Jackie had her very first kayaking experience at Northerly Island Tuesday morning.
"It was a little scary but I got through it," she said. "I was a little nervous but I would like to do it again."
For Colleen, while not her first time kayaking, it was still an exciting experience.
"I like to be on the water because it was fun, and I enjoyed it, and I really liked it," she said.
Jackie and Colleen were two of more than 100 individuals who got the chance to participate in kayaking, archery and fishing as part of the Chicago Park District’s Special Recreation Program's "Adventure Club."
"We bring these guys out here weekly, different groups weekly, to explore the island, enjoy the island," said Eileen Guinane, Chicago Park District Special Olympics Administrator. "We do fishing, archery and kayaking with them. We break them up into three different groups and they rotate around the island."
She said the event is completely free for participants. Everyone is accompanied by their Chicago Park District coaches.
Carolina Garibay
"I think access to some of these more adventure rec things are really tough to come by for our participants," she said. "We're lucky enough to have a fundraising arm in Special Children's Charities that has purchased all the equipment for us and allows to provide the transportation to get these guys back here."
Guinane said "Adventure Club" makes it easier for those with disabilities to participate in activities they might not normally be able to.
"A lot of these guys here you can't do it from time to time, and I think showing them they can do it and giving them the means to do it is so important," she said. "I think it opens up their world and shows them they can do it and everyone else that they can do it."
Adventure Club takes place every Tuesday through July 28th.
