Hi! My name is Regina, and I am so excited that you are interested in Hikeabilities! I have been a pediatric occupational therapist for over 8 years, working with children of varying abilities from ages birth through 21 in school-based and outpatient settings. In addition to occupational therapy and working with little ones, I enjoy spending time with friends and my big family, exploring the outdoors, and staying active most especially through hiking. I have dreamt about starting a program that blends my professional and personal passions together for quite some time now and decided to finally take the leap. Welcome to Hikeabilities. I was born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, attended Penn State for undergrad, and received my Masters of Science degree in Occupational Therapy at Salus University (now Drexel University). I have always had an adventurous heart, so upon passing my boards I moved to San Diego. While this is where my professional career took root, it is also where my passion for the outdoors and nature blossomed. When the world just about shut down in 2020, I hit a point where I was going stir-crazy. Walking became my therapy. It provided a time and space to calm my mind while allowing my body to move. Walks quickly turned into hikes, which challenged me both physically and mentally. Luckily, I had met a great little group of friends who contributed to both the fun and social-emotional support that always ensured a positive experience. Over the next couple of years, I hiked up and down the west coast, falling in love with the vastly diverse outdoor scapes. I walked through trees instead of around them in Sequoia. I climbed up 21 steep switchbacks in Zion. I spotted rainbows reflecting off waterfalls thousands of feet tall in Yosemite. I body-sled down the side of snowy Mount Rainier. I balanced alongside desert cliffs in Arches. I clapped and stomped like a crazy woman to ward off grizzly bears in the Tetons. I watched the most electrifying sunset in Death Valley. Interacting with the world in ways I didn’t know possible reinforced and strengthened my appreciation for nature. How fortunate was I? Shouldn't everyone get the opportunity to immerse their senses in the ways I did? When my time on the west coast concluded, I returned to Philadelphia. This is when the initial sparks for my vision of Hikeabilities ignited. Hiking gave me an outlet to stay active while stimulating my brain and connecting with others. I wanted to create something that encouraged people of all abilities to do the same. And so, I did. With my occupational therapy background in mind, Hikeabilities became the perfect way to blend my personal and professional passions and turn my dream into a reality. I can’t wait for you to share it with me.