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New Adventures

New Adventures is an inclusive and safe respite program that gives Southern Colorado children and teens with disabilities ages 6 -18 the opportunity to explore, while providing parents and caregivers with a much-needed break from caregiving duties.

Contact
crcinfo@eastersealscolorado.org
Apply for New Adventures

The program lasts 4-6 hours and will take place 1-2 Saturdays per month. Each Saturday, we will host 10-12 children. The program will be staffed with a program coordinator, a registered nurse, an arts and crafts instructor, and local nursing students, ensuring a 1:1 staff:child ratio so that everyone is safe and included. Our senior program manager will oversee all activities.

Program Details: 

  • 1-2 Saturdays per month, 4 - 6 hour program.
  • Located at the Durango Recreation Center, 2700 Main Ave. Durango, CO 81301
  • Enriching activities such as scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, music, and digital educational games.
  • 1:1 Caregiver to child ratio.
  • Low cost for families with children receiving benefits such as CHP+ and Medicaid.
  • Safe and inclusive!
  • Siblings welcome! 

New Adventures also provides parents and caregivers with a much-needed break from caregiving duties and an opportunity to tend to their needs while knowing their children are being cared for in a safe and supportive environment.  

Why join New Adventures? 

  • Connect with other families.
  • Take some time for yourself.
  • Give your child a fun, new experience! 
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Apply for New Adventures

The first step in having your child participate in New Adventures is to apply! Once you apply and your application is accepted, your child is clear to participate in our Saturday program, provided you RSVP in advance!

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Schedule a Consultation

See if New Adventures is right for your child and family with a quick, 20 minute consultation! We'll make sure your child is eligible and answer your questions about the application process.

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Sign Up for the New Adventures Newsletter

Stay up to date with our program dates and location. Plus, get caregiving tips and learn about family-friendly events around Durango!

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For Nursing Schools & Students

For Program Administrators: 
New Adventures is an opportunity for your students to get first-hand experience with a unique population, as part of their service-learning hours requirement. It is a hands-on opportunity—your students will work 1:1 with a child with a developmental disability and attend to their needs including feeding, facilitating activities, using the restroom, etc. New Adventures is modeled after Easterseals Colorado's successful Denver-area program Discovery Club. It is the first time that a program like this is coming to Southern Colorado. Working with New Adventures has the potential to change a student’s career trajectory because you students may not get exposure to working with this population another way.

For Nursing Students: 
Immerse yourself in this unique opportunity to serve an underserved population and get your service-learining hours in the process. The first program of its kind in the region, New Adventures will expose you to the ins and outs of working with children with developmental disabilities. Providing individualized care to a child with a developmental disability is a job that requires patience, kindness, and problem solving—all of which are skills that are important in all kinds of nursing. With New Adventures, you truly make an impact. Giving children a safe place to explore and grow and parents a break helps the whole family manage the stress of daily life, and ultimately, thrive.

Email Megan Bettinger at crcinfo@eastersealscolorado.org to explore a partnership!