Outdoor Team Challenge for Teens and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities
World TEAM’s Adventure TEAM Challenge brings teens and young adults with developmental disabilities from New York and New Jersey together for a weekend of outdoor adventure sports in Harris and Frost Valley, New York.
Presented with the Dolber Family Foundation and The Center for Discovery, teams of athletes and assistant coaches are sent through various outdoor adventure challenges over the course of three days. Athletes work together at every stage and cross each finish line as one team.
The Challenges
The activities vary based on the athletes’ abilities and the weather. Over the years, the Adventure TEAM Challenge has included hiking, orienteering, an obstacle course, cycling, swimming, and zip lining.
The Event Schedule
Day 1, Opening Day: A festive opening ceremony at The Center for Discovery in Harris, NY, welcomes the athletes. After the first field challenges, coaches gather for dinner.
Day 2: After breakfast, athletes and coaches spend the day on more field challenges, including the Coaches Challenge.
Day 3: After a final morning of field challenges, everyone gathers for the annual Regatta, the Challenge’s grand finale. A closing awards ceremony recognizes every athlete’s effort and achievements.
Since the first Challenge in 2010, over 200 athletes with developmental disabilities have taken part. The Center for Discovery selects participants, and demand to join is always high.
“When you have the opportunity to spend two or three days with an exceptional athlete in a World TEAM event, you look beyond the wheelchair, beyond their physical and emotional challenges, and see the human being looking right back at you,” said Challenge organizer Lon Dolber, Chairman of World TEAM. “You recognize all that is possible within yourself.”
On the World TEAM Blog
