Enhancing the lives of people with disabilities through the fun of recreation while promoting development and growth through programs.
Spring means the return of some of our favorite programs and some new ones!
At EXPAND, Our Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists work together to facilitate recreation and leisure based activities to assist our participants in learning and practicing:
In 1979 Holly von Helms, a parent of a daughter with a disability, spearheaded a therapeutic recreation task force after realizing there was a lack of recreation services in the Boulder community for people with disabilities. City Council agreed, and in the winter of 1980, the first EXPAND programs began! Since then, EXPAND has grown to be one of the leading TR programs in the nation, increasing the number of staff, programs offered, and participants served.
We care deeply about our participants and their families and are always looking for new, creative programs to offer and new families to join us. Our hope is to create a welcoming and supportive community for people of all abilities.
In short, we’re the fun guys! We want to know people’s dreams and what they want to be able to do to help make them happy. We will then work on how to get there.
In more formal terms, therapeutic recreation (TR) is using recreation and leisure activities to help teach, practice or regain skills needed for life. For example, if a person needs to work on balance, a recreational therapist may suggest hiking. We would start on a concrete path, then move to a dirt path and then rockier/more difficult terrain. This allows people to work on balance while also enjoying the benefits of being outside and enjoying nature. In the community setting, much of the work is done in groups, allowing people to practice social skills, make friends and build a support network, helping to increase a person’s quality of life and connecting them with the community in which they live.
TR is used with many populations and can be found in numerous settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centers and community recreation centers. Our full-time staff are Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS) which requires a 4-year degree (or equivalent experience) and passing a national certification exam. In addition, staff must receive 50 hours of continuing education every five years to stay certified. We feel this helps ensure staff are up to date on the current trends and issues in our field and are passionate about what they do.
According to the US Census Bureau, 6.6% of people under 65 years old living in Boulder County have a disability. We recognize each person is an individual with their own hopes, dreams and needs. We offer different types of programs and services to provide an option that will work for everyone.
Most of our specialized programs are created for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities. In the summer, EXPAND offers an adaptive waterski program which focuses on people with physical disabilities.
Through inclusion, we support anyone needing additional assistance in general recreation programs and camps. BPR ensures its facilities are accessible and allows a person requiring assistance to use the facility to bring a care provider in free of charge.
Please see the Program tabs below for additional information about these types of programs and how to request an accommodation.
Some of the people we have supported in the past have diagnosis such as:
Registering for programs is easy! You can do it online, by phone at 303-413-7270, or in person at BPR’s recreation centers. If you require financial assistance, please see the tab below, ensuring financial aid is on your account before you register.
Help with Online Registration | City of Boulder
Are you new to EXPAND? Please fill out our participant information form. We will follow up to learn more, can help suggest programs you might enjoy, and help set you up for success! Participant Information Forms should be completed each spring to ensure we have the most up to date information on file and to help us comply with grant requirements.
There are two available programs for financial assistance through the city.
Financial Aid is available for City of Boulder Residents who meet the financial criteria. It is subsidized by tax dollars so is only available for people who live in the City of Boulder limits. You can apply online through your recreation center account or come to a recreation center in person and request a paper application.
EXPAND Scholarships are available for people living with a disability to use towards recreation programs, services, and passes. This money is fundraised through the PLAY Boulder Foundation so is available for both City of Boulder residents and non-residents and can be used in addition to BPR’s financial aid program. Please note that all city residents people applying for a scholarship must have a current financial aid application on file.
We ask that everyone pay something towards the program if possible. We find that participants have better follow through on coming to programs and using their passes if they have contributed something towards it.
Third Party Payments: EXPAND is happy to accept third party payments and can provide invoices or other documentation as needed but are not currently able to accept Medicaid waivers. For questions or to set this up, please contact Lori Goldman, GoldmanL@bouldercolorado.gov.
PLAY Boulder Foundation – PLAY Pass provides up to $250 per year to City of Boulder residents under 18 years old who are enrolled in a federal, state or local assistance program.
Colorado Respite Coalition has grant funding available to help support families receive respite services which can be used for summer camps.
EXPAND offers several types of programs and people often want to know “Which should I sign up for?” Here’s a breakdown of several popular programs and services we offer. We feel you have the right to choose which type of program works best for you. Join us for a regular favorite or try something new! Either way, we can’t wait to have you join us.
These are programs created specifically for people with disabilities. Our general staff to participant ratio for adult programs is 1:4 and for youth programs is 1:3. If you feel you or your child/participant will need additional support, please let us know.
Programs change seasonally but always include a variety of areas such as adventure, fitness, sports, aquatics, leisure and social activities. We also offer Special Olympics training programs and attend regional and state tournaments throughout the year.
Unless otherwise listed, most programs are created for people with developmental disabilities.
Movement Mentors provide a one-on-one setting for participants to work on fitness goals and the skills they need to achieve them such as strength, balance or hand-eye coordination. Based on your goals and assessment, our staff will create an individualized workout plan consisting of one to three routines. Each session, we’ll practice a routine, ensuring participants learn how to use the equipment and the recreation center. If wanted, we will work on learning to be independent in the recreation center, so you can feel confident to come work out on your own. We can even create “homework”, encouraging people to complete additional workouts throughout the week to help boost their fitness goals (and get rewarded for doing so). As we monitor their progress, routines will get updated to ensure you stay motivated and enjoy your workout.
Mentors can happen in the weight room, gymnasium, dance room, aerobics room, on the paths outside the recreation centers, or even in the pool!
Please note, although we are passionate about fitness, we are not personal trainers. We will stay within our skill set when creating routines. If you have special considerations, please be sure to let us know about them so we can keep each workout fun and safe.
Prefer to register for a general BPR Program but need support or an accommodation to be successful? Inclusion is for you! When registering, please note that an ADA accommodation is required and reach out to EXPAND at BPRinclusion@bouldercolorado.gov with your name, the class you registered for, and some additional information about what support you may need.
In order to ensure the success of the program, we request a two-week notice for an accommodation. This allows staff time to set up the accommodation, find staff, and provide any necessary training. Please note, there are no additional fees required when a person receives an accommodation.
Below are some examples of accommodations we have supported in the past. Please note that all accommodations are individualized (as required by the American with Disabilities Act):
Our philosophy is that all of our staff members should be able to work with every participant. Because of this, we encourage and train staff in a program or camp to work with all children or adults. If a 1:1 staff member is required, it will be provided, but the person who is supporting your child/participant may switch throughout the day(s). This helps staff stay fresh, helps more people have experience and learn that disabilities are just a part of life and not to be feared, and helps the participant as they learn to work with many different people. Throughout this, we will ensure that all staff are trained and are using the same tools to support our participants.
People of any ability are welcome to use the recreation centers independent options such as attending a drop-in class, using the weight room, using the pool or going to open gym.
When dropping in, people should be independent, as support is not provided. For example, if you want to swim, you would need to be able to navigate through the locker room, change and enter/exit the pool independently.
If you need assistance to be independent, you can bring an “assistant” in to the recreation center with you. The assistant does not need to pay to enter, but they do need to check in with you at the front desk. You will still be required to pay the basic entrance fee.
If you’ve never been to our recreation centers and feel a one time tour or one time support to orient you to the center would be helpful, please contact BPRinclusion@bouldercolorado.gov and we’d be happy to help.
To see all of our current program offerings, please see the Parks and Recreation Guide.
The city of Boulder offers numerous summer camp programs, run both in house and by contractors. Camp specific information can be found on BPR’s Summer Camps webpage. EXPAND provides inclusion support for day camps run by BPR. We love providing a fun-filled summer for youth of all abilities!
In addition, EXPAND runs Camp Amico (ages 10-17) and Amico+ (ages 18-21). These specialized camps are created for youth and teens with developmental disabilities and include a variety of activities such as swimming, games, special guests, art, music, and field trips. Through activities we work on social skills, independence, friendship building, and leisure education. Camp runs in June and July in 1-week sessions.
Registration occurs in January/February and camps tend to fill quickly. Please see the camp specific pages for additional information and reach out if you have other questions.
There’s no better way to start your summer day than a lap around the Boulder Reservoir. This program was created for people with physical disabilities. From sit skis with outriggers to stand up skis, we will set you up with the right equipment to help you feel comfortable on the water. We have wetsuits you can choose to borrow and require that everyone wears a lifejacket. No previous water skiing experience is required. For pictures, videos and more, please visit EXPAND Beyond | Expand Beyond.
EXPAND partners with EXPAND Beyond, Inc to run this program. Volunteers are used to drive boats, help people on the shore, be jumpers, starters and does the quick release. If you’re interesting in volunteering for this program, reach out to KeslingM@bouldercolorado.gov.
This program runs June through August on Tuesday mornings at the Boulder Reservoir.
There are a number of local and Colorado-based places providing specialized sport and recreation programs for people with physical disabilities. If you are interested in participating, below are some places we have worked with in the past.
Youth ages 14 to 18 without disabilities who are excited to make new friends and participate in recreation or leisure opportunities with their peers who have disabilities.
Peer mentors help to create a more inclusive environment in our youth programs. Our participants benefit from having peer role models to learn from while the peer mentors gain leadership and volunteer experience. In the end, everyone wins by having fun and creating new friendships. Our hope is that these friendships are carried out into schools and the community, helping to create a Boulder that is more inclusive and accepting of people of all abilities.
Peer mentors are welcome at most EXPAND youth and teen programs. Some of our most popular programs with peer mentors include youth sports and craft programs, Friday Night Fun, and Camp Amico.
Peer mentors register and pay a fee to participate in programs. This fee covers the cost of supplies, transportation, and supervision.
For additional information about our peer mentor program, please contact Meghan Kesling at KeslingM@bouldercolorado.gov.
Online Registration: See our current class offerings and register for programs. Is something you’re interested in full? Please join the waitlist! We will do our best to try and let you in.
EXPAND Newsletter Sign Up: Monthly emails keep you updated on the most important happenings with EXPAND, learning when program information is posted, and reminders for registration. You are able to unsubscribe at any time. We do not sell or give out your information.
Donate: Donate — PLAY Boulder Foundation
Intern Opportunities: EXPAND offers internships in Therapeutic Recreation. We accept up to two interns a season in the spring (Jan – Apr), summer (May-Aug) and fall (Sept – Dec). Internships are 15 weeks and are a great way to fall in love with community TR!
EXPAND Volunteer Opportunities: We don’t like to brag, but we have the best jobs around! Come join us by volunteering and seeing for yourself.
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