Tag Archive

Sports and Recreation

Get Centered with our New Class – Yoga with Kimberly

Kimberly Ropicky sits in a yoga pose (photo by Karolina Zapolska)This month we begin offering a new yoga class for beginners aged 14 and up.

Yoga helps promote physical, mental and spiritual balance and can provide you with a foundation of flexibility and centeredness. If you experience challenges with balance and mobility, yoga can assist you in increasing your strength and tone, providing you with the confidence you may be striving for in your mobility.

No experience with yoga is necessary – Kimberley will work with you no matter what level of experience you have. Class times are below and you must register prior to attending, or complete registration upon your first day of participation.

Where: the new Exercise Room at LightHouse for the Blind, 1155 Market St., 10th Floor, San Francisco, California 94103.

Classes and Times as follows:

Yoga for Beginners
Mondays beginning June 6th, 3:30 to 4:45 p.m.
We’ll go at a slower pace and will focus on learning yoga poses.

Yoga for Every Body
Mondays beginning June 6th, 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.
We’ll review poses during each class.
This class is open to the public, so bring your friends.

Yoga for Every Body
Wednesdays beginning June 9th, 2:00 to 3:15 p.m.
We’ll review poses during each class.

Yoga mats, blocks and belts will be provided.
Class fee is $10 per class for persons 14 to 54. There is no charge to adults who are blind and 55 and over – the class fee is provided thanks to the State of CA Older Individuals Who are Blind grant funding.

Space is limited, so sign up now. Contact Debbie Bacon to register at 415-694-7357 or dbacon@lighthouse-sf.org.

Note: yoga is an activity that may require intense physical exertion and while it can be modified to meet your needs, we suggest that if you have any concerns prior to participating, please consult your doctor.

Special Saturday Workshops to Review Poses
Kimberley will also be facilitating three Saturday Workshops that review poses and deepen your practice.

Where: LightHouse Headquarters (1155 Market St., 10th Floor, San Francisco, California 94103)
When: Workshop Dates are June 25th, July 30th and August 27, 9:00 a.m. to Noon.
Cost: $20 per workshop for persons 14 to 54. There is no charge to adults who are blind and 55 and over – the class fee is provided thanks to the State of CA Older Individuals Who are Blind grant funding.
Contact Debbie Bacon to register at 415-694-7357 or dbacon@lighthouse-sf.org.

About Kimberley Ropicky
Kimberly’s yoga journey began in the Midwest during a college elective course. While the location of her practice has changed since then, her focus on body alignment, strength, and flexibility remains. Over the years, her practice has grown increasingly mindful, expanding to encompass more than just the physical poses. For Kimberly, yoga has become a safe space to work through emotions and relieve stress. It is this focus that led her to become a teacher, deepen her personal practice, and begin to share this mindful space with everyone who enters her classes.

Kimberly provides her students with a playful, core-focused yoga, designed to promote strength, flexibility and focus. Her creative sequencing encourages students of all levels to try something new. Hands-on assists and thorough explanations of body alignment create a safe and supportive environment to learn and explore. Kimberly is certified with Pete Guinosso’s “Lighting the Path” Teacher Training and has achieved RYT-200 designation (successfully completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training program) with Yoga Alliance.

Sea Kayaking with the LightHouse

young man kayaking on the oceanJoin the LightHouse Community Services Program for an overnight kayaking and camping trip with our friends at Environmental Traveling Companions (ETC). Individuals ages 14 and up who are blind or have low vision are sure to have a blast exploring the natural beauty of Tomales Bay.

We’ll begin our excursion by kayaking up the coast to our camp site, enjoy a peaceful night among the woods of beautiful Tomales State Park, then return via kayak to our launch point the following morning.

Who: Individuals ages 14 and up who are blind or have low vision.

When:
Saturday, June 11th through Sunday, June 12th.

Waiver and Application:
Each participant must submit an ETC Kayaking Trip Packet. Additionally each participant must sign a LightHouse Waiver.

Cost:
$125.00 per person includes kayaking, overnight stay at Tomales Bay State Park, food during the trip, as well as transportation from LightHouse Headquarters to the Tomales Bay launch site and back.

RSVP: Space is limited to 12 participants. Please RSVP by Thursday, June 2nd to Serena Olsen, Evening & Weekend Programs Coordinator, at solsen@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7316.

Things to bring: (Please refer to ETC equipment list in the trip packet for trip basics)
-Sleeping bag
-At least one set of warm clothing
-Towel
-Necessary Toiletries (for one overnight stay in the woods)
-Necessary Medication (student must be able to self-administer)

In May — Giant Steps Horseback Riding for LightHouse Youth

The LightHouse Youth Program invites youth who are blind or have low vision to join our friends at Giant Steps Therapeutic Riding Center for an exciting afternoon of horseback riding. Riders of all skill levels are welcome to participate in our two-hour lesson on Sunday, May 22. Bring your bag lunch for a picnic before our lesson. Please RSVP by Wednesday May 18.

Who: Low Vision or Blind Youth ages 8-18
What: Horseback Riding Lesson
Destination: Giant Steps Therapeutic Riding Center in Petaluma
When: 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 22, 2015
Where: Meet at our new headquarters at 1155 Market Street, 10th Floor, San Francisco.
Cost: $20.00 per student
Transportation: Limited transportation is available from the LightHouse for those that RSVP.
Waiver: Two forms need to be completed in order to participate. Please contact Jamey Gump to obtain copies of the fallowing forms:

  • Giants Steps Release Rider Forms
  • LightHouse Youth Program Application (only if student has not submitted a copy of this form within the last year)

What to bring: long pants and closed-toe shoes, bag lunch, water bottle and warm layers of clothing

If you would like more information or to RSVP for this event please contact Jamey Gump, Youth Services Coordinator, at 415-694-7372 or by email at jgump@lighthouse-sf.org.

Join us for Birding by Sound: A Day in the Park for the Entire Family

On the Saturday, May 7 (Mother’s Day weekend) the LightHouse Youth Program invites youth, mothers and any other family members who wish to join us for our second Birding by Sound hike and picnic.

The morning’s activity will start with a hike around the San Francisco Botanical Garden, where we will use the Merlin Bird ID app to identify as many of the local birds as we can, as well as enjoy the other attractions the garden has to offer. After our stroll we’ll find a nice place in Golden Gate Park for a picnic and have an informative discussion about accessible activities the entire family can enjoy.

Who: Families with at least one individual (parent or child) who is blind or has low vision.
What: Bird Identification Hike and Picnic at the San Francisco Botanical Garden
When: Saturday May 7, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: The Botanical Garden is located at 1199 9th Ave, San Francisco
Cost: $17.00 per family
Waiver: Each participant must complete a LightHouse Youth Program Application, if you have not done so already.
What to bring: Good walking shoes, a Smartphone loaded with the Merlin Bird ID App, bag lunch, water bottle, warm layers of clothing and sunscreen.

Here’s more information about the Merlin Bird ID App. Please note that this app has some features that are not accessible with voice over.

If you would like more information or to RSVP for this event please contact Jamey Gump, Youth Services Coordinator, at 415-694-7372 or by email at jgump@lighthouse-sf.org.

Spaces Filling up Fast for Horse, Music and Woodworking Special Camp Sessions

Our special STEM, woodworking and horse camp sessions return to Enchanted Hills Camp for another summer. Read on for details on each session.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) for Youth
This year Enchanted Hills Camp is again offering a special STEM program within our Youth Session at Enchanted Hills. The STEM program will run from July 13 to 16 and will provide students ages 11 to 15 or are blind or have low vision with an unforgettable, hands-on learning experience in Science, Engineering and Technology and Math. More than education and fun, though, all participants will work with real-life blind scientists, chemists and engineers who will leave an unforgettable impression that adult science success is possible with little or no vision.

During the class, students will take part in hands-on, accessible and innovative activities including computing, rocket building, plant biology and chemistry. Students will also have the opportunity to take a field trip to the Exploratorium in San Francisco for some special hands on instruction by Exploratorium scientists.

Parents and guardians who wish to register their children for the STEM program can do so on a supplemental section which is included with the Youth Session application.

Who: Youth ages 11 to 15
When: Wednesday, July 13 through Saturday, July 16
Cost: $60 Session Fee (free for those attending the youth session)

To find out more about this session, contact Camp Director Tony Fletcher at afletcher@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7319, for an application or with any questions.

 

Woodworking with George Wurtzel

Student Amy Liu works with wood during a session at Enchanted Hills

 Join expert carpenter George Wurtzel for a week long workshop designed for transition aged campers that are beginners and intermediate woodworkers.

This class will cover wood turning, hand tool work and an introduction to power tools. We’ll learn how to measure accurately without sight, using click rules, gauge blocks, Vernier calipers and talking tape measures. We’ll talk about wood types and construction techniques and learn when to glue, when to nail and when to use screws. We’ll also touch on finishing techniques.

Who: Youth ages 16 through 24
When: Monday, August 1 through Sunday, August 7, 2016
Cost: $300.00
Class is limited to 12 participants, so sign up now

To sign up for this special workshop, contact Camp Director Tony Fletcher at tfletcher@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7319 for an application or with any questions.

Horse Camp with Diane Starin

Join us again for Horse Camp. Participants will have a chance to learn from avid horseback rider and wrangler, Diane Starin. Starin, who is blind, has owned, ridden, taught and cared for horses for more than 30 years. She has an Associates of Science degree in agricultural business, a Certificate in Horse Husbandry and is a certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor.

This camp session is for blind or visually impaired riders, ages 16 through 24. It is geared for those that have ridden before, but not a lot. Starin has a wealth of knowledge about the proper care of horses, and students will have a truly unique chance to learn from a blind professional how it’s done with little or no sight.

Diane told us, “Horses have been my passion since I was about two and I have wanted to teach a horse camp for as long as I can remember. This is especially important to me, because blind people don’t have as much of a chance to ride and handle horses.”

Who: Youth ages 16 through 24
When: Monday, August 1 through Sunday, August 7, 2016
Cost for each camper is $300.
Space is limited to six participants, so sign up while spaces are available. We expect this session to be very popular.

A separate application is available for this session. Campers must have independent mobility skills.

Objectives for Horse Camp:

  • Teach safety
  • Teach grooming
  • Teach tacking up
  • Teach good care and maintenance
  • Expand each camper’s knowledge of different kinds of equipment and their different applications
  • Riding and lessons as time and skill level allows

To find out more about this session, contact Camp Director Tony Fletcher at afletcher@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7319 for an application or with any questions.

LightHouse Youth Program – Blind Kids are Doing it for Themselves

Students in our Cooking 101 class, mixing bowls at the ready, stand at their counters waiting to put a recipe together.What are a handful of motivated young blind people doing at the LightHouse early on a Saturday? The LightHouse Youth Program provides programming all year for energized youth who are blind or have low vision. One Saturday last month, the day went something like this:

Starting in the morning, LightHouse Volunteer Robin Patche led that week’s edition of Cooking 101. In this class we aim to teach young blind people how to be competent and confident in the kitchen. On the day’s agenda – how to make simple snacks such as smoothies, trail mix and cheese crackers, using accessible measuring cups, spoons and other cooking tools. Kitchen safety and sanitation were also incorporated into the discussion.

Next up, artist Ruthie Campbell Miller led the young people in an art project that had them using tissue paper to create tactile “paintings”. Why do young blind people benefit from art classes? Youth Program Coordinator Jamey Gump, who has low vision himself, told us, “We’re glad to have been able to offer an art class to the Youth Program and plan to reboot it in the fall. The more exposure students have to experience art their own way, the more they extend this sense of space to exploring and learning about their environment. Creating art can improve a blind person’s spatial acuity which in turn helps improve their ability to travel and to organize their environment.”

In the afternoon, Wells Fargo Personal Banker Nina Toia gave a presentation on how to successfully manage one’s money, including how to create a budget, what a credit score is and how to build credit. She answered both basic and complex questions and led a lively discussion on how the way in which we value the things we purchase can affect our budget.

An important aspect of our classes is introducing our younger blind students to blind college-aged mentors. This particular Saturday ended with a training session for the mentors. Jamey led a discussion about the best ways to make activities enjoyed by entire families work for both the sighted members and the members who are blind or have low vision.

Mentor Nasir, with a big grin on his face, practices how to roll an Oreo cookie from the forehead to the mouth without using ones hands.

Our Youth Program Fills a Great Need
A lot of times young people who are blind may not know anyone in their neighborhood or school system who is blind. While all of our Youth programming promotes the independence, camaraderie and creativity while having fun, perhaps the most important aspect of these gatherings is providing them with the opportunity to meet other blind young people. Likewise, a side benefit to the gatherings is that the parents who bring their kids to these classes and field trips also get the chance to meet other parents of blind youth and exchange advice and solutions about the various challenges they may face.

We plan on having new cooking and art classes for youth in the fall, so stay tuned. To sign up for our Youth Events e-newsletter or for more information about our Youth programs, contact LightHouse Youth Coordinator Jamey Gump at jgump@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7372.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game – Braille Giants Schedules Now Available

KNBR LogoBatter up! The LightHouse has provided KNBR radio station with brailled copies of the Giants 2016 game schedule.

If you’d like a copy, mail your request to Leah Phillips, KNBR’s Promotion Director, at the address below, and she will send it your way. Or contact Leah at 415-995-6996 or leah.phillips@cumulus.com.

Attn: Leah Phillips
KNBR
750 Battery Street
San Francisco, CA 94111

Are You a Musician who is Blind or Has Low Vision?

Lead instructor Bill McCann and Jenna Baylis work with adaptive software for composition during Blind Music Academy.Fine-tune your craft this summer at Music Academy at Enchanted Hills Camp in Napa, California.

Do you sing or play an instrument? Train with some of our nation’s best instructors at Music Academy at Enchanted Hills Camp. The LightHouse is partnering with Dancing Dots, the world’s leading provider of accessible music technology for the blind, to bring our summertime Music Academy back to the redwoods. The Academy is open to young, motivated musicians who are blind or low vision who are 16 to 24 years old.

Where: Enchanted Hills Camp, Napa and the LightHouse Headquarters, San Francisco
When: August 1 through August 10, 2016
Cost for the week, all-inclusive: $300
(If the registration fee is a barrier, let us know; some scholarships will be available.)

Bill McCann, President and Founder of Dancing Dots, blind himself, will lead a team of four blind instructors and technicians to teach the latest and greatest techniques for blind and low vision students.

To sign up: contact Taccarra Burrell at 451-694-7310 or ehc@lighthouse-sf.org or go to: http://lighthousesf.org/programs/enchanted-hills/

Pub Night Beer Sampling

Hoppy? Ale? Malty? IPA? Stout? Wheat? What does it all even mean? Join beer-loving LightHouse friends and satisfy your curiosity or just enjoy some darn fine locally brewed liquid breads. We’ll begin with a tour of Pac Coast’s current flight of samples guided by descriptions as we taste, then enjoy Pac Coast’s delicious menu offerings.

When: Thursday, March 24th, 6 pm
Where: Pacific Coast Brewing Company
906 Washington St., Oakland (near 12th St. BART)

LightHouse will bring a reader, but your check is on you, so bring your wallet along with your appetite. RSVP greatly appreciated to Evening Weekend Program Coordinator Serena Olsen at solsen@lighthouse-sf.org or 415.694.7316. Drop-ins also welcome, don’t be shy!

Changing Vision Changing Life, Immersion Training – Plan for your April in Napa or your Summer in San Francisco

Students and instructors from the January class gather for a group photo in front of the fireplace at Enchanted Hills RetreatFor more than three years now, the LightHouse has developed our six-day Changing Vision Changing Life (CVCL) immersion training program at Enchanted Hills Retreat in Napa. Each CVCL session brings together up to 14 adult students of all ages, from Northern California and the Central Valley, who are either new to low vision or blindness, or have had a significant change in vision and have requested additional training.

We’re excited to announce that come June, we will add a very special new venue for training – our newly constructed headquarters at 1155 Market Street in San Francisco. But no matter the site, Napa or San Francisco, the outcome is the same, to provide you with a myriad of options, information, basic training and support to get you started on the journey of living your life the way you want and maintaining your independence.

The CVCL curriculum, presented in four or five sessions per day, includes: ways to read printed materials; understanding how lighting, contrast and magnification can help you every day; techniques for organizing and labeling in your home or office; best methods for taking notes; basic cooking skills; traveling and moving safely and confidently in your home and in the community and understanding how accessible computers and other high and low tech equipment can enhance your life.

Evening discussions focus inwards, from conversations about holding yourself accountable on you journey, to self-advocacy, to questions about how friends, family and partners can understand/support you and your path. Sometimes the process is planned, other times it becomes very organic. Every person and every group of students is different and we individualize much of the experience depending on your own aspirations.

Gaining understanding of what is available to you, getting hands-on with new skills and developing renewed confidence with changing vision is the overall theme of the week. While the experience is different for everyone, the act of coming together with other adults, both students and teachers, who are blind or have low vision, to learn or relearn skills, and to get back into the stream of life, remains a pivotal part of the week-long experience.

At both sites, students will live in comfortable shared accommodations (minimum two to a room), are provided three meals a day and have transportation access to Napa from San Francisco, Berkeley, San Rafael and Eureka. If you are blind or have low vision and want attend a CVCL session you must be genuinely interested in learning the skills for moving forward; enjoy learning with a group of peers and must be able and willing to participate full day (from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., every day) of active learning and physical participation (rural mobility in Napa/urban mobility in San Francisco).

Note, there is no cost to attend if you are 55 or older and living in San Francisco, Alameda, Marin, Humboldt or Del Norte counties and limited scholarships are available for persons who are under 55 and not eligible for Department of Rehabilitation Services.

Dates for our upcoming training sessions:

April 10 through 14 at Enchanted Hills Retreat in Napa

June 12 through 17 at our new headquarters in San Francisco

July 10 through 15 at our new headquarters in San Francisco (note: all training in Spanish)

July 31 through 5 at our new headquarters in San Francisco

The Changing Vision Changing Life Immersion Training is open to adults who are ready for a jump start or, a recharge as vision has changed. Interested? Contact us in San Francisco, San Rafael or Eureka to find out more our sign up: