Residents enjoy weekly rides

Each week, residents at the Mission at Castle Rock Rehabilitation Center and The Villa get into the Villa's van and take a trip.

During the summer months, the residents enjoy riding in the Villa's van and taking in all the sights the area has to offer, Heidi Schuh, activities director and volunteer coordinator said.

"The bus rides are always a success. This is an activity many of our residents, who don't normally participate in many activities, will participate in," Schuh said. "They enjoy it so much."

Even though Schuh is usually the one coming up with activity ideas, she can't take the credit for this one. The residents came up with this idea, she said.

"We had a resident who moved here from out of state, and had never seen this area, Schuh said. "She requested we take a drive to look around. It stuck and we've been doing it for years now."

"We try to have the residents take turns so everyone gets a chance to go a handful of times a summer," Schuh said.

The group travels to different places including, Little America for ice cream, Sheep Creek Canyon, the Wild Horse Loop and Flaming Gorge. They also just drive around town to see progress of the horse corrals, and they always go to Farson at the end of the summer for their world-famous ice cream. Each ride takes about 2 hours.

"I'm not sure they really have a favorite because they like them all, but any time we can see wild life they ecstatic," Schuh said. "We got to see a mama and baby moose in Sheep Creek Canyon one time, and they were overjoyed."

Even though the group would probably like to take tours in the winter, the Wyoming weather prevents them from doing so. Schuh said they do take the van out around Christmas and look at the Christmas lights.

"It's so important for the residents to get out of the building, get some sunshine and a change of scenery," she said. "We've all had that feeling when life feels monotonous, and our residents feel the same way. It's nice to break away from the everyday and have an adventure."