We know that with so much to offer, there are many questions. Here are some answers.

• Participant Questions
• Volunteer Questions
• Partner and Donor Questions

1. What does Splore stand for and what does the organization do?
2. Who does Splore serve?
3. What types of outdoor adventure programming does Splore offer?
4. How much do the activities cost?
5. How do I sign up for an activity and who do I contact to get more information?
6. How many participants can attend a Splore activity?
7. Do I need to bring my own gear for Splore trips?
8. How do I keep my belongings from getting wet on a river rafting trip?
9. Are meals provided during Splore trips?
10. Where do the Splore outdoor activities take place?
11. Does Splore provide transportation to activity locations?
12. What is the level of difficulty of rapids on Splore river rafting trips?
13. Will there be a licensed river guide and/or volunteers on my rafting boat?
14. If I have a disability, how will I get on and off the boat?
15. Where do we sleep during the river rafting trips?
16. Will there be a private restroom facility available during rafting trips?
17. I have medication that needs to be kept cold. What can Splore do for me?
18. What does Splore do for individuals who can't stay in the heat for long periods of time?
19. Do the boats ever flip during rafting trips? If so, what do I do?
20. I have a disability, can I bring my friends and family along who do not have a disability?
21. Does Splore offer or arrange for care providers for clents who need them?
22. Is there an age requirement to go on a Splore activity?

1. How do I find out about Splore volunteer opportunities?
2. What type of experience do I need to volunteer with Splore?
3. Does Splore provide training for its volunteers?
4. How many volunteers can participate on a Splore activity?
5. Is there a cost for Agency staff to attend a Splore activity with an Agency's clients?
6. Is there a cost for Splore volunteer guides or Splore volunteer care providers?
7. If I volunteer on a Splore river rafting trip, do I need to provide my own transportation? What do I need to bring?
8. Even if I don't have a disability or a specialized need, can I participate in a Splore trip anyway?

1. What kind of donations does Splore need?
2. How will my donation be used?
3. Who do I contact about making a donation/Do you accept on line donations?
4. What percentage of your budget is administrative costs or overhead?
5. Is Splore a 501(c)3 organization?
6. What percent of the budget comes from Federal or local funding sources?

1. Special Populations Learning Outdoor Recreation and Education. More recently, the goal of Splore is to involve people of all abilities. So in 2005, the phrase "Special Populations" was no longer considered to be an appropriate description. Now the organization name is no longer an acronym and is simply known as "Splore". A non-profit organization founded in 1977, Splore is a leader in providing outdoor recreation and education adventures for people of all abilities, especially children and adults with a wide range of disabilities and specialized needs. Back.
2. Splore serves individuals of all abilities, disabilities and special needs. Past Splore participants have included children as young as 5 years to adults as old as 90 years with a wide range of specialized needs including individuals with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities, as well as family members, friends, and care providers. Splore also serves at-risk youth and those with financial hardships, as well as a variety of other circumstances. Back.
3. During the summer months, Splore offers single and multi-day river rafting trips, and half day canoeing and rock climbing programs. Winter programs include cross country ski and snowshoeing lessons, and overnight yurt trips. Back.
4. The cost of Splore programs is determined by a three-level sliding fee scale based on household income. In order to provide activities at the lowest possible costs, individuals who fall into certain income brackets can qualify for a Splore scholarship, which generally covers up to 70 percent of Splore program costs. Nearly all Splore participants receive some sort of a Splore scholarship. To find out if you qualify for a scholarship, fill out and submit a Scholarship Application, and either fax or email back to Splore. To find out about general program fees, with or without a scholarship, contact Tim at 801.484.4128, or by email info@splore.org. Back.
5. Contact the Splore office at (801) 484-4128 x 7, or email tims@splore.org with questions or to reserve a trip. Once a trip has been booked through the Splore office, secure online program payments can be made by clicking here. Back.
6. For Northern Utah programs, Rock Climbing and Canoeing, the minimum number of participants to book a lesson is 7 and the maximum is 16. For Southern Utah programs, Rafting and Canoeing, the minimum of participants to book a trip is normally 12, and the maximum depends of the river section - which varies from 25 to much larger. You may also be able to add on to existing trips in certain situations.Back.
7. For overnight rafting trips, participants must bring their own toiletries, a change of clothes and personal belongings, including: a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, water bottle, and tent (if desired). All other equipment is provided. If participants do not own some of these camping items, they are available to rent through Splore. Splore provides all the necessary equipment for the canoeing and rock climbing programs.Back.
8. Splore provides dry bags to all river rafting participants. These uniquely designed bags will keep your belongings from getting wet. Back.
9. Splore provides all meals for river rafting trips starting with a light breakfast on the first day through lunch on the final day. Splore takes great pride in providing meals on our rafting trips including such favorites as dutch oven lasagna. The canoeing and rock climbing programs, which run for three hours during weekday mornings and afternoons, do not include a meal. Back.
10. Canoeing: Single day trips take place on the Jordan River or a local reservoir, and multi day trips take place through Labyrinth Canyon on the Green River. Rock climbing: Single day lessons in the morning or afternoon hours take place at indoor climbing walls in Salt Lake City and outdoors at various locations in both Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons near Salt Lake City. River Rafting: Overnight trips take place on various stretches of the Colorado, Green, and Yampa Rivers. Details about the location, duration, and specific activities of each trip can be found on the Web site, by clicking on Programs and then clicking on each individual program. Back.
11. If program participants cannot make their own arrangements, transportation may be available upon request by calling the Splore office at (801) 484-4128. Back.
12. The level of difficulty of rapids depends on the trip. Most Splore river rafting trips run through gentle sections of water, with most rapids ranging from Class I to Class II. The gentle nature of these rapids is such that most trips are appropriate for children and individuals of all ability levels. Splore rafting trips on Cataract Canyon and Westwater Canyon include Class III and Class IV rapids. Back.
13. Every Splore rafting boat has a trained and licensed river guide. These individuals have experience on numerous rafting trips, as well as training in First Aid and CPR. The number of volunteers on each rafting boat depends on the number of participants and their ability levels. In addition to the river guide, boats carrying participants with demanding physical disabilities often have one volunteer for every participant.Back.
14. Splore staff assists individuals with transfers as needed. Transfers can be done by 2 people with interlocked arms or through a multi-person sling set up. All transfers are done through consultation with the participant to insure that it is done safely and comfortably. Back.
15. Participants sleep on the sandy banks of the river either under the stars or in a tent based on the desires of the participant. Back.
16. Splore understands the importance of providing restroom facilities during its trips, particularly for those with various physical disabilities. A special restroom facility, nick-named "the groover" is set up on each trip. The groover is a fully accessible toilet with rails around each side and is housed in a privacy tent. Back.
17. This is avfamiliar situation for Splore. Medication that needs to be kept cold is stored between artificial ice packs, and placed inside an ice chest. Back.
18. Splore will attach an umbrella to your chair in the boat to keep the sun off you. Volunteers will also make sure participants are staying hydrated and are using adequate amounts of sunscreen. Participants are encouraged to take a swim in the river when conditions allow. Back.
19. Boats very rarely flip. However, due to the inherent nature of river rafting, boat flips can happen. Splore river guides provide a river safety talk about what to do in case a boat flips. In addition, licensed river guides and volunteers undergo special training onwhat to do when a boat flips. On the rare occasion that a boat flips, guides and volunteers usually have the boat flipped right side up and the participants back inside the raft within minutes. Participants should stay calm during these occurrences and promptly follow the directions of the guides and volunteers. Back.
20. Anybody regardless of their ability level is welcome on Splore trips. We also encourage friends and family to participate in Splore activities. Back.
21. In most cases, Splore can arrange for qualified volunteer care providers. Please check with Splore well in advance of your trip to submit your request. And yes, family members or friends are encouraged to attend a trip as care providers. The family member or friend pays the same rate as the disabled participant. Back.
22. Splore requires participants to be at least 5 years old and 50 pounds minimum in order to participate. Back.

1. Splore volunteer opportunities are explained on the Web site under the Volunteer link and are listed in the Calendar. Volunteer opportunities may include helping with outdoor programs, assisting a person with a disability as a careprovider, helping coordinate and carry out fund-raising events, and other opportunities as needed. To become certified as a program volunteer, all program volunteers must attend Training which usually occurs in May. Also be aware that as of January 2005, all new program/careprovider volunteers need to provide a background report before working with Splore clients. Contact Splore at (801) 484-4128 or e-mail info@splore.org to find out more about volunteer opportunities, or for information on how obtain a background report. Back.
2. Minimal experience is needed to volunteer with Splore, and Splore volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds. However, volunteers with expertise in any of Splore's related outdoor programs are especially welcome, and can help orient volunteers with less experience. Individuals with extensive experience in rock climbing, and those with a Utah river guide license are particularly needed.Back.
3. Training is required for volunteers in each of the Splore outdoor programs. Training sessions typically take place in April and May for the summer programs, and in December for the winter programs. There is no fee for for canoeing, climbing or skiing volunteer training. A small fee is assessed for the rafting volunteer training weekend. For more information about volunteer training and training session dates, click on the "Training Dates" link on the Volunteer page. Back.
4. That depends on the program - some have lots of space and some have very little. Volunteers should look at the master calendar. Each date has a note about the number of volunteers needed and/or if the main volunteer slots have already been filled. Check the Calendar as soon as possible to add your name to the trips you'd like by calling Tim at (801)484-4128. Even if the spots have been filled, volunteers may want to consider joining the activity as a paying participant on trips where there is still space available - check with the Splore office for availability and the cost if you're still interested. The most important thing for volunteers to remember is to look at the master calendar to get a feel for the trips, and then call Splore to inquire about specific days / trips / opportunities / costs and to get more information. Back.
5. Agency staff / Agency care providers pay the same rate as the client. Back.
6. There is no cost to Splore volunteers for Northern Utah Programs, Rock Climbing and Canoeing. For Southern Utah Programs, Rafting and Canoeing, if you are one of the volunteers who have signed up as a necessary volunteer for a particular trip, there no cost for volunteer guides/swampers, and there is a only a small fee for general support volunteers and volunteer care providers to help cover the costs of meals. If all the volunteer spots have been filled, you may still attend as a paying participant if space is available. Please contact the Splore office for volunteer fees for a particular trip, or to sign up as a paying participant. Back.
7. Splore volunteers are expected to provide their own transportation to the Moab area for river rafting trips. If volunteers cannot find their own ride, they should contact the Splore office to see if other transportation arrangements can be made. Rafting volunteers are expected to bring all their own personal belongings, including toiletries, a change of clothes, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, water bottle, and tent (if desired). If volunteers do not own these items, they are available to borrow from Splore. All meals are provided on trips. Back.
8. Yes. Since Splore does not discriminate against any individual or group, any person who wishes to participate in a Splore trip may do so. Family members and friends of those with disabilities often participate on Splore trips. Back.

1. As a non-profit organization, Splore utilizes a variety of donations to fund its programs. Donation types range from cash and cars, to merchandise, and stocks and securities. For a full explanation of each donation type, click on the Contribute link on the Splore Web site. Back.
2. Splore uses donations in three main ways. First, cash and check donations are placed in the Splore scholarship fund to help cover program fees for participants with low incomes. Second, merchandise donations from sponsors are used as prizes and auction items at Splore fund-raising events. And third, donations dealing with cars, real estate and other merchandise are sold to raise money for Splore programming. Back.
3. Contact Splore executive director John Librett at 801.484.4128, or e-mail Splore at donate@splore.org. For on line donations click here and it will take you to a secure site to make your donation. Back.
4. In 2006, Splore budget equaled 4% in administrative, 19% in fundraising (events and general) and 77% in general programming. Back.
5. Yes, Splore is a 501(c)3 organization. Back.
6. Currently no funding is derived from Federal or local funding sources. Back.