Upcoming activities
Get out and join us for fun activities! All activities will have health and safety rules in place. Pre-registration is required for all activities. Signup online by following the buttons below. For assistance, email rise@lakewood.org.
Financial assistance is available via the Lakewood Possibilities Fund.
RISE Dances
Ages: 18 and up
Cost: $5 (passes available)
Location: Clements Community Center
Come to Clements Center and dance the night away at our Friday night dances from 7-9 p.m. There will be no snack; participants may bring a water bottle if desired. Pre-registration is required.
Upcoming dances:
- September 16
- October 21
- November 18
- December 16
Register for Dances
Special Olympics
Join us for Special Olympics! This fall choose from swimming, flag football and a bowling league (see bowling details below). All participants must have basic water safety skills for the swim team.
Register for Special Olympics
Bowling League
Beginning, casual and avid bowlers are all welcome to join our Special Olympics Bowling League. Pre-registration is required! No drop-in.
Ages: 18 and up
Fee: $78 resident, $104 nonresident
Location: Bowlero Bowling Alley
Dates: Saturdays, Sept. 10-Dec. 17, 10 a.m.-noon
No league Oct. 22 and Nov. 26.
Register for Bowling
Supervision of participants
As with any recreation program, an appropriate level of independence, self care and behavior is required from our participants. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide 1:1 supervision during any of our programs.
Our program staff do not provide hands on personal care to participants unless otherwise noted. If a participant requires additional assistance, a provider or parent may join the program at no cost except certain program expenses.
The 2022 season is currently underway; registration is no longer available.
2023 Camp Paha details will be made available in early 2023.
About Camp Paha
Camp Paha is a unique summer day camp for children and young adults ages 6-25 with disabilities living in Lakewood and surrounding communities. Enjoy swimming, sports, games, nature, music, sensory, arts, crafts, and field trips in a safe, challenging, and fun environment. Camp Paha is licensed by the State of Colorado as a childcare program.
The 2022 Season
Camp Paha and Paha Adults in Transition takes place June 13-July 29. Each camp has two sessions. These sessions are now full and registration is closed.
DATES
Camp takes place Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m
Session 1: June 13-July 1
Session 2: July 11-July 29
FEES
Each session costs $725 resident, $930 nonresident.
Camper scholarships are available through the nonprofit Friends of Paha. Visit FriendsofPaha.org for more information.
LOCATION
Fletcher Middle School.
Camp Goals
- Provide opportunity for fellowship and fun.
- Provide an opportunity for developing awareness about self, others and the environment.
- Give emphasis to citizenship and being a member of a group through the day program experience.
Contact us
To speak with someone about Camp Paha or Paha Adults in Transition, please contact Therapeutic Recreation staff.
By email: paha@lakewood.org
By phone: 303-987-4867
Support Paha
Friends of Paha, a nonprofit organization (not a City of Lakewood entity), helps support our summer day programs. Without this support, tuition and fees would more than double, making these programs too expensive for some. Please consider supporting Friends of Paha in their noble mission.
2021 campers and staff pose for a group photo.
Lakewood Therapeutic Recreation utilizes volunteers, interns and part time (variable) staff to support many of its programs. Our staff come from a variety of backgrounds and many have full time jobs, working or volunteering for our programs in their spare time.
Without their support, many programs could not function. Learn more about how you can get involved by browsing the sections below.
CONTACT US
For questions, contact the therapeutic recreation team at rise@lakewood.org or 303-987-4867.
Volunteer
Many of our programs are supported by volunteers interested in building community and learning more about working with people with disabilities. We have a variety of volunteer opportunities in our therapeutic recreation programs, including our monthly dance, which is held on the third Friday of every month at Clements Community Center.
Interested?
Contact the therapeutic recreation team at rise@lakewood.org or 303-987-4867.
Intern
SPRING AND SUMMER INTERNSHIP
Lakewood Therapeutic Recreation Department offers a spring and summer internship experience focused on community-based therapeutic recreation services.
The intern assists in providing leisure and recreation programs for individuals with disabilities ranging in age from six yrs. through adult.
- Spring interns supports our year-round program offerings and assist in camp preparations.
- Summer interns primarily support our summer day camp, Camp Paha.
Additional opportunities include organizing Special Olympics programs, specialty classes, social engagements and community outings and events. This internship experience will address all NCTRC Job Task Analysis areas through various areas of programming and prepare interns for both the NCTRC Certification Exam as well as entry-level therapeutic recreation positions.
INTERNSHIP STRUCTURE
Application Window: Rolling
- Length of Internship: 15 weeks, 40 hours per week (total 600 hours)
- Internship Supervisor: Full-time CTRS (Meets all NCTRC site supervisor standards)
Note: Interns are strongly encouraged to carry their own medical and liability insurance. Interns are eligible for mileage reimbursement when using their own vehicles to transport themselves in between sites.
INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS
- Must be a current senior in the process of obtaining a degree from an accredited college or university in Therapeutic Recreation and working to complete NCTRC requirements.
- Have a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher in Therapeutic Recreation coursework.
- Applicants must pass a background check prior to an offer being made.
- Applicants must complete additional paperwork as mandated by the State of Colorado for Child Care Licensing including but not limited to passing additional background checks and providing documentation of a minimum of 460 hours supervising 4 or more children at a time.
INTERESTED?
Fill out an interest form via the link below. A staff member will reach out to you to discuss the internship further.
Complete an Interest Form
READY TO APPLY?
To apply, visit our Lakewood jobs listing, search for “Therapeutic Recreation Intern” and click "Apply".
The application process consists of a general application and supplemental questions and will also require the attachment of a cover letter, resume, college transcripts and two letters of recommendation. Applications will be screened and reviewed for eligibility. Successful candidates will be contacted for an interview. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified by email.
Apply Now
Work
Therapeutic recreation utilizes part time (variable) staff to support many of its programs. Open positions are posted on the city's employment listing when available.
Support Camp Paha
Friends of Paha, a nonprofit organization (not a City of Lakewood entity), helps support our summer day programs. Without this support, tuition and fees would more than double, making these programs too expensive for some.
Please consider supporting Friends of Paha in their noble mission.
Friends of Paha