Challenge Aspen gives the disabled a fun chance to reconnect with nature. Source: Wikimedia Commons
Back in 2011, Charles Cunniffe Architects had the honor of working with this Challenge Aspen to design their 40-acre Wilderness Ranch, created to provide a state-of-the-art wilderness experience for individuals with disabilities, as well as their families.
Challenge Aspen is, as they describe themselves, “dedicated to impacting lives by presenting meaningful recreational, educational and cultural experiences to individuals faced with cognitive or physical challenges.”
The group got their start in the early-1990s through the shared vision of co-founders Houston Cowan and Amanda Boxtel. Cowan’s goal was to teach blind people how to ski. Boxtel, who became paralyzed from the waist down after a tragic Snowmass Mountain skiing accident, was committed to teaching and working with children.
Together, with the help of countless investors and volunteers, they have built Challenge Aspen into the internationally recognized organization it is today. Hosting a variety of camps, in both summer and winter, the highly trained and certified employees and volunteers at Challenge Aspen broaden the horizons of individuals with disabilities of all ages. We are proud to support this outstanding non-profit organization!
