Lt. Jim Carpenter, USAF on Volunteering with WAS

For many of us along the Wasatch Front the outdoors is our way of life. We escape the smog of the city to run, bike, ski, fish, and hike in the nearby canyons to refresh and cleanse our souls. This is a revitalizing experience and way for us to keep healthy, stay in touch with nature, and connect with our community. Wasatch Adaptive Sports (WAS) brings this same experience to all members of the community, regardless of physical or mental disabilities.

I learned about WAS through their Highly Decorated program which helps foster a healing community through outdoor recreational therapy to veterans. I have a passion for the mountains and was excited to see a local non-profit organization reaching out to the community to share the joy of the Wasatch Mountains with veterans and people with disabilities. WAS has invested in both specialized adaptive equipment and knowledgeable staff to ensure people with disabilities are able to experience the same joy that I have when being in the mountains. WAS is vital in fulfilling this role because adaptive equipment plus private instructions are often too costly for one person or family to afford.
The reason why I volunteer is to share my love for the outdoors with those in the community that otherwise wouldn’t be able to. The reason why I keep coming back to volunteer with WAS are the smiles and sheer thrill you see in the individual and families when they experience outdoor activities again. I encourage you to be passionate about what you do in life and most importantly, share that passion with the rest of your community.

Jim Carpenter, Lt, USAF
A-10 and ICBM Mechanical Engineer, Hill Air Force Base