LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 46 Dreams for my community My unique community is not something many would think about when they are asked to describe their surrounding areas and physical communities. Disc golf, a growing and popular sport, often called "just a hobby" or "not a sport" in the eyes of my school, classmates, and some friends, is my commu- nity. Disc golf has been a major part of my life over the last five years. The disc golf community that I belong to is unlike any other that I have had the opportunity to be a member. The people in my com- munity make me feel safe, supported and respected, no matter where I am in the country. My disc golf community is always caring, compassionate, helpful and kind. Those are qualities that the world needs more of and I am happy to help spread those values through this sport. The main goal of disc golf (outside of competi- tion) is to grow the sport and spread kindness along the way. The disc golf community is accepting of all ages, sizes, genders, ethnicities, and abilities and is a safe place for everyone to feel included. We rely heavily on keeping a clean, professional image during our tournaments. This makes our community stand out because those values are more important to us than the monetary side of the sport. There are constantly changing rules and regulations imple- mented to keep the game fair and the community satisfied. There are even guidelines to protect Junior and older, age-protected divisions to keep everyone safe. Given that the sport is outside, often if heavily wooded areas, disc golfers have an enormous obliga- tion to support the environment, keep it clean, and help make the Earth a safer and more sustainable place to live. Myself, as well as countless others, can often be seen bringing trash bags on the courses and leaving with them full of trash and litter. Our community thrives on conserving the environment and leaving it in better condition than before. There is also currently a big focus on protecting each other from tick-related illnesses and diseases, through prevention and education. This is a huge problem with any sport that is outdoors, as the tick popula- tion has increased and Lyme Disease has become more prevalent in our area. I contracted chronic Lyme disease from this sport in 2020 and now have a whole community rallying behind me to persevere through and show true resiliency and strength. Not many communities care about the health and well- ness of their members, but the disc golf community whole-heartedly does. Aside from the reasons stated above, disc golf is great exercise. If this sport spreads in our local com- munities, then we would have more people outside appreciating nature as they become more fit and ac- tive. There is a lot of walking, hiking, and endurance involved. It is also friendly to all abilities, because those who are on the course will often assist older individuals or those with disabilities to navigate playing. The sport has allowed my Dad, who has had countless knee operations, get outside and become active. My six-year old brother also gets out and enjoys playing. Disc golf is also a great coping mech- anism for mental health. It is great to be a part of a community that recognizes all aspects of someone's life, both mental and physical health, and helps you improve and feel better. It is an inclusive, loving, and kind community. My hope is that other communities, whether through sports or not, can learn from ours. That they can learn to adapt and treat everyone equally. That they can get outside and enjoy nature. That they can clear their minds and focus on the positive in life while spreading kindness through common interests of this sport. The disc golf community is MY community and I would love to share it with all of you. My Unique Community by Kaidence Moore The Adirondack Center for Writing hosted a writing competition for young people across the region. The topic: write about the dreams they have for their community. Students could define their community, write what they care about, or offer ideas for change. Kaidence Moore and Evan Beech were two of the top-three winners in the 13-18 category.

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