ASL Day On the River with Wilderness Inquiry, the NPF, and Sun Outdoors | Sun and Friends

On this episode of Sun and Friends, we get a special look into Wilderness Inquiry’s second annual ASL Day On the River, hosted by the National Park Foundation (NPF). Watch to learn more about the organization and the valuable connections made at this special event.
Wilderness Inquiry connects people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to each other through shared outdoor activities. ASL Day On the River brings the deaf and deaf-blind community together for a guided canoe trip down the Mississippi River. This event is so valuable because it invites people to explore nature who may not typically have access to these kinds of outdoor activities.
Program Coordinator of Wilderness Inquiry, Riss Leitzke, shares why this experience is so meaningful for everyone involved.
“Our goal for this ASL Day is to encourage people to connect, socialize, enjoy their time, learn from this local place, meet new people, see familiar faces, and reconnect with old friends, and have fun. That’s where the self-esteem boost comes from. It leaves you feeling good.”
With support from Sun Outdoors, ParkVentures provides grants that help people create and strengthen lifelong relationships to national parks. ParkVentures is a program of NPF that expands access to the outdoors and connects participants to the benefits of nature through meaningful experiences. Wilderness Inquiry is one of over 55 organizations receiving support from ParkVentures.
Riss continues stating, “The grant has been unbelievably helpful in making this event a success because many deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing people don’t have jobs. So, they couldn’t afford to go otherwise. They don’t have money to spend recreationally. The grant helps lower the cost of attendance so these folks are able to afford it and can enjoy the wonderful outdoors while having fun chatting and learning more about the area. This grant allows them to experience something new. They develop new skills. It is an immense benefit to the community.”
Groups paddle their way peacefully down the river, smiling and working together.
“I would say that when the day has finished the biggest takeaway would be the connection,” Riss says. “The connection with people, nature, and the organization. They will know that we are here for them -
the community.”
Sun Outdoors has a unique connection to the great outdoors and a love of exploration that we celebrate through our partnership with NPF. Please click link below to learn more about this partnership: www.sunoutdoors.com/blog/sun-...
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Sun Outdoors is taking outdoor vacations to new heights. Experience RV life and the outdoors in a whole new way. Find adventures, take resort tours, and get the latest travel tips at Sun Outdoors. Meet new people with series like Venturing with Sheena and Jason on Sun and Friends. We also highlight today’s incredible RVs from our guests at Sun Outdoors resorts as they show you around their rigs on RV Cribs. Not an RVer? You can enjoy in-depth walkthroughs of our vacation rentals on Sunny Spaces.
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[@SherrisPlants]

Awesome Program

[@SunOutdoors]

We agree! We're proud to help make it happen!