Safety concerns have prompted NDAD to cancel a second consecutive Escape to the Lake adaptive water recreation event.

Plans call for the event to return in June 2022.

The 2021 event had been set for the third Saturday in June, as had been the case last year before the COVID-19 pandemic led to its cancellation. 

Safety has always been of paramount importance at Escape, a day of summer recreation for adults and children with physical disabilities that began in the early 1990s. It’s held at Nelson Lake Recreation Area near Center, N.D. Besides adaptive water-skiing, the event includes pontoon rides, a performance ski show and a catered picnic lunch.

Since last summer’s cancellation, continuing COVID-19 research has shown that people with developmental and intellectual disabilities may be two to three times more vulnerable overall to the virus. Uncertainties over the nation’s ever-intensifying vaccination campaign and confirmation of new coronavirus variants added to concerns this year for NDAD, its event partners and participants.

NDAD's on-site partners for Escape for many years have included Sporting Chance North Dakota and the Aberdeen (S.D.) Aqua Addicts performance ski team. 

To get on a mailing list for information about the 2022 Escape to the Lake event, please call (800) 532-NDAD (-6323) or contact your nearest NDAD office (/contact/).