Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center

From RPTSWiki

Kacee Upton

Intern, Summer 2006

Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center

Organization Overview:

Mission of Organization: Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center is a Non-profit outdoor recreation camp for disabled population ranging from 8 year olds with Autism to 60 year old Brain Trauma victims. They were started back in 1973 by Gene Dayton by offering a place where people with disabilities could go to enjoy outdoor activities. With help from Rick Hum, Dennis Karney, Nancy Dayton and Janice Waite the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center was born in 1976. Their mission was "to expand the potential of people with disabilities and special needs through meaningful, educational, and inspiring outdoor experiences."

The BOEC is located in the mountains of beautiful Breckenridge, Colorado. They offer a wide range of activities including Adaptive Skiing and Snowboarding, Wilderness Courses, Professional Challenge Courses including a ropes course, high wire challenges, fishing deck and pond and old cabin. It is located on 39 aces and hosts a climbing wall, all the equipment for rafting, canoeing, and sea kayaking trips.

Internship Position:

Job Description & Duties: Internships at the BOEC are broken up in two seasons, Summer and Winter. During both seasons they hire 12 qualified interns to be the back bone of their programs. The summer intern has various responsibilities including the following:

- Planning, Implementing, Facilitating and evaluating the courses

- Courses range from 1-10 days

- Can be held on site or in a mobile format

- Become proficient in camping, canoeing, rafting and kayaking

- Work with participants that range from children with Traumatic Brain Injuries, Epilepsy, and Cancer to adults with Traumatic Brain Injuries, Developmental Disabilities and Multiple Sclerosis

- Plan all menus for the wilderness courses and then shop from the food pantry and grocery store

- Implement games and activities for down time that are appropriate for the population

Benefits and Opportunities: The BOEC offers each intern an amazing experience to work with a unique population in an outdoor environment. The skills that you learn are invaluable and can be used for the rest of your life. Some of the benefits gained from this internship are:

- On-site housing consisting of a staff cabin fit to house 12 interns

- Food is provided by the Food Bank and a weekly allowance for fresh fruits and vegetables.

- 25 free passes to the Rec Center in town

- $50.00 monthly stipend

- Training with the on-site climbing wall

- Off site rock climbing

- Top rope set up

- High ropes course and elements experience and set-up

- Paddling experience both flat-water (canoe) and whitewater (rafting)

- Trained in low impact camping and hiking