Opportunities for Activity Abound at The Woodlands!

The advantages to keeping active are numerous for individuals of all ages and ability levels. The benefits can include an increase in strength and mobility, a boost to one’s mood, improved brain functions, the reduction of stress and anxiety - which can also help decrease the risk of depression - and the opportunity for social engagement. Many methods to keep moving are all around us.

At The Woodlands, where children and adults with disability and chronic illness find the freedom and empowerment to experience programs that enrich their lives, we collaborate with two exceptional organizations to keep our participants active.

In the fall of 2022, The Woodlands began partnering with Open Up Pittsburgh to offer creative movement workshops. Open Up’s mission is to teach mindfulness tools through movement practices and interactive arts. Located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Open Up focuses on providing avenues that increase an individual’s sense of overall wellbeing.

“It has been a joy to introduce Open Up’s programming to our Woodlands community in Wexford,” said The Woodlands’ Music and Arts Director, Kristen Link. “Their skilled instructors connect with our participants of all ages through a combination of adaptive yoga and dance techniques that unlock new levels of expression and communication. We look forward to continuing to build this meaningful partnership in the summer and fall of 2023.” Megan Sicheri, Program Director for Open Up expressed how much their team “loves partnering with The Woodlands to bring movement + mindfulness to their audience. Both participants and staff are always so fun and easy to work with.”

Another activity enjoyed by many constituents of The Woodlands is the game of golf. This sport certainly checks many of the benefits boxes from health and wellness to providing social experiences. The Woodlands’ campus includes an adapted, 9-hole, par-3 golf course specifically designed to provide children and adults with disabilities the opportunity to learn, play and appreciate the game of golf.

To expand upon this opportunity, The Woodlands actively partners with Gibsonia -based North Hills Golf Academy (NHGA) on the development of golf programming for individuals with disabilities of all ages. “We are so excited to be partnering with The Woodlands! Our priority at NHGA is to make golf more available to everyone, and we are thrilled that The Woodlands is able to work with us on furthering our mission with the adapted golf program. Golf is such a great sport to be involved in at any age and any ability level. We have been afforded amazing opportunities because of the sport, we only hope that everyone can enjoy it as much as we do,” says NHGA owner, Sydney Smyers.

The Woodlands’ mission is to enrich the lives of children and adults with disability and chronic illness by providing adapted therapeutic programs that support and strengthen the development of skills in socialization, creative expression, environmental awareness, recreation, and life skills at its fully accessible 52-acre campus in Wexford, PA. For more information regarding program opportunities, contact Kristen Link at klink@woodlandsfoundation.org.