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A Special Adventure

A Special Adventure

Several months ago I was a guide on a Canopy Tour that I will never forget. Every tour has a unique feel depending on who is with us, but this tour was different. On this tour was Zach, a ten-year-old boy with autism and cerebral palsy. He was joined by his full-time one-on-one aid. 

When we get a call asking about accommodations for a guest with special needs, we do whatever we can to make sure that the experience will be awesome. For this tour, we scheduled three guides, rather than the normal two, so that I could zip tandem with Zach throughout the entire tour. Zach was completely non-verbal, but it was easy to see that he was having an amazing time. His aid told us that he loved adventure activities, he had even been white-water rafting!

As Zach and I zipped, his screams of excitement could be heard throughout the forest, he was having the time of his life! At each platform, his aid would take out his “yes/no” cards. She would ask, “Are you having fun?” He would eagerly and excitedly point to the “yes” card. 

When we finished the tour, his parents were so grateful that he had been able to have this experience. They thanked us profusely, and they even brought him back to do the Canopy Tour again a few months later! It is such a blessing to see first-hand how God is using our Adventure Ministries to touch lives in unique and special ways. 

By Michael Cahalan
Adventure Guide

 

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