How can adapted physical activity move beyond university classrooms and into real-world environments? How can students gain experiences that shape them both professionally and personally for life? And how can people with disabilities be given access to something that remains out of reach for many—the freedom of movement in nature?
The answer lies in a unique partnership between the Faculty of Physical Culture at Palacký University Olomouc (FTK UP), the Centre of Adapted Physical Activities (APA Centre), and the Canadian organization Adaptable Outdoors (AO). A collaboration that is transforming lives on both sides of the Atlantic—and one that is increasingly becoming a flagship example of what the field of applied physical activity can achieve in practice.
This collaboration did not begin at a conference table, but outdoors. In June 2023, representatives of FTK’s International Relations Office visited Adaptable Outdoors in the Canadian province of Alberta to gain first-hand insight into the organization’s mission and operations. The visit went far beyond observation: FTK representatives actively participated in one of AO’s programs, assisting a wheelchair user—who also happened to be a member of AO’s board of directors—during an ascent of a mountain peak in the Beauvais Lake area. This experience made it clear from the outset that the partnership between FTK and Adaptable Outdoors would be built not only on professional expertise, but on a deep connection between human values, specialist knowledge, and the courage to push the boundaries of what is considered possible.
As early as the following season, the first two FTK students traveled to Adaptable Outdoors through the Erasmus+ programme. Since then, the partnership has grown rapidly. Its uniqueness lies primarily in the strong complementarity of both sides, creating a sustainable, long-term, and mutually beneficial relationship. FTK students bring highly specialized expertise in adapted physical activities (APA)—expertise that has no direct equivalent in the Canadian higher education system, where comparable degree programmes do not exist. As a result, Adaptable Outdoors gains qualified professional support that significantly expands its capacity. At the same time, FTK students acquire practical experience of a scope and intensity that cannot be fully replicated in the Czech context, where independent organizations focused on inclusive outdoor recreation are still extremely rare.
FTK students in Canada are not passive observers. They become full members of the team, carry real responsibility, and see the immediate and tangible impact of their work. They actively contribute to the preparation and delivery of adaptive outdoor programs, including mountain hiking, kayaking, and fishing. Working alongside experienced instructors, students take part in equipment adaptation, route planning, risk management, safety procedures, and direct facilitation of activities in outdoor environments. Through this hands-on involvement, they gain competencies and experience that are still largely unavailable within the Czech setting.
The exceptional quality of the collaboration between FTK, the APA Centre, and Adaptable Outdoors has also been recognised externally. In 2024, the student internship at Adaptable Outdoors was ranked among the six best individual international mobilities evaluated by the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS), and was highlighted as one of the elite examples of high-quality and meaningful international mobility. The award highlighted not only the professional standard of the internship, but above all its strong social impact, sustainability, and the effective transfer of experience back into the Czech educational environment.
For Adaptable Outdoors, the partnership delivers concrete and measurable outcomes. Thanks to the involvement of FTK students, the organization has been able to increase its program capacity by an extraordinary 74%, resulting in more than 100 additional adaptive outdoor experiences per year for people with disabilities and their families.“
"Our collaboration with Palacký University is incredibly valuable. Thanks to FTK students, we are able to reach more people and offer truly life-changing experiences. The students arrive with exceptional motivation, commitment, and a level of professional preparation that is unique in the Canadian context,” says Steve Holly, Founder and Executive Director of Adaptable Outdoors. For AO clients, this means more equitable access to the physical, mental, emotional, and social benefits of outdoor recreation. For FTK students, it represents intensive professional and personal development.
The collaboration with Adaptable Outdoors is the result of long-term, strategic efforts by the International Office of the Faculty of Physical Culture, aimed at opening up meaningful and high-quality international opportunities for its students. From the very beginning, the goal was not to establish a purely formal partnership, but to create a values-based and long-term sustainable model of cooperation that offers students a truly unique practical experience while giving the field of Adapted Physical Activity international visibility. “Partnerships like this do not emerge on their own. They require trust, personal commitment, and a willingness to invest time and energy into relationships that have a lasting impact. This is exactly what we found in our collaboration with Adaptable Outdoors,” adds Michal Kudláček, Vice-Dean for International Affairs at the Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University.
The vitality and long-term nature of the partnership were further demonstrated by a visit from the founders of Adaptable Outdoors to FTK in November 2025, during International Teaching Week. AO representatives actively contributed to the faculty programme, delivered expert lectures for APA students, and engaged openly with those interested in future internships. The visit provided space not only for sharing field-based experience, but also for strategic discussions with FTK representatives on the future development of the collaboration. A tour of the APA Centre’s equipment storage, featuring a unique collection of adaptive devices, made a strong impression on the Canadian partners and confirmed the high professional standard of FTK UP’s facilities.
The APA Centre: Where Motivation Becomes Expertise
A key role in the entire partnership is played by the Centre of Applied Physical Activities at FTK UP, which has long been shaping both the professional and value-based foundations of APA students. "Collaboration with Adaptable Outdoors offers students exactly the kind of experience that cannot be simulated in a seminar room. They learn responsibility, creativity, and respect for the individual needs of people with disabilities. At the same time, they see that their field has real impact and deep social meaning,” explains Ondřej Ješina, Head of the APA Centre.
A strong example of the integration of study and practice is the Expedition Over Barriers, regularly organized by the APA Centre with its students. It is during this expedition that students first experience real-world organization, teamwork, and work in demanding conditions—unsurprisingly, many future Adaptable Outdoors interns emerge from among its organizers.
The experiences students bring back from Canada do not end upon their return. On the contrary, they spark discussions about the future of inclusive outdoor recreation in the Czech Republic and about how to expand services for people with disabilities. The partnership between FTK, the APA Centre, and Adaptable Outdoors is therefore much more than an exceptional international opportunity. It is clear evidence that Adapted Physical Activity has global relevance, profound social impact, and the power to change lives—those of clients, students, and professionals alike. It represents an investment in the future of the field, an inspiration for new generations of APA students, and proof that when professional expertise is combined with a human-centered approach, the impact can truly be global.
