Impacting Community. Building Confidence.
Changing Lives. Making a Difference.
Participating in outdoor activities is important to feeling part of a community. Experiencing cultural and social outings with family and friends enriches lives and brings people together. Learning new skills helps develop a well-rounded life. To ensure individuals living with disabilities have these opportunities, Challenge Mountain removes barriers and supports social inclusion through adaptive recreation and lifelong enrichment.
Programming is centered on having fun, making and sustaining friendships, building confidence and independence, and fostering positive and hopeful expectations. Individuals of all ages and abilities can participate, including those living with physical, cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities. Challenge Mountain utilizes adaptive equipment, when needed, to support a positive experience for participants in activities like cycling and skiing. Challenge Mountain provides more than just a participant experience. Volunteers, staff, family and friends are part of every experience. At Challenge Mountain, people make the difference.
Our Promise
For those we serve, we strive consistently to provide the absolute best recreational experience for all who come to play, learn, and enrich their lives. Everyone leaves with the satisfaction of achieving a goal they have set for themselves and our staff and volunteers work diligently toward helping them achieve that goal. For the community, we continue to give back to our community by providing clothing and household goods to those in need. For those who support us, we recognize that their time, financial contributions, and interest make our work possible. We value this support and will use these resources wisely. For each other – Board and committee members, volunteers and staff – we appreciate and support each other, recognizing the importance of each of our contributions and valuing the diversity in our backgrounds and experiences.
Our Core Values
In fulfilling our mission, Challenge Mountain is guided by the following Core Values:
- FUN: nourishes spirit, gives hope and supports physical, social and emotional wellbeing
- FRIENDSHIP: enriches lives and improves health, confidence and self-esteem
- SERVICE: improves community through volunteerism
- CREATIVITY: opens hearts and minds, recognizing each individual’s uniqueness
- ACCEPTANCE: encourages treating all people with dignity, honor and respect
- ACCOUNTABILITY: supports transparency
- CHOICE: enables self-determination
Removing the Financial Burden
With the financial and life challenges of living with or caring for someone living with a disability, Challenge Mountain believes that money should not be a barrier to experiencing life. Thanks to generous support from individual donors, the community, grants from private corporations and foundations, and income from the Challenge Mountain resale store, Challenge Mountain programs are offered at little or no cost to participants and their families.
Each year, Challenge Mountain connects over 400 children, youth, and adults with special needs to life-enhancing recreational opportunities. Participants gain personal fulfillment through a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of acceptance that translates positively into their everyday lives. Programs are not just about having fun on a boat ride, climbing a ropes course, or skiing down a hill. These experiences create positive individual and group development, while building social and character skills and transforming participants’ views of themselves and their abilities.
You can join Challenge Mountain in its effort to connect people with life-changing opportunities. Volunteer your time and talents. Give your gently used items. Make a financial contribution.
A Community Partner Beyond the Mission
In addition to our mission driven commitment to enrich lives and empower individuals living with disabilities, the Challenge Mountain also meets a broader community need by serving our neighbors, friends and families who depend on access to low-cost clothing, furniture and household items through the Challenge Mountain Resale Store. According to U.S. Census data, 21% of Charlevoix County residents are at or below the poverty rate for families with children (2013). This is a 30% increase when compared to 2009 data. Emmet County comes in at a lower poverty rate of 12%, but at a higher rate of increase (35%) since 2009.
Challenge Mountain is committed to continuing to serve economically disadvantaged individuals and families who call northern Michigan home through the Challenge Mountain Resale Store. Through the Resale Store, each year Challenge Mountain donates over $5,000 worth of clothing, household items, furniture and sports equipment to local schools and families in crisis.