This Takes “Choose Your Own Adventure” to a Whole New Level
Getting out and about is a big part of a themed retreat. Mini-road trips promote exploration of our region through new eyes. And who doesn’t love a road trip?
It seems like every story I facilitate comes with a humbling moment of reflection. This one arrived when I realized how much I take for granted about a simple weekend.
For most of us, the barrier to fun is pretty low. We find someone who enjoys the same things, we make a plan, and we go. Maybe it’s a shopping trip downtown, or a journey back in time at the National Air Force Museum of Canada just down the road. None of these staycation options seems all that difficult.
For people who live with intellectual disabilities, though, the logistics of planning a weekend can be enormous. Too often the options on offer are standardized group outings that can feel a lot like daycare. What’s much harder to find is the sweet spot: camaraderie, personalized support and a real sense of adventure.
There is innovation in this space, and it’s happening right here in the Quinte region. At CVNQuinte, co-ordinator Kyra and her colleagues are building weekends around what people actually want to do.
“It’s been a lot of work for sure,” Kyra says. “But [it] gives folks in our community the chance to say what they’re interested in. And it’s an opportunity for us to build a weekend around that interest.”
The impact on the adventurers, and on their families, is profound. “It was breaking our hearts to see people without any kind of services,” explains CVNQuinte Executive Director, Terri Korkush. “We’re really proud of the idea and the fact that we’ve been able to launch it.”
Sound amazing? Judge for yourself in this micro-documentary.
