The Wilderness Access Program enables persons with disabilities to enjoy the outdoors with aid of adaptive needs apparatus, i.e., Sit Ski Machines and Trail Riders. Contact Bob Covey, Team Coordinator, 780 852-2100 for information on how to access the program or to lend support.

A Brief History
In 2005, a small group of people recognized an unjust service gap in the community of Jasper. They noticed children with special needs were excluded from the opportunity to access wild spaces. In response, this group organized as the Jasper Sit Ski and Wilderness Access Committee. The group included members representing teachers, parents, youth, young adults, seniors and local businesses. Fundraising garnered more than $18,000 and the committee purchased two adaptive ski machines; since then, people in Jasper with adaptive needs have been able to enjoy skiing with their peers and plans are in the works to achieve the same successes on Jasper National Park’s vast trail network by purchasing an adaptive Trail Rider apparatus.In 2008, the program partnered with the Jasper Community Team. The partnership made sense as the Jasper Community Team is committed to serving the entire community and has both charitable and society status, making applications for funding more feasible.