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Children’s Hospital Colorado
Anschutz Medical Campus
13123 East 16th Avenue
Aurora, CO 80045
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Founded in 1968 to help children with amputations get involved in downhill skiing, Adaptive Recreation for Childhood Health (ARCH) was one of the first programs of its kind in the United States. The program helps kids with physical differences find confidence and freedom through recreation.
The first group of ARCH skiers included young patients from Children’s Hospital Colorado and veterans from the Vietnam War being treated at Fitzsimons Army Hospital.
Stories
Decades of fun and freedom
Learn more about Ri, a past ARCH participant turned volunteer, and how the program grew his love of skiing.
What is ARCH?
ARCH provides recreational resources and programs for children and young adults with physical differences. By focusing on individual abilities, this program helps kids develop skills that lead to a healthy lifestyle.
ARCH consists of an incredible team of therapeutic recreation specialists, volunteers and clinical staff who have vast experience and expertise supporting children with physical differences through recreation. Because many specialists from Children’s Colorado give their time and expertise as instructors — often year after year — our volunteer team develops relationships with each child and can even provide insight into their condition or injury. This guidance helps children find greater confidence, courage and enjoyment in sports while helping them meet their goals.
Who benefits from adaptive recreation?
Participants have a variety of physical and medical conditions including cancer, amputations, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, head and spinal cord injuries and other orthopedic conditions. The program is inclusive as possible, making sure that diagnoses or finances are never a barrier to participation.
ARCH activities for children with disabilities
Through skiing, snowboarding and summer programming, hundreds of kids participate in ARCH each year. Though downhill skiing and snowboarding (through the National Sports Center for the Disabled at Winter Park Resort) remains ARCH's largest program, we also offer year-round recreation activities such as horseback riding, golf and indoor rock climbing. ARCH also serves as a resource for parents looking for additional recreational programs in the community.
How to get your child involved in ARCH
Enrollment and details vary by activity and your child’s medical condition. Learn more about our programs and offerings and see what our participants have to say about their experience in ARCH.
To enroll your child, please call us at 720-777-6590 or fill out our sign-up form.