Bigger than Life

Last April Nicole Carollo made the decision to start volunteering in her community. After learning about the National Ability Center through a friend, Nicole decided to attend volunteer orientation and learn more about the organization. Having taught swimming lessons in the past, Nicole decided the Aquatics program was a great place to start her volunteer experience. “As a young child I was first terrified of the water, but soon after, it became my passion and I competed for most of my youth and young adulthood. I'm happy to get back to that and show others that swimming can be fun!” A year later you will find Nicole not only sharing her passion for swimming, but also belaying participants on our indoor climbing wall.

Discovering her own abilities has allowed Nicole the opportunity to grow not only in a volunteer position, but also a recreation enthusiast because prior to volunteering Nicole did not having any climbing experience. “Seeing the determination, persistence and courage from the people that come through the doors of the NAC to take on the climbing wall has been very inspiring”. Nicole is also very thankful for the time Kim Millikan set aside to teach her how to climb.

The energy from NAC staff, together with the participants’ joy and enthusiasm, motivates Nicole to continue her support of the NAC. “Thanks to the staff at the NAC, I feel that I am part of something amazing and bigger than life.”

Happy New Year!

The snow is falling fast in Park City, and our programs are in full swing during the winter months. The National Ability Center's Ski & Snowboard Center is gearing up for Session II on January 9th. The equestrian program started Winter Session II today.

If you know of individuals who would benefit from participating in our programs please refer them to our website at www.DiscoverNAC.org.

We thrive thanks to our great volunteers, so if you have an interest in volunteering please let us know and we'll give your more information. Look at www.DiscoverNAC.org for a list of programs where you might use your talents to benefit individuals with disabilities who participate at the National Ability Center.

I would like to ask for some help in this new of 2011. I am looking for stories about participants, volunteers or even stories from the staff at the National Ability Center. I would like to highlight some of the individuals that participate in programs or make our programs possible. If you have a funny, serious, or inspirational story that you would like to share, please e-mail me at benh@DiscoverNAC.org. I am working on making this blog something that highlights individuals and a place we can learn about the people we work for and with. I look forward to hearing and posting some great stories in the coming months.

Thank you for your help, and Happy New Year.

-Ben
National Ability Center
AmeriCorps Member

New AmeriCorps Members

The National Ability Center is a host site for the AmeriCorps program. AmeriCorps is a volunteer service organization that partners with programs throughout the country. There are six new AmeriCorps volunteers joining the National Ability Center for this coming year. They started the first day of October and will be here for a solid year. They will be working in various programs that the National Ability Center has to offer. Take a few minutes to read about the new AmeriCorps individuals. They are all from different backgrounds, but they are bringing experience and passion to the programs that they will be working with.

Andrea will be the Peer Partner Coordinator and ski instructor at the Ski and Snowboard Center. She is from Fenton, Michigan. She studied Therapeutic Recreation at Central Michigan University and is a licensed CTRS. She finished her degree with her internship in the winter of 2009 at the NAC and fell in love with it. She stayed on as an AmeriCorps member and is excited for a second great year of AmeriCorps at the NAC! She loves the power of recreation to enrich peoples lives.

Her favorite quote is: "You gain strength, and courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face...You must do the thing you think you cannot." Eleanor Roosevelt

Erin in from the great state down south of Tennessee and she wishes y'all a good day. She will be working with the equestrian program and at the ski and snowboard center this winter. She loves rock climbing and staying active in the outdoors. She has completed two years of college at the University of Tennessee and is very excited about AmeriCorps and the opportunities at the National Ability Center.

Erica will be the Ski & Snowboard Program Volunteer Coordinator at the National Ability Center. She will be coordinating the volunteers at the ski and snowboard center. Her hometown is Marinette, Wisconsin and she is a Badger, graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology: Exercise and Movement Science. She was in a dance academy for 12 years growing up. She still has some skills.

Laura is originally from the frozen tundra (aka, North Dakota) and is excited to live in the mountains this year. She will be working with a little bit of everything this year including: aquatics, ski and snowboard center, volunteer coordinating, and outreach. A recent graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth, Laura loves to go trail running, climb rocks, and bike in her spare time.

Michelle is originally from Napa, California. She was able to do an Equine Internship through the National Ability Center in the summer of 2009 and came back the following summer to teach Camp Giddy Up. She went to college at Feather River College in Quincy, California where she majored in Equine Studies. She concentrated her studies in Pack Skills and Stable Operations. She graduated with an Associates Degree in the spring, and decided to take a break from school and come out to the National Ability Center to participate in AmeriCorps.

Teaching therapeutic horseback riding has always been a dream of hers, and through the NAC she has been able to live that dream to the fullest. While being here, she hopes to push her boundaries and try something outside of the equine world. In reaching that goal she will be volunteering in the NAC's ski and snowboard program this winter as well as being in the barn.

My name is Ben. I am originally from South Bend, Indiana. I have a Health, Fitness and Recreation Degree and recently finished going back to school to receive my teaching certification in Health and Physical Education. I love to participate in all things sport. I have participated in seven marathons and about thirteen half-marathons in my racing wheelchair. When the snow flies you will find me on the slopes. I will be working this year with the National Ability Center in the marketing and outreach department, the ski and snowboard center, and the sled hockey programs. I am looking forward to meeting some great individuals and learning many new things in my year as an AmeriCorps member.

If you would like more information on AmeriCorps and the different programs they are currently working in Utah and nationally, you can click on the link below.

www.AmeriCorps.gov

United We Serve

This morning President Barack Obama announced a new initiative called United We Serve. Mr. Obama encourages Americans of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to get out this summer and serve! At the National Ability Center, we could not survive without our army of volunteers. We are thankful for them everyday. For those of you who don't volunteer already, let this be your call-to-action. Come serve with us! We need you, and you will feel good for having helped out in your community. If you are interested in coming up to help in any of our many summer programs (cycling, horseback riding, swimming, water skiing, archery and more), call Jennifer Carpenter at 435.649.3991. She will get you pointed in the right direction. If you are ready to start today, our monthly volunteer orientation will be held tonight at the NAC at 5:30pm. We hope to see you there.