Rocky Mountain Canoe/Kayak Club

Through Active Rehabilitation, disabled identify their potential through Canoeing/Kayaking

Through kayaking we will assist in developing the whole person to achieve the "unlikely" or "unthinkable" by assisting our members in identifying and creating steped goals to reach their greatest potential. Through canoeing and kayak, we are able to overcome any adversity and learn to identify associated patterns in life in which we can utilize that same skill.

Physical rehabilitation through Sports recreation

    Motivation is one of the biggest ingredients in finding a personal solution to overcome any disability. For years mainstream methods have left this key ingredient out, spending most of their efforts on putting together rehabilitation programs that neither instill motivation, nor allow for deep rooted self discovery.
 
Motivation

Paddling (be it canoing or kayaking) is a low impact fun recreational activity. White water kayaking, as seen by the untrained eye is an adrenalin pumping risky sport. The truth is that white water is the ultimate equalizer. People, either muscular or not, big or small, can perform very similarly on white water. With the help of moving water, one can use the least amount of physical resources to enjoy the outdoors and to take part in normal recreational activities.

As one of our rehabilitating team member puts it, "Water has been known to dissolve things well. In my views, it dissolves physical ailments beautifully. It's a new medium and thus a new beginning."

The word "disability" seems to be forgotten after a person of limited physical abilities initially negotiates moving water. This instills a new fond need for being able to do more of the above and creates the much needed motivation for finding new ways of learning how to "react to the water" to successfully enjoy more time on the water. This motivation has been seen to carry over from the boat and into their pre-FRPA rehabilitation programs. They work harder at those rehabilitation program because they are motivated to get better so they can perform more of the things that able bodied athletes do.

Statement from a FRPA Disabled Team member:

" Introducing the new medium of water allows us to throw away our misnomers of what can and cannot be done. Instead, what is asked by the folks in this program is how would THEY do something as opposed to just showing them the so-called correct way of doing it. Through multiple iterations of non-biased feedback they are thought to see movement in a different light. Instead of just shrugging their shoulder when something is just too hard, they are given the mental and physical awareness to see challenges as potentials for solutions, not problematic hurdles.

They learn to take advantage of their surroundings (first water, and then the move out of their boat) so that simple tasks remain simple and complex tasks are broken down into simpler accomplish-able ones. The main goal of self-discovery is to get rid of the feeling of helplessness and instill self empowerment. Nobody knows their body better than themselves. The FRPA program allows them to tap into the most powerful resource they have, THEMSELVES.

This awareness not only enriches their time on the water, but allows them to better understand other rehabilitation programs that they are currently in and thus allows themselves to personalize things for more effectiveness."