Blind people can and do live the lives they want – full, well-rounded lives; lives of achievement and adventure! We engage our students in challenging activities that teach them confidence in themselves as blind people and to learn that blindness is not the thing that holds them back. Our students go rock climbing, hiking in the mountains, skiing, white-water rafting on one of Colorado’s wild and beautiful rivers, and much more.
The sense of accomplishment is obvious when a student comes off the rock face exclaiming, “I did it!” The thrill is evident in “That was awesome!” after running white-water. Combine enough of these experiences with success in crossing busy city streets, cooking large meals with new recipes, meeting goals in Braille and technology classes and you’ve discovered the winning formula of our blindness training.
Photos of our Challenge Recreation Program in Action!
A dramatic profile view of Peter climbing up a rock face
Jordan at the Hockey Arena learning to Skate with the instructor
Five people wearing snow shoes on a wintery forested path with snow covered branches.
Dan, Anthony and Showe with two guides on the snowshoe trail at Lake Eldora. Four inches of fresh, albeit wet, snow flell the night before.
two little girls dangle feet into the pool
Making the most of summer – fun and learning!
LaDonna- smiling, holding a Hockey stick in the rink doorway as part of our Blind Hockey Program
Two women in wet suits stand inside a swimming pool
Martin demonstrates how to play Goal Ball at Western Welcome Week
Student rock climbing while attending summer youth program.
Student rock climbing while attending summer youth program
Danielle rings the bell at the top of the climbing wall
Ryan holds the belay rope for a student seen above on the rock. His t-shirt says “Nobody Can Stop You” in print and Braille.
Leon reaches the top of the climbing wall and sports a huge grin
Lexy and Kosy in a double kayak
David D. reaches for a handhold as he makes progress up the climbing wall
Shelby crawls cat-like across the inverted wall
Shelby on the inverted wall of the NSCD obstacle course uses a four-point stance to advance.
CCB Summer students Mary and Cheyene get on the tandem bikes with EyeCycle Volunteers while Christina waits her turn
A woman in workout clothes throws her arms in the air as she crosses the finish line
“It’s not just a long journey, it’s an opportunity …” Jenny said at her graduation. Here she has just finished her journey through NSCD’s obstacle course.
A student in sleepshades prepares to make a throw iwht the goal ball
Joey bounces over quadangle steps on NSCD’s obstacle course
Joey took on all new challenges!
Dugan and Charles both near the top of the climbing wall
Four rafts head toward white water
Summer staff and students white water rafting on Clear Creek on a hot July, 2017 day.
Gene seen from above as he nears the top. Clear Creek visible far below.
A young woman hits the zip ball
Leilani stretches her hands up high during Yoga Class outside on the front Lawn
a grinning young woman strapped to her jump-master gives a double thumbs-up
Ashley was one of five CCB students to go skydiving last week.
Group of Seniors Hiking along the High Line Trail to the Platt River
J.D. in the big raft with Mason, Lesse and Lexy
CCB students go out on the ice in their hockey gear
Summer youth grin ear to ear as they paddle hard through rushing white water
The crew of Shahara’s boat in calmer water … for the moment!
Rudy Rock Climbing
Two female climbers shown on the rock while others look on from below
Carolina seen from above, smiling as she reaches the top of the rock, a wide view of fellow students below and across Clear Creek Canyon.
Lindsey A.- skating at the Hockey Arena with a light touch on wall
Cesar in a yellow Kayak at Bear Creek Lake Park Right profile straight on
Julie at bat with the ball in mid air after the pitch
Julie takes a swing at the Beep Baseball at the NF Challenge Olympic Day 2017
A group of CCB students sit on a bench and put on hockey gear
Zach P. reaches the top of the climbing wall and reaches for the bell
Cloe leaping from a paddle board during Confidence Camp
Daniel in full Hockey gear in action on the ice
Roland locates a hand hold as he climbs up a steep rock outcrop
Julie and Taylor doing Yoga out on the lawn
David D. Skiing down the slopes through falling snow
Holly Hiking along a raging Clear Creek
Dan H (left) and Annalise (right) grin as they hold the rope and prepare to belay another student climber.
Leilani under the locust tree reaches arms to the sky during yoga on the lawn
Cristian and Charis Hike along the Clear Creek Trail
Daniel centered in a group hiking up the trail of Mount Falcon
Holly, Cody and Lia paddle a green canoe at Bear Creek Lake
Jimmi, Trevor and Warren help carry a large raft from the lake up to the shore using their canes