11/12/2025
At LIVEfor TimberNook, we are often asked how we adapt the woods to meet everyone's needs, and we'd love to share a few helpful tips!
1. STAGE FOR EVERY HEIGHT-Just as you wouldn't place toys in a cupboard out of reach for children, at TimberNook we are careful to place loose parts and materials at a height and on surfaces that are accessible for walkers and rollers!
2. PROVIDE THE RIGHT TOOLS-Teaming with .ability.wi has enabled us to provide the right "hiking boots" for our campers. We all know what it is like to go on a long hike without the right shoes, so providing outdoor wheelchairs to campers with mobility limitations really enables all campers to navigate uneven and rough terrain independently. As a small non-profit, we may not have the budget to purchase our own chairs, but working with other community partners can open the doors for accessibility in ways we could not do on our own.
3. MAINTAIN THE TIMBERNOOK PHILOSOPHY-All campers ask for help, and many times it is a perceived need/challenging skill, and not necessarily a true need. Instead of doing things for kids, at TimberNook we encourage them to try new ideas, collaborate with peers, and find creative ways to access an item of interest or overcome a challenge. We believe it is important for all kids to learn how to overcome challenges and develop new skills when faced with a problem.
Kids are quite capable and often surprise us when given the time, space and opportunity in a supportive and encouraging environment.
