SARANAC LAKE, NY (June 20, 2024) – The 1st Annual Adirondack Nature Festival for People with Disabilities will be held this fall on Saturday, September 7, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Paul Smith Visitor Interpretive Center. The festival is a rain or shine event that is free and open to all.
“Access to nature can be a challenge for people with disabilities, and Paul Smith’s Visitor Interpretation Centre is an ideal location with rolling terrain and wheelchair accessible trails,” says Helen Gibbens, co-chair of the festival’s planning committee.
The event is designed to bring together people with disabilities, their families, friends, allies and supporters from across the North Country region to celebrate and experience the uplifting power of community and nature, and to be a source of inspiration for each other.
Kim Hill Ridley, New York State Chief Officer for People with Disabilities, will kick off the festival as keynote speaker, and Leah Akins, Statewide ADA Accessibility Coordinator for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, will appear as special guest speaker.
“Whether it’s discovering the creations of local artisans and artists, sampling a variety of delicious foods, participating in nature workshops and experiences, or just hanging out listening to live music, the Adirondack Disability Nature Festival provides opportunities for people of all abilities to connect with nature and each other in a variety of ways,” said Nick Friedman, co-chair of the festival’s planning committee.
This event is planned by a volunteer committee from Adirondack Riverwalking, Tri-Lakes Independent Living Center, and Accessible Adirondack Tourism. For other planning committee members and organizations, please visit our website.
There will be guided walks along trails, bird watching, craft workshops, nature sensory play, story sharing around a campfire, live music, craft vendors, food and more. Through fiscal sponsor Accessible Adirondack Tourism, the festival welcomes individual donations and corporate sponsorship. Donations can be made online through the festival’s website or by mail. Learn more on the festival’s website. “Donations are a way of recognizing that nature and its many benefits are for everyone. Donations make nature accessible to people who often have limited opportunities or means to spend time in nature,” says Gibbens.
For more information, questions, vendor forms and more, visit www.adirondacknaturefestivalforpeoplewithdisabilities.org
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