Finding Independence & Adventure on the San Juan River
For nine Quality Connections members from Flagstaff and Page, a journey this summer down the San Juan River offered more than just scenic canyon views and stories around the campsite. Instead, it was a transformative adventure filled with growth, independence, and new friendships.
From June 28 to July 2, QC staff, members, and a parent of one participant floated the mild whitewaters of the San Juan on a fully supported adaptive rafting trip.
In partnership with two outstanding adaptive recreation organizations – Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) and High Country Adaptive Sports (HCAS) – the group camped under the stars, explored ancient ruins, overcame fears, and learned how much more they could do.
“It was amazing,” said Ariel Coleman, the Co-Manager for QC’s Adult Day Program in Flagstaff. “It was such a blessing to see our members get more and more comfortable each day, especially those who had never been camping or on a river before. I couldn’t be prouder of how it went.”
Growth On and Off the Water
Four members of the Quality Connections staff were there to support QC members, who were also assisted by a handful of knowledgeable river guides and staff from BOEC and HCAS. As they got more comfortable, QC members handled many of the tasks for the trip on their own – setting up tents, helping BOEC staff with cooking meals, and even loading and unloading boats.
Joni Zarlingo, whose son Adam is a QC member, also joined us. She and her son have camped and gone on river trips before, and she was particularly impressed by how well everyone did on the trip. For most, the trip was a series of firsts – first time rafting, first time camping, first time away from home in this kind of setting.
“Many of them got to be in the smaller duckies,” she said, referring to the inflatable rafts that only sit one or two people. “That was a big deal for their sense of independence and feeling they were part of the river.”
QC Bookkeeper Carolyn Ford, who has extensive outdoor experience, noted just how impactful the challenge of a multi-day river trip was.
“Some of our clients made huge strides,” she said. “They learned new skills, gained confidence, and really expanded as people. And that’s what QC is all about.”
Ariel said one of the biggest transformations she saw was with a member of the Page group.
“He was pretty reserved at first,” Ariel recalled. “But by the last night, he was so outgoing. He was splashing in the water and had really opened up. BOEC hosted a prom with dancing and costumes, and he was right up there dancing with them. When we left the next day, he gave me a big ole hug.”
Daily Routines and Lessons Learned
Each day of the trip followed a pattern: early starts, floating, stopping for a swim or maybe fish as well as grabbing a bite to eat (“walking tacos” – essentially taco fillings put in a single serving chip bag – were a big hit).
Later in the day, there would be more traveling and then finding a campsite for the night. After long days on the river, some opted not to set up tents, but to sleep under the stars on cots.
And there were hiccups, of course.
Some members overpacked, keeping everyone hydrated was a challenge, and some folks were worried about the bugs and lizards that might sneak into their tents. None of that, however, dulled the spirit of the trip.
“By the third and fourth day, it just clicked,” Ariel said. “Everyone was in sync.”
Making Connections
The trip was the first time that many of the Flagstaff and Page members were together for an activity, and several friendships formed from the trip.
Joni and Adam, who are from Flagstaff, began the journey traveling together in a ducky, but by the third day, Adam went off to ride on a larger boat with a group of Page participants and become friends with them, she said.
“One of them came up to me and said, ‘You don’t have to worry about Adam; he’s one of the guys now,’” she recalled.
Which is what made this journey more than a river trip. It was about connection – between peers, between QC teams in different cities, and with nature.
For many, this won’t be their last time on the river. Ariel, who had never rafted before, now hopes to have a river journey with her children someday.
“Life is about trying everything at least once,” she said. “This trip reminded me that if you can step outside your comfort zone, it’s a wonderful thing for your life.”
Back to School for Evergreen Academy & QC Office
This week was back to school time for many throughout the state, which means it’s “go time” for two of our divisions – Evergreen Academy Preschool and QC Office.
EAP, which has 4.74 star rating from Quality First, is currently accepting students from 6 weeks to 5 years of age. This unique preschool supports early childhood development through a balanced approach combining exploration, play and guided learning.
Our preschool also aligns with our overall mission to ensure that individuals with disabilities can find independence and careers, with many of our members who are interested in child care serving as trainees at the pre-school.
Meanwhile, it’s also a busy time for QC Office, which provides workplace experience for our members and helps fund our organization.
With just under 500 customers statewide, QC Office supplies many schools and universities in Arizona a wide variety of products. It’s a unique business model that saves them money (purchases from QC Office are tax-free) while providing invaluable training to individuals with disabilities.
While our biggest contract is with the state of Arizona, where government offices purchase all their toner and ink from QC Office, another big sector for us is education, where our pallet program is a big draw for school districts and universities. Under the program, any facility with large paper usage can purchase one or more pallets of 40 cartons of paper to get a quantity discount. But they don’t have to take delivery of all the paper at once; instead, they can store it for free and have it delivered as needed.
“We have schools where we are bringing them 15 cartons of paper every Monday,” says David Smith, QC Office Director. “It gets them what they need when they need it. Plus, they get to have it delivered by our awesome crew.”
Those delivery crews typically include members of Quality Connections group employment services program.
To learn more about QC Office and our expansive list of office supplies and furniture, click here!
