Girls with Disabilities Enjoy Outdoor Activities

By working with experts, making adaptations, and most importantly, keeping an open mind, you can encourage girls with disabilities to scale new heights.

By Helen Orloff

Whether it's playing in the neighborhood playground in San Francisco or rock climbing in the mountains of North Carolina, girls with disabilities can and do enjoy Girl Scout experiences in the outdoors. Girls with disabilities want to be active participants in their chosen outdoor activity, not spectators on the sidelines. Here are some ways leaders and advisors make it happen.

Going for the Gold

For the girls of troops 7944 and 7072, a triathlon exemplified what it meant to be a sister to every Girl Scout. "Every girl had an opportunity to participate," said Linda, a regional manager and troop leader." "I have two girls in my troop who are blind and it was their first time on a bike! I asked the girls to touch the bike to become familiar with its functions. After a few practice rides, they got the hang of it—you could see the excitement in their faces."

The girls were ready and determined for the triathlon. Some of the girls, who previously volunteered to give their Girl Scout sisters verbal instructions at the event, coached them through the activity and led each of them to a personal victory.

The interaction among the girls helped them become aware of their similarities rather than their differences. "After the ribbons were awarded, the girls decided they were having too much fun and didn't want the day to end. We drove to the beach and they spent the rest of the afternoon just being girls—talking, laughing, and digging for shells. It was such a wonderful day of sharing for both troops." Linda recalled.

Reaching New Heights

There is no reason why people with disabilities, including people with multiple and profound disabilities, cannot be involved in "high adventure" outdoor activities such as aquatics, canoeing, and rock climbing.

This is very much the case for the girls of the Girl Scout Council of the Catawba Valley Area where girls who are deaf join their peers in rock climbing. To address the needs of all girls in the group, Deb, Vice President of Program Services, found a way to include every girl. "Instructions can be hard to remember when you are busy with the business of rock climbing," she said. "We use a relay system based in hand signals so everyone can participate. By using hand signals we meet the girls' needs. It's just the Girl Scout way."

Camp Commitment

In some parts of Alaska, the terrain is tough to traverse and the only way to get around is by helicopter or ferry. The lack of connecting roads, however, has not deterred the volunteers and staff of Tongass Alaska Girl Scout Council from including girls with disabilities in resident camp. "Our summer camps are located in places where mobility is a concern," said Kathy, Program and Membership Director. "We work right from the start with the girls' parents to assess the most important considerations. If there were an emergency, what risk-management plans would we need? Once we have safety considerations established, program inclusiveness is easy. We ask the girl what she wants to do. Of course, she wants to do the same as any other girl—hiking, canoeing, archery, singing, arts and crafts, and outdoor cooking."

Kathy's approach to asking a girl what she wants to do has worked well for all the girls. "Jacinda, one of our Senior Girl Scouts, has been attending resident camp since she was old enough to participate," said Kathy. She has cerebral palsy and talks with her message board. That doesn't keep her from singing or being right in the middle of any activities!"

Role of Leaders and Advisors

As a leader/advisor, you play a critical role in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. By creating an atmosphere of inclusion, you serve as wonderful role models for girls who will look to you for guidance and often mirror your attitude.

Joanne, a volunteer with the Girl Scouts of Western North Carolina, Pishgah Council, is clear about the impact leaders can have. "We may not be nurses or occupational or recreational therapists. But things will never get done if community members don't step up and become involved," she said.

Adults who work with girls with disabilities may need support and that includes opportunities to ask questions and voice concerns. Many councils provide support through workshops and trainings led by professionals who work with individuals with disabilities. Taking advantage of learning opportunities such as these can lay the foundation for successful experiences for leaders and girls.

Adults with Disabilities

"By being in Girl Scouts, I feel useful and competent. It gives me a lot of positive feelings in my life," said Mary, a volunteer from Girl Scouts of Black Hawk Girl Scout Council. "I have Multiple Sclerosis and through the years it is worsening," she shared. "I am now in a wheelchair and still in the picture as a leader."

No matter what the disability may be, if you are an adult volunteer interested in Girl Scouting, you can contribute. Here's how to get started:

1. Seek council help in determining how you can offer your skills.
2. Talk to co-leaders about the adaptations you may need. Maybe you can't pitch a tent, but perhaps you can teach others how.
3. Communicate your skills and needs. Maybe you have strengths or skills that are not visible to others.
4. Arrange your schedule and transportation in a way that works for you. Others can adapt to your needs with notice and open communication.

Remember, you have a lot of support. Check out Girl Scout Central for more information about camping and the outdoors.

Adapted from LEADER, Spring 2005. © Girl Scouts of the United States of America.