Dear Friends of the Sports Association,

As summer begins, the Sports Association has many exciting events on the horizon. There are cycle club rides, open water kayak outings and the always popular waterski clinics held at Pachaug Pond in Griswold, CT. We are also offering archery and golf clinics for new and returning participants. See below for a recap of the many events recently held during the spring including the adaptive cycle clinic and the Ken Murphy Memorial Open Golf Tournament.

To get involved, just contact the Sports Association at 203-284-2772 or visit our website at www.gaylord.org/sports for more information. We hope to see you soon!

-The Sports Association

We are excited about our new Gaylord Sports Association video which was premiered at the Gaylord Golf Classic. The video thanks the sponsors and donors which make the Sports Asscoiation programs possible. This awesome video also includes interviews with many Gaylord Sports Association athletes as well as Gaylord Golf Classic Committee members. A BIG thank you to Alex Winter from GEM Advertising for putting together the video. Click below to check it out!!

We hosted our annual Adaptive Cycle Clinic on Saturday, May 20th at Edgewood Park in New Haven. Over 20 people were able to get out and choose from dozens of adaptive cycles to ride. This included individuals who were riding for the first time ever, or first time since their injury. Thank you to all the adaptive cycle experts from Northeast Passage, Bike-On,com, Ti Trikes and Connecticut Adaptive Cycling who helped everyone find the perfect fit. Plus, we had an amazing volunteer crew from Gaylord Specialty Healthcare and New Haven Bike Month. Thank you to New Haven Parks, Recreation & Trees for the use of the park and their support. A huge thanks to Disabled Sports USA and the Craig H. Neilson Foundation for their support of this event! If you would like to see pictures from the event click here!

The Gaylord Gaunlet is TOMORROW! The Gaylord campus has transformed and the race course is ready! This 5K obstacle trail run is held on the Gaylord Hospital grounds in Wallingford and features over 20 obstacles including water, mud and fire! We have almost 900 runners registered, but there is still room for more runners! Online registration is now closed, but walk-in registration is available. Walk-ins must arrive before 1:00pm and time slots are available starting in the 1:30 wave. Race day registration is $70 and all proceeds support the Sports Association. If you don't want to run, come cheer on the 13 adaptive racers who will be challenging themselves to complete the course!

For a preview of the race, click HERE to see a video from last year's event.

We hope to see you there!

Come cheer for the Gaylord Sports Association Wolfpack as they play against the New York Sled Rangers on Saturday, July 8th at Quinnipiac University. This is the 3rd Annual Charity Sled Hockey Game for Camp No Limits, an overnight camp for children and adolescents with limb loss and their families, hosted by Quinnipiac University. This event will also include raffle baskets, face painting, and pictures with mascot Boomer!
To learn more about Camp No Limits please click here!

Experience the freedom of the open water during a Sports Association’s Adaptive Kayak Outing. Kayak Outings are for individuals who have participated and passed the Sports Association’s Kayak Class Series and would like to take their skills to the next level, or just enjoy an outdoor kayak experience. Outings include all the necessary equipment and guidance from both American Canoe Association certified instructors and Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists. Outings are offered during the summer months and take place either on saltwater out of Lighthouse Point in New Haven and Jacobs Beach in Guilford or on freshwater at Wintergreen Lake in New Haven. Kayaking is not only a great fitness activity, it’s an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, socialize, watch for wildlife, relax and just have fun!

The Sports Association Adaptive Golf Clinics are designed to provide adult golfers with physical disabilities and visual impairments the opportunity to work with a trained professional to adapt the sport of golf and overcome physical impairments. Participants will recieve instruction from a golf professional as well as therapeutic recreation specialists to give the best possible instruction and support independence. Beginners and returning participants are welcome and all equipment is provided.

Adaptive water ski clinics offer participants with a physical disability the opportunity to try, learn and progress in this fast and exciting water sport. Instruction is provided by USA Waterski Certified instructors, Recreation Therapists and expert water skiers. We welcome both new and experienced skiers to enjoy a day of water skiing. Interested participants must provide an MD note, pass a water safety test, and meet all essential eligibility requirements. For more information on eligibility, please see the FAQ's on our webpage or give us a call! There is no cost to participants.

Come and try this sport of skill and accuracy by registering for one of our Outdoor Archery Clinics! Clinics are designed for individuals with a physical disability or visual impairment to learn about and participate in the sport of archery. Participants will receive instruction from a level IV Certified USA Archery Coach as well as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist to give the best possible instruction and support independence. Both beginners and advanced archers are welcome and all equipment is provided.