ARCH - Adaptive Recreation for Childhood Health

Adaptive Recreation for Childhood Health (ARCH) at Children's Hospital Colorado, formerly the Hospital Sports Program, or HSP, helps kids with physical disabilities find confidence and freedom through sports and outdoor recreation. And parents find comfort in knowing the program is staffed by volunteer specialists who understand their children’s unique conditions and how they affect participation in sports and activities. What is ARCH? ARCH provides recreational resources and programs for children, teens and young adults with physical disabilities. By focusing on individual abilities, this program seeks to help kids develop skills that lead to a lifetime of healthy leisure and awareness. Started in 1967 to help individuals with amputations get involved in downhill skiing, ARCH was one of the first programs of its kind in the United States. The first group of ARCH skiers included young patients from Children’s Colorado and veterans from the Vietnam War being treated at Fitzsimons Army Hospital. Today, there are programs all over the world based on our current model. Who benefits from adaptive recreation? Though ARCH started with skiing, the program has expanded to include year-round recreational activities. Participants have a variety of physical and medical conditions including cancer, amputations, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, head and spinal cord injuries, and other orthopedic conditions. Read stories of real patients involved in Adaptive Recreation for Childhood Health. ARCH activities for children with disabilities Though downhill skiing and snowboarding (through the National Sports Center for the Disabled at Winter Park Resort) remain ARCH's largest program component, we also offer year-round outdoor recreation activities. These experiences vary according to opportunities and partnerships available in the community. Over the years they’ve included: Indoor rock climbing Golf Horseback riding Fishing Water sports Archery Fencing Yoga Cycling and more! Between winter skiing/snowboarding and summer programming, nearly 100 kids participate in ARCH each year. ARCH also serves as a resource for parents looking for additional recreational programs in the community. Enrollment and details vary by activity and your child’s medical conditions. Call 720-777-6590, and we’ll answer any questions you may have.

https://www.childrenscolorado.org/doctors-and-departments/departments/pediatric-rehabilitation/adaptive-recreation-for-childhood-health/