End of Summer Bash VI Promo

The End of the Summer Bash is Saturday, September 25, 2010 9am – 3pm at Meadowmere Park in Grapevine, Texas.  This Free Event provides a variety of outdoor leisure activities for those in the community of all ages with physical disabilities and their families.

Activities: Water Skiing, Scuba Demonstration, Jet Skis, Sailing, Kayaking, Swimming, Fishing, Disability Golf, Camping, Archery, Horseback Riding, Hand Cycling, Quad Rugby, Sled Hockey Equipment, Basketball, Climbing Wall, Face Painting, Remote Control Sailboats, Children’s Playground, Petting Zoo, Wood Carving, Silent Auction and much more…

Free food and drinks under the Grapevine AMBUC’s Food Court big tent.

Special Live Performances by JB Clark, and the Oak Lawn Symphonic & Marching Band.

Free Drawing for merchandise and gift-cards.

RISE is accepting preregistration for End of Summer Bash VI via email. Click on this link eosb@riseadventures.org and let us know how many folks in your group will be in attendance.

This years EOSB VI Title Sponsor is the Baylor Institute for Rehablitation.

Additional major contributors are: PepsiCo Enable, Southwest Airlines, Southwest Securities, Grapevine Parks & Recreastion Department, C&R Medical Supplies, and Lift-Aids.

We also appreciate the support of: Adventure Scuba, Hero’s on the Water, Classic Chevrolet, Pickles Custom Golf, Metroplex Adaptive Water Sports, John Horn’s Woodturning, Infinity Air, CIB Group, Backwoods, Grapevine AMBUCS, and Les Lacs Yacht Club.

CLICK HERE for a printable flyer for the event.

CLICK HERE for map.

WATCH SOME VIDEO FROM LAST YEAR’ EVENT!

Dallas Mavericks Wheelchair Basketball Water-Sports Picnic

This past weekend RISE held a water-sports picnic for the Dallas Mavericks Wheelchair Basketball Team to kick off the season.  The kids were all very excited to started the basketball season, and there wasn’t a better way to do it!  Several of the Junior Mavericks have never been jetskiing, tubing, or kayaking before, so this was a great opportunity for them to try something new with an organization that had all the right equipment and manpower. Tubing was by far the highlight of the day.  At first, the kids were tenative because they had never done it before, but after the first round, you couldn’t keep them off of it. With each new round, the kids and their families wanted to go faster and faster, holding their thumbs up, screaming even louder with excitement, seeing just how far they could push the limit. Even the coaches got in on the tubing action! The day was filled with music, food, friends and a great time. Thank you RISE for helping the kids break some more barriers down in their life and giving them the confidence to try something new.  We all know that they will be talking about this day with their friends from school! The Junior Mavericks couldn’t ask for anything more! Thank you RISE for providing a great opportunity for the children and their family at no cost!

Michelle Torina

CLICK HERE to view more photos of the event.

Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation Water Sports Picnic

On Saturday July 31st, Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation sponsored a spinal cord peer mentor water sports picnic for peer mentors, patients, and family members.  The event was organized by RISE adventures and was held in Meadowmere Park on Lake Grapevine.   The activities that were offered for individuals with disabilities were water skiing, jet skiing, boat rides, tubing, swimming, sailing, kayaking, golfing, and hand cycling.  Over 100 volunteers, participants, and Baylor staff attended the event along with four Baylor patients.  In addition to the water activities, participants were able to enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, and brisket as well as cold drinks to help beat the heat.  A free raffle was also held with Dallas Cowboys gear and backpacks as some of the prizes.  All participants received a t-shirt for attending the water sports event.  The event was a success showing appreciation for our amazing peer mentors.   CLICK HERE for more photos of the event.

Spina Bifida Water Sports Picnic was held Saturday, July 17th.

There are always way too many people to thank for their unconditional support. Without the financial support of C & R Medical Supplies & Lift-Aids and their personal involvement none of our free programs would be possible! It was over 100 degrees but the temperature did not dampen the spirits. The huge turnout of children with disabilities and family members enjoyed a full day of water skiing, jet skiing, water float rides, swimming, sailing, kayaking, golf, lawn games hand cycling, and lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs. A huge “Thank You” also goes to Albert Estes/Scottish Rite Hospital, Spina Bifida Board and staff and the large number of Volunteers that endured a long hot day of fun in the sun!

CLICK HERE for more photos of the event.

RISE Adventures Adaptive Water Sports Program is Profiled by 360 West Magazine

Read 360 West Magazine to see the article in the July issue.

Download the extracted pages in PDF format.

REACH Water Sports Picnic, Saturday, June 26, 2010- Recap

TEAM RISE Staff, Sponsors, and Volunteers,

From the bottom of my heart, I truly appreciate each and every one of you for your effort, presenting the REACH Water Sports Picnic. Your heartfelt compassion and unconditional support were truly inspiring. This was one of the best days of RISE Adventures short existence. I have written this many times and it seems so weak but, THANK YOU!! Read the rest of this entry »

RISE Adventures 2010 Summer Program Schedule.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE VERSION OF THE RISE SUMMER PROGRAM FLYER Read the rest of this entry »

Important RISE Program Update on Making Reservations!

Due to the rapid growth of all programs RISE has instituted a new policy on accepting program reservations effective June 15, 2010. RISE owns our own equipment for every program and can accommodate any size group. The reason for the new policy is to have enough volunteers on hand to handle transfers and run the program. Our offices are closed Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays. Read the rest of this entry »

RISE Water Sports Bring Family and Friends Together.

The RISE Adventures Water Sport Program at Grapevine Lake is a great opportunity to get friends and family out of the house and enjoying the outdoors together.  With 4 jet ski’s, several kayaks, a sailboat and a ski boat with adaptive water ski’s all in one place there are plenty of activities for everyone! My wife and son came with me this week and we had a blast!  We  jet skied for two hours and sailed for another hour.  There was no down time unless we wanted it!  We plan to keep going all summer because we had such an amazing experience!

Thanks RISE!!  Spencer Larimore

Rise has kicked off summer with a splash!!  Starting May 4, 2010 through August 31, 2010 every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 5 pm todusk. RISE combined Water Skiing, Jet Skiing, Kayaking, and Sailing into one activity that takes place at Lake View Park on Lake Grapevine.

Sailing is not limited to those days, we can schedule you on weekends as well.

We are asking that all participants contact me two days in advance for reservations.  This will ensure that we have enough equipment for everyone to enjoy, and ensure that we don’t overbook.

If you have any questions, Contact Annette Brauer abrauer@riseadventures.org or (972) 978-8903.

CLICK HERE to see more RISE Adventures water sport photos.

RISE Adventure’s Kayaking Gets Mentioned in The Star-Telegram

The Star-Telegram published a great article about beginner kayaking and how to get started.  They mention RISE Adventures in the article.  CLICK HERE to check it out.

RISE Adventures First Annual, “Kickin’ off the Summer Bash I” CEO Recap:

The RISE First Annual “Kickin’ off the Summer Bash I” held May 1, 2010 at Meadowmere Park on Lake Grapevine, was truly blessed! After weeks of concern on the lingering winter weather and the forecast of storms for the weekend, no storms or rain ever occurred. The event was held to get first timers acclimated to our programs, mission accomplished! All programs at the event were regular RISE weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly activities.  RISE owns our own equipment for each program and collaborative partners supply the rest.

Read the rest of this entry »

RISE Kayaking Get’s Going for the Summer!

RISE Kayaking has started for the summer on the Trinity River, McInnish Park,  2340 Sandy Lake Road Carrollton, TX 75006.  Contact Annette Brauer at abrauer@riseadventures.org or (972) 978.8903.

Kevin is a paraplegic that had only kayaked in a swimming pool at a local event. He contacted RISE and wanted a real kayaking experience and the results are life changing. After just one activity he responded, “I just wanted to let you know that I had a great time the last two days of kayaking and would like to go ahead and register again for next Tues and Wed, weather permitting…”

CLICK HERE to see more photos from the event.

Kayaying in the Cold 11/21/09

It was a cloudy morning on Saturday, November 21, 2009. A few of us were planning to go hand cycling and kayaking. Since it rained the night before the hand cycling trails were completely under water so we went kayaking that day. It was a good thing we decided to go kayaking it was over cast but it was not to cold or hot it was perfect weather. We enjoyed ourselves exploring new areas that we haven’t been before while we were kayaking. I encourage everyone to go out and experience Kayaking.

Russell J. Amaya

To see more photos CLICK HERE.

RISE Kayaking: DO NOT FEAR THE ALLIGATOR GAR!

RISE Kayaking is an excellent outdoor summer activity that anyone can do.   I’m s C-6 quad with limited hand grip and with in no time I was paddling nicely down the Trinity River.  RISE provided an adaptive glove that helped me grip the paddle with ease.  We also experimented with reverse duct tape that ended up working out the best.   The kayaks are very stable flat bottom boats so you don’t have to worry about tipping over and becoming Alligator gar food.  What’s an Alligator Gar you say?  Apparently there is a very large fish with a nasty mess of teeth living in the Trinity River, we did not see one but I will add some old photos to the gallery.   Other than the big, nasty fish that we didn’t see, the Trinity River is surrounded by beautiful trees that make you feel like you are far from the city!   I brought my wife and son and they had a blast!

Sam Houston Trail Park, 101 E. Interstate Highway 635, Irving, TX.

Take a nice trip down the Trinity River. To make reservations contact Paul Gray at pgray@riseadventures.org or 469.762.5075.

Click here for more photos