STRIDE, Inc. 476 North Greenbush Rd. Ste. 9 , Rensselaer NY 12144
EMAIL: mwhitney@stride.org WEB: www.stride.org
Contact: Mary Ellen Whitney- (518) 598-1279
For Immediate Release
WellPoint Foundation Employees help Clean up the SCORE Center
(Chatham NY) STRIDE Adaptive Sports
has a year under it’s belt in developing the 85 acre facility formerly
Girl Scout Camp Sha-Te-Muc located in Chatham, NY. The facility, now
called STRIDE Center for Outdoor Recreation and Education (SCORE
Center) is used as a retreat for youth with special needs, and Wounded
Warriors and their families to enjoy in educational programs including
camping, hiking, archery, fishing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing.
The 2500 square foot lodge offers a large space for trainings seminars
and retreats.
On
Saturday, April 27 employees from WellPoint Foundation, a division of
Empire Blue Cross will assist STRIDE in spring clean up for the second
year. Approximately 40 employee volunteers will be clearing trails
throughout the 85 acres; building wheelchair ramps, and cleaning up the
lodge and out buildings. “We are thrilled to have this kind of support;’
says Mary Ellen Whitney, CEO for STRIDE, “such a large group of
committed professionals who give up a weekend to support this kind of
endeavor shows the commitment of our community.”
Tenting
pavilion areas have been named on the property; including ‘Yellow
Ribbon Pavilion”; “Purple Heart Pavilion”; and the games and flagpole
cabin is now called the “Gold Star Field”. STRIDE has been fortunate to
have the support of many Scout troops in the region, who choose Eagle
Scout projects at SCORE. Last year fire pits, new signs, a wheelchair
accessible dock and a wheelchair accessible trail was created. Underway
this year are more projects which include a 9 hole disk golf range; a
competition level archery range, raised bed gardens and a professional
horseshoe pit. Spring and summer enrichment programs are now being
scheduled.
STRIDE’s
mission is to educate and empower individuals with special needs in
life-changing sport and recreation programs to sustain healthy, active
and fun lifestyles. STRIDE is a volunteer organization with all sport
lessons being taught by highly qualified volunteers, and STRIDE serves
our Wounded Warrior community with rehabilitative sport and recreation
programs to help them adjust to life and helping them adapt to their
permanent injuries that they sustained during recent conflicts overseas.
