The Adventure They Could Share
By Japhet Hoff
Every family has their own way of making memories on vacation. For Jen and her family, that usually means finding a trail to hike, a lake to swim in, or a road to explore by bike. Jen, her husband Josh, and their children Kate and Connor live in Washington, DC, and have spent years making the most of the outdoors together. This summer, they traveled north to Sleeping Bear Dunes as part of a Make-A-Wish trip for their 16-year-old daughter, Kate.
Kate has a rare chromosomal disorder and seizure disorder, along with intellectual and physical disabilities. She is nonverbal, tube-fed, and uses a wheelchair. But according to her mom, she is also a laid-back, happy kid who loves being with her family, especially when the weather is good. The heat and humidity of summer back home can be difficult for Kate, so each year the family looks for somewhere cooler to spend time together. When they began planning Kate’s trip through Make-A-Wish, an organization that helps children with critical illnesses turn meaningful dreams into reality, northern Michigan seemed like the perfect destination.
Because the trip was for Kate, Jen wanted to build their days around the things she would enjoy. She started where many visitors do, on the National Park Service website, looking for information about accessibility at Sleeping Bear Dunes. That search led her to Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, where she discovered the adaptive equipment available throughout the Park. For a family who loves spending time outdoors, it was exciting to discover new ways for Kate to experience the Park alongside them.
Their first stop was Glen Haven Beach. The family wanted to see if the beach wheelchair would work for Kate, hoping to spend the afternoon along the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline.
Kate is petite, weighing about 80 pounds and standing less than five feet tall. The standard beach wheelchairs the family had encountered elsewhere were often too large, making it difficult to push her across the sand without worrying that she might fall out. The children’s beach wheelchair at Glen Haven was a much better fit. Its lower design and added support made Jen and Josh feel confident bringing Kate to the beach. Accessible parking and a volunteer onsite made the entire process easy and stress-free.
The family took a long walk along Lake Michigan, with a breeze blowing off the water that Kate loved. Connor had fun playing in the water, while Jen and Josh watched their children enjoy the afternoon together. The family had only walked on a beach together once before, making this experience especially meaningful.
“It felt very special to us, even though it might be run-of-the-mill for someone else,” Jen reflected after the family’s beach walk at Glen Haven.
On most of their vacations, meals are usually the one time when all four of them are together. Their activities often need to be separate, with one parent taking Connor kayaking, for example, while the other spends time with Kate. The afternoon at Glen Haven gave them another chance to be together. They could all enjoy the same activity and experience the beach as a family. It was a glimpse of what else might be possible during their time at Sleeping Bear Dunes.
They found another opportunity to share an adventure together when they learned about the adaptive e-bike.
Jen and Josh have commuted by bike for more than 20 years, and biking has always been something they love, but they have never been able to take a family bike ride. On previous vacations, one parent would ride with Connor while the other stayed with Kate and strolled with her on the trail. At Sleeping Bear Dunes, the adaptive e-bike let Kate join them on the ride.
Two Friends volunteers joined the family for the afternoon. One piloted the adaptive bike with Kate while the other rode ahead on their own bike, watching the trail and helping keep a clear path and a comfortable pace. But the Friends volunteers also went far beyond making sure the ride went smoothly. They spent the afternoon getting to know the family, sharing their knowledge of the area, and making Kate feel welcome from the moment they set out.
As they rode, Jen noticed how much attention her daughter was getting. The volunteers chatted with Kate, and she received smiles and hellos from people they passed.
“It felt rare for Kate to be the center of attention,” she said. “And I think she liked it!”
Watching Kate experience the ride was special for Jen and Josh. They have spent years exploring the outdoors as a family, and seeing Kate out on the trail with them made something they already loved feel even more meaningful. She was not simply along for the ride. She was experiencing the trail with her family, taking in the afternoon and sharing the adventure with them.
Looking back on their visit, Jen does not describe a grand or complicated adventure. Instead, she remembers the small things.
“The experiences themselves were fairly simple -- a bike ride and a walk on the beach. But for our family, it was a rare time on vacation when all four of us could be doing an activity together. We don’t get that all that much, and it stays with us when we do.”
What stayed with Jen and Josh wasn't how much they did, but the moments they shared along the way. Kate feeling the breeze off Lake Michigan. Connor playing in the water. The four of them making their way down the beach and along the trail. With the right equipment, Kate could experience these places in a way that allowed her to be right there with her family, making the same memories they were.
As parents, Jen and Josh want to show Connor all the beauty there is to see in the world while making sure Kate gets to experience it alongside him. At Sleeping Bear Dunes, they found new ways to do exactly that. They could spend their time outside doing what they love, watching their children discover and explore the world around them side by side.
To someone passing by, a walk on the beach or a bike ride might have seemed like an ordinary afternoon. But for Kate and her family, these moments offered something they don’t often get to experience together. Kate was not watching her family’s adventure unfold around her. She was part of it. It was an adventure they could share, and Jen and Josh got to see their daughter experience the kind of freedom and joy that every parent hopes their child can know.