Karin Barrows, one of Beacons co-founders, organized this so that families and their loved ones could ski at Big Bear. Big Bear sponsors the USARC (United States Adaptive Recreation Center), which provides skiing and snowboarding to adaptive athletes. 

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The USARC believes people are empowered when they undertake and succeed at challenging outdoor recreation.  

In 1989, the USARC established the first full-time on-site adaptive ski school in Southern California at Bear Mountain Resort. Adaptive watersports and summer camping programs were added in 1993, and continue to evolve today.