Casa Colina Holds 23rd Annual Land Meets Sea Sports Camp in Long Beach, August 14–16, 2018

Organizers seeking enthusiastic participants for outdoor sports camp serving people with disabilities and special needs

POMONA, Calif., August 7, 2018 — Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare is pleased to host the 23rd Annual Land Meets Sea Sports Camp, August 14–16, 2018, at Marine Stadium and surrounding sites in Long Beach.

Part of Casa Colina’s Outdoor Adventures program, the Land Meets Sea Sports Camp lets participants of all ages and abilities experience an array of adaptive outdoor recreation, including rock climbing, hand cycling, jet skiing, kayaking, and sailing. The camp also organizes a number of competitive wheelchair sports, from quad rugby and hockey to basketball and tennis.

Land Meets Sea accommodates a wide variety of special needs with adaptive equipment designed by expert clinicians and operated by trained professionals. All activities are overseen by Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists and trained volunteers, providing the highest level of safety for participants.

Since 1985, Casa Colina’s Outdoor Adventures program has enabled thousands of people with disabilities and special needs to take part in therapeutic outdoor experiences that build confidence, foster a sense of community, and contribute to patient fitness and healing.

Eight years ago, Land Meets Sea participant Matthew Leitner fell off a wall and suffered a broken neck. “When the injury first happened I was a quadriplegic. Now I’ve got the use of my legs, but no use of my arms,” said Leitner, a first-time attendee in 2017. “This morning I went jet skiing, did the rock wall, did some kayaking, and then I just tried a bicycle. Before this I wasn’t doing [anything]. Finally I got out to do something. It puts life back into you. It makes you know that you can do things again.”

First-time campers are encouraged to join the fun, say organizers, and past participants are always welcome to return for new adventures. Last year’s event saw 83 staff and community volunteers serving more than 100 participants from Long Beach, Pomona, Valencia, Chatsworth, San Diego, and more. Camp sponsors for 2018 include MHT Luxury Alloys, Everson Spices Co., Corridor Recycling, and Mobility Professionals, as well as in-kind gift donors Triumph Foundation, Kawasaki, Home Depot Long Beach, the Ability Center, and many more.

Participant registration costs $300 and includes three days of activities, lunches, a goodie bag, and a t-shirt. Those interested in attending or sponsoring the event should call Casa Colina’s Outdoor Adventures staff at 909/596-7733, ext. 4131, or visit www.casacolina.org/LMS2018.

About Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare

Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare is a non-profit provider of physician-directed care for people with disabling conditions resulting from accidents, disease, or illness. Services include a state-of-the-art hospital offering medical-surgical care, intensive care, and acute rehabilitation, as well as post-acute residential rehabilitation care, long-term residential care, outpatient therapies, specialized physician clinics, children's services, adult day health care, diagnostic imaging, ambulatory surgery center, outdoor recreation program, and more. In addition, the Casa Colina Research Institute conducts clinical studies to improve patient care and discover new findings about disabilities. Casa Colina is located in Pomona, Calif., with more than 80 years serving the surrounding community and beyond. Visit www.casacolina.org to learn more.

CASA COLINA CONTACTS

Stephanie Bradhurst
Director of Communications
909/596-7733, Ext. 2227
sbradhurst@casacolina.org

Eric Feezell
Public Relations Coordinator
909/596-7733, Ext. 2231
efeezell@casacolina.org