Bear Creek Collaborative gets adaptive kayak dock
HODGES — Bear Creek Collaborative has completed a new adaptive kayak dock on Big Bear Creek and is preparing to add specialized equipment with the help of a $5,000 grant from the Alabama Scenic River Trail’s Waterway Enhancement Program.
Installed a few weeks ago after weather delays, the dock was designed with universal access in mind.
It’s already in use by camps and day programs at the Bear Creek Education Center, serving people with and without disabilities.
Bethany Green, the organization’s executive director of Funding and Project Development, said the goal was to make getting on the water easier and safer for everyone.
“Everybody uses it regardless of whether they have a disability or not,” Green said. “It’s created with universal design in mind. It’s definitely proven worth the money and the installation — it’s even made our job easier.”
Funding for the dock came from multiple sources, including a $5,000 grant from the Alabama Scenic River Trail awarded in 2024. That initial funding did not cover the full cost but helped make the project possible with other grants and donations.
This year’s $5,000 grant is dedicated to purchasing adaptive kayaking equipment, including two specialized kayaks with outriggers and customized seats for improved stability and support. Green said the purchase has already been made and the equipment is expected to arrive soon.
Franklin County Junior Leaders Daylee Trapp, Tristan Ray, March Duncan, Jen Barry (Bear Creek Collaborative executive director for Educational Programming), Sadie Champion, Shiloh Madden and Lily Steward go kayaking at Bear Creek Collaborative.
CONTRIBUTED/FC CHAMBER
“The outriggers stabilize the kayak and make it a lot easier for someone who’s in it so it doesn’t rock as much or lean too far over,” she said.
The adaptive kayak dock is one of several recent accessibility-focused projects at the education center.
The site also features new low and high ropes courses with adaptive elements. Although the ropes courses have been completed, staff must complete training before they are available for public use.
Another recent addition is the terrain hopper — an off-road mobility vehicle with dirt-bikestyle wheels and joystick control. The vehicle allows users with mobility limitations to traverse the property’s rugged terrain.
“We’ve used it quite frequently,” Green said. “We’ve had parents and chaperones who couldn’t traverse the property very easily and campers with disabilities like spina bifida or even a student with a broken foot.”
Bear Creek Collaborative is also working to improve ADA compliance throughout its facilities and plans to prioritize trail accessibility in the future.
“We take it one step at a time,” Green said. “We’re always trying to adjust and make things better than they’ve been before.”
The Bear Creek Education Center hosted more than 1,000 campers, day campers and field trips last year and expects to serve more than that number in 2025.
The Alabama Scenic River Trail’s Waterway Enhancement Program supports local efforts to improve freshwater recreation access and promote water safety. Bear Creek Collaborative’s ongoing relationship with the organization has helped fund both phases of the adaptive kayaking initiative.
“Anytime funding is approved is always a good day,” Green said. “We’re grateful to have that partnership and support.”
