Issaquah welcomes back 16 different summer adaptive recreation activities

Starting June 4, Issaquah and non-Issaquah residents with intellectual, developmental, physical and neurological disabilities are invited to participate.

By Cameron Sires • June 4, 2024 1:15 pm

Dance with friends, share a meal on the greens while listening to live music, catch a movie at the North Bend theater or unleash your creativity as Issaquah welcomes back its summer Adaptive Recreation program.

Spanning from June 4 to Aug. 29, this summer program offers 16 activities for individuals with intellectual, developmental, physical and neurological disabilities.

In the last year, the city hired an adaptive recreation coordinator, Callie Weber, who took the periodic adaptive activities the city offered and developed a comprehensive program featuring a range of innovative activities.

“Over the past year, because we’ve been able to offer so many new things, we’ve been really excited and proud to see participants try out new activities and end up really enjoying things that they weren’t so sure of,” Weber said.

Summer activities include social events, such as trivia night, dances and weekly concerts; trips to the zoo, bowling and the movie theater; and sports, including self-defense and advanced and beginner sports classes, and Special Olympics softball, according to the summer newsletter.

For trip activities, participants gather at the Issaquah Community Center, where they travel together to the location.

Weber said she plans activities based on community feedback, what classes fill up, and what activities align with the season. Since May 2023, the program has offered summer, fall and winter-spring activities.

Each activity cost varies by type and enrollment period. The newsletter lists two prices for each activity: “RES” for Issaquah residents and “GEN” for non-residents who wish to participate.

Although many participants live in Issaquah, “we have participants that come from all over, depending on if we are doing something that really interests them,” Weber said.

For individuals interested in participating but struggle with enrollment costs, the city provides an “in-house” scholarship program based on income, Weber said.

“That’s one of those things we really encourage adaptive rec participants to check out…it can help give them that little extra boost so they can participate.”

To learn more about the program or view the summer activities, go to Issaquah’s Adaptive Recreation website.

If anyone is interested in volunteering or needs further information, contact CallieW@issaquahwa.gov or by phone at 425-837-3388.