sponsored by Kayak New Mexico, Inc. 501(c)3, a tax-exempt non-profit corporation
Come As You Are!
Adaptive Kayaking at Rio Rancho Aquatic Center
Rio Rancho Aquatic Center is located at 745 Loma Colorado Blvd NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
The aquatic center is 1/2 mile south of Northern Blvd in Rio Rancho.
Dates of Adaptive Kayaking Open House are June 24, 2017 and July 29, 2017 from 6pm to 8pm
Jump to Registration Form
Adaptive Kayaking builds courage, confidence and character for people with physical or developmental disabilities one stroke at a time! Our motto “Come as you are!” encourages people of all ages and abilities to come kayaking with us! Whether the goals are physical, cognitive, social or emotional, adaptive kayaking can assist individuals on their journey to a superior quality of life! By adaptive the environment, equipment or teaching method, we are able to accommodate most people into our programs!
“No one can tell our children are different when they are kayaking!”
— Jeanette B., Albuquerque, NM
“Shaun had such a great time [in the adaptive kayaking program] & I see such a difference in him today. You, your volunteers & teachers do a great job. You’re providing a safety net for him right now & that is what he needs to grow. I can’t tell you enough how much we appreciate what you are doing for Shaun!”
— Loretta H., Albuquerque, NM
Upon completion of the adaptive kayaking programs, our students are invited to join the broader paddling community as a continuation of their learning, and ultimately helping our adaptive paddling students strive toward independence in an inclusive community environment.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Is there a minimum age to participate?
A: No, the park has something for everyone. Small children may enjoy kayaking with mom or dad, or being pushed or pulled around in their kayak.
Q: Does my support person have to pay?
A: Participants will also have access to the large pool for kayaking, water slides and smaller feature pools, all included in the nominal price. That said, anyone in a swimming suit (including support) will need to pay to use the facility.
Q: Can we sign up for more than one date?
A: Absolutely! Register for as many dates as you wish. To sign up for multiple times, resubmit the form each time (hint: hit the ‘backspace’ button after submitting the form to reload submitted information, change dates and resubmit)
Q: My child is not a strong swimmer. Can we still participate?
A: Here is some information that may help you decide:
1) Life jackets are required any time we are kayaking (even in a pool).
2) Anyone needing a life jacket for swimming is welcome to wear one, or bring your own.
3) There are other shallow pools and ways to participate.
4) If you child needs support, come prepared to support them.
Q: Why register online?
A: Pre-registration will facilitate the check-in process. While “drop-ins” are welcome, they will need to sign a waiver (for each participant), pay a higher entry fee, which may take more time. Adaptive Kayaking Open House events are not open to the general public but family and peers are welcome to participate!
Registration is easy!
- Choose one or more dates:
June 24, 2017 or July 29, 2017 - Decide who will participate:
PRE-registration: $10 per person
Day-of-event registration: $15 per person
– Anyone in a swimming suit, whether kayaking, assisting, supporting, or otherwise, should pay.
– Observers (in street clothes) do not pay.
– Price includes full access to the water park, including water slides, feature pools and kayaking in the large pool. Upon submission of the registration form below, you will receive a PayPal invoice for the registration fee about a week before the day of the event. It is not necessary to have a PayPal account; PayPal merely processes the transaction. To receive the pre-registration discount, your invoice must be paid in full by noon of the day of the event (ie: the date shown on the item description). Open balances or registration received the day of the event will be charged the full price. Payments received are non-refundable and are used to offset the cost for hosting the event on that date, however, they may be transferred to another person or used as a scholarship for those in need. - Sign up! Advanced registration is highly recommended! It will save check-in time on the day of the event and allow you to spend more time in the water! Register using the online registration form below. About a week before the event, you’ll receive a PayPal invoice for each person attending. Each person entering the water will need their own waiver. Waivers should be signed by a legal guardian when applicable.
- Bring Support! Children less than 13 years old with special needs, or anyone needing support in routine daily activities must be accompanied by an adult in the water. This is for the safety of all participants.
“Because of his disability, there are very few activities that Kevin can participate in and feel successful in. He has motor dyspraxia and ideation apraxia, which in laymen terms means he has difficulty planning and executing motor movements. It usually requires hand-over-hand for Kevin to learn a new motor pattern. So Kevin is more successful with an activity that uses the same motor pattern over and over again. That is one reason kayaking had been suggested to me. I think that kayaking would be an activity that Kevin would really enjoy. He often looks out over our fence as if wishing he could go out into the world and experience things like everyone else. You gave him the opportunity to do that on Saturday. I can’t thank you enough!”
— Pat P., Albuquerque, NM