Soaring Eagle Waterpark Becomes the First Waterpark in Michigan to Earn Certified Autism Center™ Designation
Mt Pleasant, MI.) –Soaring Eagle Waterpark and Hotel has earned the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). This certification demonstrates the park’s commitment to ongoing autism awareness training to help staff provide a welcoming environment for visitors who are on the autism spectrum. The park will also receive an onsite review provided by IBCCES which includes sensory guides for rides and recommendations to ensure the guest experience is as positive as possible.
Soaring Eagle Waterpark And Hotel
“There are many members of the autism community that would love to explore, visit, and enjoy an overnight stay or day at the waterpark. Our team recognizes the importance of servicing guests and their families on the autism spectrum,” said Bonnie Sprague, General Manager, Soaring Eagle Waterpark and Hotel. “By becoming a Certified Autism Center™, we will be able to entertain our autism community in a creative, fun, and safe way. We look forward to providing sensory days with memorable experiences for all of our guests.”
PLEASANT, Mich - The Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant reports on its Facebook page they will remain open despite Governor Gretchen Whitmer announcing new. Soaring eagle up above the sky. A soaring eagle shows it`s back as it flies away from the lens with the open wider wings. Sky is clear and blue with a tree aside. Soaring Eagle is a 501(c)(3) organization unaffiliated with any tribe or religion, and we receive no federal funding. We depend solely on the support of generous donors who share our vision and our commitment to honoring Native American history and heritage. Soaring Eagle Waterpark and Hotel is adjacent to The Retreat, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort is 1.5 miles away, and Waabooz Run Golf Course is a very short chip shot. The Retreat at Soaring Eagle is your sanctuary from average.
For more than 20 years, IBCCES has been the industry leader in cognitive disorder training and certification for education, healthcare, and corporate professionals around the globe. IBCCES recognized that many families with children who have special needs have limited travel and recreation options. In response to this need, IBCCES created training and certification programs specifically for the attractions and destinations. IBCCES is the only credentialing organization providing this type of certification, which includes evidence-based best practices as well as the perspectives of individuals with autism, alongside other tools and resources to ensure the program is a long-term commitment and has a lasting impact.
“We know that training and certification is the best way for organizations to ensure they can accommodate all families,” explained Myron Pincomb, IBCCES Board Chairman. “IBCCES is proud to work with Soaring Eagle Waterpark and Hotel to help individuals have a safe and enriching experience, whether they are visiting from out of town or are locals who can return to the park frequently, and we applaud the team for their commitment.”
IBCCES also created AutismTravel.com, a free online resource for parents that lists certified destinations and connects families to other resources and each other. Each destination listed on the site has met the Certified Autism Center (CAC) requirements.
About the Park:
Soaring Eagle Regional Park is 790 acres of mature forests, wetlands, and wildlife habitat. Soaring Eagle Parks sits above Patterson Creek on the edge of the Sammamish Plateau along the western flank of the Snoqualmie River Valley. It is connected via forested corridors to the nearby Beaver Lake Preserve, Hazel Wolf Wetlands, and Patterson Creek Natural Area, which increases habitat for wildlife living in the area such as black bear, bobcat, black tail deer, and more than 40 species of birds.
Throughout Soaring Eagle Park, there are 12 miles of multi-use trails. The Pipeline Trail bisecting the park is wide and flat so it is common to see families with baby strollers out enjoying the trail. Soaring Eagle is also popular for mountain biking and trail running competitions.
Nearby Bus Stops: 216, 219, 269, 554at 228 Ave NE & NE 8 St or 228 Ave SE & SE 10 St
Parking:Paved parking lot with room to accommodate up to five horse trailers at entry off E Main Dr. Parking is along Trossachs Blvd at the south end of the park.
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Trailheads:
Main entry: West side of the park in Sammamish via 228 Ave SE and SE 8 St to the end of E Main Dr.
South entry: At the end of Trossachs Blvd via SE Duthie Hill Road.
Through Beaver Lake Preserve: On West Beaver Lake Dr, half a mile east of 254 Pl SE.
Map:
Text KING SOARINGto 468311 to load the map onto your smartphone.
Park History:
Abridged from the draft January 2018 Soaring Eagle Forest Stewardship Plan:
Now surrounded by residential neighborhoods, people have lived in the area surrounding Soaring Eagle Park as far back as 12,500 years ago. Prior to contact with white settlers, this area was occupied by the lower Snoqualmie peoples who lived along the Snoqualmie river, relying on its wetlands, creeks, and streams. Evidence has shown there once was a significant historic travel corridor through Soaring Eagle Park. Traditional travel corridors would have been burned to maintain them and to encourage game animals to frequent the area, which is consistent with charcoal found in the park.
Native peoples planted, cultivated and harvested both wild and domesticated plants, collected berries, nuts and roots, hunted game, fished, quarried stone, and built irrigation canals and roads or foot paths in this area.
Evidence of charcoal is an indicator that Native peoples used fire to clear the land for acorn gathering, to flush game, create habitat for food such as huckleberry, to create meadows to attract game or as an act of war.
Skipping ahead a few centuries, this area was Washington State school trust land known as Section 36. Soaring Eagle was renamed in 2001 by a second grader at Samantha Smith Elementary School in Sammamish in a contest sponsored by King County Parks.