Therapeutic Recreation Program of Colorado Springs

08/21/2025

Painting in the Park is a wrap for the season! 🎨

A special thank you to Garden of the Gods Park and Rock Ledge Ranch for working with our group of artists to capture the beautiful scenery that is in our local community!

08/08/2025

Fall 2025 (September - December) registration is this Monday, August 11, 2025!

You can find the complete brochure containing program details and registration information on our webpage (https://coloradosprings.gov/trp), or you can pick up a physical copy at the Westside Community Center during operating hours.

If interested in registering, please complete and return the registration form in-person, by mail, or by e-mail by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 11. Please note that some program offerings are available for online registration but not all.

We are looking forward to some new programming as well as some seasonal favorites this upcoming fall!

05/22/2025

Reserve your spot!

04/18/2025

The 2025 Therapeutic Recreation Program's Spring Performance is coming up soon! This free event will be held on Thursday, May 1, 2025 at Hillside Community Center and will begin at 7:00 pm. It will be a night to remember celebrating the Therapeutic Recreation participants in Drum Beats Levels 1 & 2 and the Mixed Emotions Dance Troupe.

If you have any questions about the event, please reach out to the Therapeutic Recreation Program team at (719) 385-6953 or (719) 385-6965.

Looking forward to seeing everyone for a great performance and celebration of the 2025 Arts and Culture spring season!

03/18/2025

The Autism Vision of Colorado is hosting a sensory-friendly egg hunt for all ages on Saturday, April 12 from 10:00 am - noon at Heathercrest Park! This is a FREE event, but registration is required and can be found at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/autismvisionofcolorado/1629543.

03/05/2025

Special Olympics Colorado and the Switchbacks FC are hosting youth and teen/adult clinics on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025 at Weidner Field.

There will be two separate clinics based on age:
- Youth clinic for ages 4-12 years old will be held from 4:30-5:30pm with check-in from 4:00-4:30pm.
- Teen and adult clinic for ages 13+ will be held from 5:45-6:45pm with check-in from 5:15-5:45pm.

Individuals participating will have the opportunity to sign a one-day contract while checking in and to take pictures with Ziggy the Mountain Goat.

This event will be outdoors and includes a free ticket for each participant to the Switchbacks FC match on Saturday, April 5th.

02/28/2025

We love the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center! Each year the TRP goes on two fantastic trips with the help of this amazing program. Between downhill and cross-country skiing, our group certainly gets their fill of outdoor adventures.

Thank you to the staff and volunteers that make these two days possible!

02/27/2025

The last "Technique of the Week" is focused the healthy practice of deep-breathing!

Deep-breathing is a calming technique that can lower stress and anxiety levels, reduce chronic pain, lower blood pressure, and increase overall well-being and relaxation. Benefits are found when completed regularly, and it is recommended to complete deep-breathing exercises as part of a daily routine. This can be in the morning, before/after lunch, at bedtime, or whenever a break is needed. This can be done standing, sitting, or lying down and is best when comfortable.

There are several different exercises for deep-breathing. Today's technique uses the Four-Square or Box Breathing method.

How to: Decide how you want to complete your exercise (standing, sitting, or lying down), and get comfortable. Inhale through your nose while counting to yourself for a count of 4. Hold this breathe for another count of 4. Exhale through your mouth to a count of 4. Hold for 4 seconds, and then repeat the pattern. If you aren't able to complete a full count of 4, start with a count of 2 and increase over time. Aim for three breaths, and then grow from there to 2 minutes, 3 minutes, and 5 minutes. Most importantly, listen to your body and what is comfortable to you!

02/26/2025

Have you visited this local treasure yet? The Colorado Springs Pioneers museum's mission is to "build a lasting connection to the Pikes Peak region by preserving and sharing our cultural history," which is accomplished through a wide variety of temporary and long-term exhibits, tours, programs, lectures and special events.

The more than 60,000 objects in the museum's collection include cultural and historic artifacts. Artifacts from Arapaho, Cheyenne and Ute cultures are included in the Native American collection. Helen Hunt Jackson's house is partially represented in the museum with possessions that she owned. The collection includes items relating to the city's founding, mining industry, military installations and health resort industry. Van Briggle Pottery, regional art and a "nationally significant collection of quilts" are part of the collection. And, admission is FREE! Check out how the museum is creating access for ALL.

At the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, we value the visitor experience as a priority of...Read More

02/26/2025

Today, we are highlighting "Ethnic Equality Month" that is celebrated all February long! This is a time focused on recognizing the similarities that are shared across all people while also respecting and acknowledging that there are differences amongst people. This month is about reflection as to how we can all contribute to the goal of social equality. Through promoting equality, we allow new perspectives and experiences which help our communities to grow stronger and to be more inclusive.

Some ways to observe include reading books about ethnic equality, joining a community event, or even spreading the word about the month!

02/24/2025

We're promoting healthy practices with the last "Technique of the Week!

Sometimes, it is difficult to know where to start with new healthy practices. The biggest keys are being intentional and trying to create a daily routine.

Some ideas include:
- taking time for yourself each day to notice the good moments or to do something that you enjoy,
- trying to see the positive side of things,
- practicing gratitude,
- exploring your beliefs about meaning and your purpose in life,
- tapping into your social connections and community,
- scheduling regular times for a relaxing activity that uses mindfulness/breathing exercises,
- joining a group focused on a favorite hobby,
- taking a class to learn something new,
- volunteering for purposes that you care about,
- traveling to a new place or a favorite place,
- enjoying a walk,
- engaging in mindful eating,
- getting regular exercise,
- staying hydrated, or
- setting a goal.

If you want to check out more on this topic, some helpful resources supplied by the National Institutes of Health include:
-GREAT: Helpful Practices to Manage Stress and Anxiety: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIyge4jzeFg
-Emotional Wellness Toolkit: https://www.nih.gov/health-information/emotional-wellness-toolkit

GREAT: Helpful practices to manage stress and anxiety.✅Gratitude. Be grateful. Find small things each day to be grateful about. This might be when you wake u...