Steal This Idea: Inclusive Community Events as Local Legacy

Three San Francisco Bay Area organizations have teamed up to launch a "sleeper" event: Be Stoked SF

Quietly, with only local fanfare among the faithful, Environmental Travel Companions, Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors, and Bay Area Outreach & Recreation Program are conspiring to put the area on the international map as a destination o choice for active travelers with disabilities. The appeal of San Francisco and all of Northern California is no secret to travelers but this addition to inclusive sporting culture and outdoor leisure activities starts small today in order to give the concept a trial run and test its scalability.

The event, happening only one week before nearby Santa Cruz' annual accessible Day on the Beach, makes the second and third weekends of July anchor points for travelers from around the world to come spend a week, see the sights, and experience Northern California's active disability community. Be Stoked SF includes one and two person sailboats that were designed for people with disabilities, handcycles, adaptive trikes, tandems, and stable two person kayaks.

Who will be the inbound tourism agency to prepare and sell this itinerary as a package next year?

Who will be the next international-class destination to offer an enticing packaged of community-based and fully-inclusive active leisure celebrations to position thier commnities as destinations of choice for our community?

Off the beaten track Longview, Texas shows the way with an annual event through Judie Moffet's Power, Inc. Chicago has a pilot event on Lake Michigan scheduled for next month. New York City has one under discussion.

Anyone south of the equator got plans for back-to-back weekends of public, volunteer-enabled accessibility to the outdoors?

Take this idea -- and roll with it!!