The
Adventurers Academy of Lifelong Learning helps youth and adults with
special needs in the Austin, Texas area develop lifelong independence
and achieve their full potential through social, educational,
recreational, and vocational experiences. The Adventurers offers a
variety of programs to meet the varying needs of individuals with
intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Adventurers Academy
The daily Adventurers
Academy is a unique alternative to traditional programs for adults who
desire an active, engaging environment. It’s a place where they can
learn new skills, develop new interests, and become more involved in
their community through social outings, educational activities,
vocational experiences, and volunteering to help others. The Academy
helps them become more independent, make new friends, continue to learn,
and broaden their interests.
Adventurers After Hours
On
weekends and evenings, the Adventurers After Hours Program organizes
community outings and field trips that include those who don’t attend
the Academy during the week. Adventurers enjoy ball games, movies,
theater shows, live music, bowling, and dining out!
Adventures !
Several
times a year, Adventurers hit the road (or air or sea or rails!) for an
extended trip, lasting several days, throughout Texas and beyond.
They’ve been to California, Washington D.C., the Midwest via Amtrak,
Colorado, the Caribbean and Mexico, and, of course, all over the great
state of Texas! Where will they go next? Keep an eye out ... Adventurers
may show up anywhere!
A Brief History of The Adventurers
The Adventurers began...
… over
25 years ago with outdoor education and recreational outings led by
Austin adapted physical education teacher Diane Mackey. She was
determined to provide challenging social and physical activity for her
students at elementary schools in south Austin. She organized and raised
funds for construction of an accessible playground, organized the
Exceptional Games that hosted over 500 children with special needs in
sports competitions, sponsored outdoor education overnight weekends at
sites in the Austin area, and began leading out-of-town trips during the
summer.
The
grandest effort in those early years was a trip to Disneyland in
California with a group of about 80 students and parents. Periodic
out-of-town, overnight, and weekend trips continued, and an annual
extended trip became a tradition.
The Adventurers now...
...include former students from Diane's special education classes,
students who have moved on to high school, veterans of past adventures,
and newcomers who join day outings. You can find Adventurers at bowling
every week, on weekend field trips, participating in youth group
activities at Woodlawn Baptist Church, and on the road in Texas or
around the country.
The Adventurers Academy of Lifelong Learning... Opened in September 2012...
...continues the Adventurers efforts and philosophy by providing daily
continuing social, educational, recreational, community and vocational
experiences. Students
spend part of the day in small group activities. A curriculum in basic
math, reading, language arts, and social studies, led in a fun,
supportive social setting, builds on and reinforces students' prior
education. Another part of the day's schedule includes vocational
training aimed at developing job and community skills.
The well-established weekly, weekend, and extended travel activities
continue and grow as part of the Adventurers After Hours Program and
Adventures!
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
