Trail Day Was Huge Success - Earthplace Celebrates Wheels in the Woods, Local Garden Clubs, and Johnson & Johnson’s New iBOT™
Trail Day 2005 was an enormous success this year at Earthplace, the Nature Discovery Center in Westport, CT. Residents, garden club members, nature lovers and families celebrated together as Earthplace launched their new Wheels in the Woods program, honored the work and dedication of two local garden clubs, and demonstrated the new and revolutionary Johnson &Johnson iBOT™ technology.
Westport, CT (PRWEB) June 12, 2005 -- Trail Day 2005 was an enormous success
this year at Earthplace, the Nature Discovery Center. Residents, garden club
members, nature lovers and families celebrated together as Earthplace launched
their new Wheels in the Woods program, honored the work and dedication of two
local garden clubs, and demonstrated the new and revolutionary iBOT™ technology
last Wednesday.
Wheels in the Woods
Earthplace announced the
official opening of Wheels in the Woods 4, a Universal Design Nature Trail that
addresses the special needs of many individuals. The Wheels in the Woods
Foundation promotes the construction of nature trails with the proper grade,
width, slope, and surface for people with ambulatory difficulties. The trails
accommodate visitors using walkers, canes and wheelchairs to provide the
opportunity to access nature and enjoy time with their ambulatory friends and
relatives. The trail has been strategically designed with special curbing,
sensory beds to enjoy the scent of the meadow, and Braille rails for the sight
impaired. Wheelchair friendly benches are placed in strategic locations to sit,
pause and take in the sights, sounds and smells of the meadow that is filled
with Wildflowers, Black-eyed Susans and Little Blue Stem grasses. Signage was
created with a combination of certain hues for the color blind, and the trails
are made of a soft terrain for Parkinson’s sufferers who need to shuffle, but
also for Alzheimer’s patients who may be unsteady on their feet. There are shady
areas for those with sensitivity to the sun due to skin condition, or side
effects of medications.
The path was designed by David Kamp, ASLA, LF,
president of NY’s Dirtworks, an internationally recognized landscape
architecture firm that specializes in healing gardens. Kamp says, “Wheels in the
Woods was a special project for me, because it brings together nature, people
with special needs, and a sense of community. I was able to combine my
healthcare background with landscape architecture in a way that is personally
very fulfilling.”
There are two loops of this trail, the Discover Trail
and the Meadow Grass Trail. The Discover Trail is fully accessible and is the
easier of the two loops. It has dappled shade, a special feature for blind
visitors who appreciate the feel of the contrast between the warm light and the
cool shade. The Meadow Grass Trail winds around a beautiful, sunny meadow, and
is slightly more challenging.
Garden Clubs Honored
Dr. John Horkel,
Executive Director at Earthplace, honored The Greens Farms Garden Club and the
Westport Garden Club for their continued hard work. “Thousands of people benefit
from your dedication,” said Horkel, “We have so much appreciation and respect
for all that these two groups have done for Earthplace. You have to make
‘community’ happen, and I am so grateful.” Louise Demakis, president of the
Westport Garden Club, and Jean Hampe, president of The Greens Farms Garden Club,
both accepted plaques honoring their special contributions.
iBOT™
A
highlight of Trail Day 2005 was a special demonstration that truly brought
together the concept of special needs and nature. A product consultant for
Independence Technology, a Johnson and Johnson Company, demonstrated the
revolutionary new iBOT™ wheelchair. The iBOT™ can climb over curbs and stairs,
and is rugged enough to handle to handle a variety of terrains. The wheelchair
uses gyroscopes and sensors to help it maintain its balance on uneven ground.
The iBOT™ can even balance on two wheels to bring the user up to the eye level
of a standing person. The result of years of development and intense testing for
safety, the iBOT™ Mobility System empowers their users with unprecedented levels
of self-reliance and accessibility.
Earthplace
The mission of
Earthplace is to educate the community about preserving, protecting, and
enjoying the environment. Founded in 1958 and accredited by The American
Association of Museums, Earthplace maintains a 62-acre wildlife sanctuary with
trails, houses live wildlife for public viewing, and hosts many public nature
programs and events. Other activities include a state-licensed preschool and
summer camp, a wildlife rehabilitation program, and the Harbor Watch/River Watch
water quality-testing program. Earthplace is located at 10 Woodside Lane,
Westport, CT, and is open Monday through Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday 1 PM
to 4 PM. Please visit www.earthplace.org for more information.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/6/prweb250123.htm