Our students Alžběta Černá (Adapted Physical Activities study program) and Vendula Dostálová (Recreation and Leisure Studies study program) decided to spend the summer of 2025 in Canada — not as tourists, but as part of a team opening the doors of the outdoors to people with disabilities. Through the organization AdaptABLE Outdoors, they joined programs proving that even those facing physical limitations can fully experience the beauty of nature. Instead of a typical student summer, Bětka and Vendy embarked on an adventure that combined their fields of study with a deeper purpose and personal growth. Every day brought new challenges, but also powerful moments of gratitude and joy. Their experience shows that helping others often has the greatest impact on ourselves.
But the best way to truly understand their Canadian summer is to hear it in their own words…
This summer, we had a unique opportunity to take part in an internship in Canada — a country that surprised us from the very first day. Our first surprise came right after arrival, when neither of our suitcases showed up. That’s when we realized: the adventure was just beginning! Although it wasn’t the ideal start, it taught us patience, perspective, and the ability to find humor in unexpected situations — skills we carried with us throughout our stay.
That’s how our three-month internship with AdaptABLE Outdoors Recreation Society began, in Alberta, near the town of Pincher Creek. We joined together and followed in the footsteps of last year’s students from our faculty, Alča and Barča. Together, we became part of a team enabling people with various disabilities or health conditions to experience outdoor adventures in the stunning Canadian wilderness. It was both a great privilege and an incredible experience to continue a project with such profound meaning — for the clients and for us alike.
At the organization, we took part in adaptive outdoor programs that many would consider impossible. These included mountain hiking, kayaking, and fishing — both from shore and directly from a kayak. Every activity required specialized equipment — whether it was the TrailRider, a single-wheeled off-road wheelchair, or stabilizing systems for boats, custom seating, and electric fishing rods controlled by head or elbow movements. Everything was tailored to meet the individual needs of participants.
To truly support our clients, we began our internship with intensive training, learning how to operate the TrailRider, ensure safety both on water and in the field, and improve our communication skills with clients.
Although everyone told us Canadian summers are dry and warm, this season proved to be an exception — weather often surprised us with heavy rain, strong winds, or thunderstorms. These conditions made some program days a real challenge — both for us and for the clients. We had to be extra mindful of safety, monitor weather forecasts, and adapt programs to current conditions — whether it meant avoiding the risk of hypothermia, sudden storms, or heavy rain.
Beyond the program days, we actively engaged in managing the organization’s social media, sharing posts with photos directly from the activities, filming, and creating reel videos that captured the joy and atmosphere of the programs. This too was an area where we grew significantly.
We spent three months in the Canadian mountains, surrounded by the incredible gratitude of the people we worked with. Every program — whether hiking, kayaking, or fishing — was a new experience and, at times, a great challenge. For many clients, it was their very first experience of this kind. Witnessing their joy and determination is something words can hardly describe. And although some days were physically and mentally demanding — pulling a TrailRider uphill is certainly no walk in the park — the greatest strength lay in facing it together.
Our Canadian reality was different from the student stereotype we know from the Czech Republic. We lived in a caravan in the middle of the forest, surrounded by silence, breathtaking mountain views, and occasional visits from curious bears. Every evening, we fell asleep with the feeling that we were living something exceptional — and we are deeply grateful for it. We lived on a ranch where we never felt alone — we had a home base, a car for trips, and, above all, a sense of belonging. When we weren’t working, we went hiking in national parks, to lakes, or on small road trips. In Canada, there is one rule — everything is far away, but the view is worth it.
What did the internship give us? Looking back, it was not just a work experience — it was a life experience. From the people we worked with, we took away gratitude and the ability to appreciate the little things we often take for granted. We realized that even small help can mean the world to a person with a disability. And most importantly, living abroad showed us that true personal growth begins outside of your comfort zone. From Canada, we brought home not only hundreds of photos and stories (and some new muscles from hauling TrailRiders uphill) but also a new perspective on the world and ourselves, invaluable experience, and deep gratitude for everything we got to live. And will we go back? Absolutely. Some places stay in your soul — and the Rocky Mountains in Alberta are one of them.
If you’re wondering whether to take an internship abroad — don’t hesitate. You might be surprised by a lot of new situations, but it will surely be an adventure that will change your view of the world and yourself.
Text by Alžběta Černá
