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Day in the SkyRaftingRoaring Camp

Paralympic Logo

Contact Us!
(831) 459-7210
PO Box 396
Santa Cruz, CA 95061
info@sharedadventures.org


Founded on the belief that recreation, fun, challenge and access to the outdoors are an essential part of a healthy and fulfilling life, Shared Adventures is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of people living with disabilities.

redwoods hike

indoor rock climbing

Founded on the belief that recreation, fun, challenge and access to the outdoors are essential parts of a fulfilling life, Shared Adventures is a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of people living with disabilities.

Our goal is to offer opportunities for social and recreational interaction for disabled people, and thereby encourage:

  • Personal growth, development, and self-confidence
  • Cooperation, decision-making, and leadership skills
  • Outdoor skills and environmental awareness
  • Improved quality of life and level of happiness

We are the only program in Santa Cruz County that offers a year-round calendar of recreational events for all ages and segments of the physically and developmentally challenged populations.


Click here TO VIEW A 2-PAGE SUMMARY OF SHARED ADVENTURES 2012 aCTIVITIES.

halloween dance party There are too few recreational programs and activities available to meet the needs of physically and developmentally challenged populations on the Central Coast. According to 2000 Census data (www.census.gov), there are over 10,063 individuals ages 16 to 64 with work disabilities, mobility limitations and self-care limitations in Santa Cruz County. This represents over 6.5% of the population.
Founded in 1994 by Foster Andersen, a quadriplegic survivor of a spinal cord injury, our organization has provided hundreds of life-enriching recreational and social activities for people with special needs.

Click here to read a brief bio of Foster.
foster in sailboat lift
beach wheelchair

We create opportunities to enjoy arts and social interaction, as well as engage with the natural environment through outdoor recreation. Our diverse Calendar of Activities includes kayaking, art classes, surfing, museum trips, sailing, indoor rock-climbing, river rafting, dance parties with live music, camping trips, whale watching, bowling, horseback riding, and much more.

Our participant base encompasses individuals of all ages and backgrounds who struggle with and triumph over a wide range of physical and developmental challenges. Our mailing list includes over 1,000 individuals as well as 50 group homes, institutions, and partner organizations (which together represent several hundred more individuals). Join our participant mailing list.

sailboat
day in the sky

Our volunteer database currently has over 1,500 individuals on it and volunteers help at most of our events, year-round.
Join our volunteer mailing list

On average we receive 3-6 requests per week year-round from participants and volunteers wishing to be added to our mailing lists, allowing them to constantly grow.

kayak

Our two largest events of the year, Day on the Beach and Day in the Sky, are very unique and we are often told that they have life-changing effects for the hundreds of participants involved and their families.

circle at american river In 2003, Shared Adventures created and published a comprehensive Accessibility Guide to Santa Cruz County, a 64-page bilingual publication that addresses the accessibility needs of both locals and visitors with a variety of special needs.

This guide is available free of charge at many locations across the county, as well as on the web. The site receives several hundred hits every week from interested parties around the world.

Our successes over the years have firmly established our place as a primary communication and resource center for the disabled population at home and increasingly throughout the country, while solidifying our commitment to improving the quality of people's lives.
bicycling

From time to time we collaborate with educational institutions, including the University of California and Stanford. We are often invited to give class presentations and/or provide consulting to students working on research or other projects around disability issues. Many UC Santa Cruz students choose to complete long or short-term internships with Shared Adventures, which is mutually beneficial to our organization and to the students who gain experience and skills.

river rafting
valentines dance party

In 2012, Shared Adventures partnered with the Paralympic Division of the United States Olympic Committee to become Paralympic Sport-Santa Cruz. Paralympic Sport Clubs are community-based programs developed to involve youth and adults with physical and visual disabilities, including active duty service members and veterans, in ongoing sports and physical activity, regardless of skill level. This new status has allowed us to further expand our already diverse range of activities.

Click here to check out Shared Adventures' Paralympic Club Page, or find a Paralympic Club near you: findaclub.usparalympics.org/

 

We believe that everyone faces the world with different abilities and disabilities. Our program has inspired hundreds of participants and volunteers alike to break through perceived barriers and achieve more than they ever thought possible, while building friendships, and having a whole lot of fun.

Shared Adventures beach sign

My Second Life

You can view the book, My Second Life, written by Foster Andersen, Shared Adventures' Founder/President. In "My Second Life" you can hear Foster's story in his own words and also see photos of very early Shared Adventures happenings.

Click here to read a brief bio of Foster.

Click here to see a short video clip of Foster surfing.

Go Home

Phone: 831-459-7210
PO BOX 396, Santa Cruz, CA 95061
Office Hours:
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 11:00 - 5:30

Click here to email us

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