Finding Freedom • Adaptable Outdoors
Adaptable Outdoors helps people with disabilities experience outdoor recreation.
In 2014, Braeson Schacher’s life changed forever. A head-on collision would cause the then 18-year-old to lose both his legs; a devastating prognosis for someone who thrived on sports and other rigorous physical activity. Thanks to Adaptable Outdoors, Schacher has once again found his feet in the world of outdoor recreation.
Founded in 2019 by Steve and Sara Holly, Adaptable Outdoors is a federally registered charity based in Pincher Creek. With a mission to provide opportunities for people living with barriers to experience the benefits of outdoor recreation, the organization currently offers low-cost adaptive hiking, paddling, and fishing to children, adults, and seniors living with disabilities throughout southern Alberta during the summer. In 2023, Adaptable provided 228 adaptive outdoor experiences to 181 clients and caregivers ranging from ages five to 96.
“The first thing I did with Adaptable Outdoors was go kayaking,” says Schacher. “It’s hard to put into words. There are a lot of memories and emotions. You start noticing how much better physically you are in that moment, because of how liberated and free you feel again.”
Filling a need previously unmet in southern Alberta, three paid staff and several volunteers work hard to ensure programs are inclusive, affordable, and accessible.
“Outdoor recreation has a huge impact on my health and well being,” says Steve. “Spending time by the water, in the forests, and in the mountains is an important part of maintaining physical, mental, and emotional health. I think that everyone who wants those experiences should have access to them. I also love the challenge and adventure of turning something that might seem impossible into a reality, like getting someone who uses a wheelchair to the top of a mountain or into a kayak and across a lake.”
To achieve this, the organization has worked hard to acquire specialized adaptive equipment, including two TrailRiders for hiking. For paddling and fishing experiences, the organization carries a fully adaptive fishing canoe and kayak with specialized seating, a pedal-driven fishing kayak, and an all-terrain wheelchair that can be used in water or to access shore fishing spots. A fully electric fishing reel allows users to reel in a fish at the push of a button, stomp of the foot, flick of the head or sip of a straw. Funding comes from various sources, including grants and corporate and private donations. As demand for programming grows, this type of support is vital for continued success.
“Many of us will experience disability in our lives, even if we’re born able-bodied,” says Sara. “Injury, illness, or aging can change any of our abilities at any time. There is value in having opportunities to participate in things that give life meaning.”
Written by Christina Scott
To donate, sponsor, register for programs,
or learn more about Adaptable Outdoors,
visit adaptableoutdoors.ca.