with the support of caring and qualified staff. But, as Sarah Williams Volf, director of C.A.M.O. explains, therapeutic recreation does not just offer a week away from the grind of daily therapy in a hospital. A well-designed therapeutic recreation experience offers veterans profound, lasting inspiration as they face ongoing rehabilitation challenges.
Many injured veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are a formerly active and athletic group, in the age range of 20-40 years old. These wounded warriors will be living with and adjusting to their injuries for many years to come. Therapeutic recreation programs can help them find a “new normal” by showing them how much they can achieve in a setting that frees them to focus on the enjoyment of life and on relationships with family and peers without feeling overwhelmed by their disabilities. Participants leave inspired and revitalized, ready to look ahead.
In the long term, therapeutic recreation can help you or your loved one:
- Reconnect with or discover a new recreational activity that you enjoy and can integrate into daily life
- Find fun activities that you can share with your family
- Make connections in your community through an enjoyable activity
- Allow you to discover how much you can achieve, focusing on ability rather than disability, enjoyment rather than treatment
- Restore a lasting sense of pride and wholeness
- Build relationships with new friends
- Strengthen relationships with family
- Inspire you to look forward to new goals such as staying on in active duty, starting a family, or attending college
- Help educate family members about how much is possible
- Perhaps even set you on a path toward competitive sports achievements such as representing the United States in the paraylmpics
In the short term, therapeutic recreation programs such as
Challenge Aspen Military Opportunities (C.A.M.O.) provide disabled
veterans the chance to participate in fun recreational activities,
often in beautiful outdoor settings, with the support of...
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Lakeshore Foundation of Challenge America answered:In the short term, therapeutic recreation programs such as Challenge Aspen Military Opportunities (C.A.M.O.) provide disabled veterans the chance to participate in fun recreational activities, often in beautiful outdoor settings, with the support of caring and qualified staff. But, as Sarah Williams Volf, director of C.A.M.O. explains, therapeutic recreation does not just offer a week away from the grind of daily therapy in a hospital. A well-designed therapeutic recreation experience offers veterans profound, lasting inspiration as they face ongoing rehabilitation challenges.
