What We Do
The Jack & Kathy Copeland Center at Fern Creek will support enhanced programs for military and veterans with disabilities as they build thriving civilian lives. The facility is an initiative of Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra (DSES) designed to provide service members with disabilities opportunities to learn, heal, and thrive.
DSES offers empowering adaptive recreation opportunities for children and adults with disabilities in the Eastern Sierra. DSES began offering specialized week-long programs for wounded warriors in 2007, supporting hundreds of veterans as they discover the thrill and enjoyment of adaptive skiing, snowboarding, road and mountain biking, and rock climbing.
Nestled among the mountains and lakes of the Eastern Sierra, the Copeland Center will become the base for unique, holistic programs for veterans that address four main program elements:
- Adaptive Sports & Therapeutic Recreation
- Education & Vocational Training
- Life Skills Development
- Personal Health & Wellness Awareness
With program tracks ranging from one week to a year or more, participants will engage in a mix of adaptive sports training, education and/ or vocational apprenticeship, and personal skills development. Participants will receive coaching and mentorship in preparing for new careers, decision making, goal setting, financial literacy, and other critical life skills. Adaptive sports such as alpine skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding, and rock-climbing build experience and a basis for the confidence required to take on the challenges presented by disabling injuries, whether they be physical injuries or psychological injuries such as PTS, anxiety, and depression.
More information on Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra's military sports programs can be found at disabledsportseasternsierra.org/military-sports.
