Our Mission
Providing exciting and challenging learning opportunities for children with various developmental constrictions such as ADD, ADHD, Sensory Integration Delay, Autism, PDD, PDDNOS and Aspergers Syndrome. By utilizing Dr. Stanley Greenspan’s DIR (Developmental, Individual-difference, Relationship-based) framework, various natural settings, community resources and family participation, we strive to strengthen each child’s relationship with the world around him or her as well as his or her physical, social and emotional development and health.
Founder and Director
Christopher A. Zelski has been activity involved in early intervention for children with various cognitive learning challenges since 1992. Before founding Outdoor Rec. Adventures, Inc. in July of 2010, Chris co-founded and served as co-director of Learning on the Log from 2001 to 2010. Chris was instrumental in creating, developing and implementing the multiple programs that are currently being utilized.
Prior to co-founding Learning on the Log, Chris had extensive experience working with children with various cognitive learning challenges and their families. Chris served as the classroom coordinator and lead teacher at the Walden Early Childhood Programs at Emory University’s Autism Resource Center (1992- 1997). He also served and as Resource Case Manager and Research Assistant. His roles included developing and supervising classroom curriculum, evaluating academic and social development of children with autism, developing language and social skills in an integrated classroom setting, providing one to one instruction for parents in their home environment and providing consultation to classroom teachers within the classroom. Chris was published and presented his work on two separate research projects at the National Convention of the Association For Behavioral Analysis in San Francisco in 1996.
Chris held the position of Program Coordinator of Building Blocks Therapeutic Preschool and Camp Fun and Gains Summer Camp at Speech Pathology Services (1997-2000). Developing and supervising the classroom environment and modeling sensory integration themes and education modalities for preschoolers were his primary tasks. Additionally, continuing communication with families, training of staff and developing individual goals for the students enrolled in the program were responsibilities of this position.
From 2000 to 2001 Chris was a Home School Instructor, focusing on Floortime strategies and appropriate academic curriculum. Additionally, at this time, Chris began working as a Floortime Player in small group and individual instruction environments and as an Aquatics Instructor for children with various learning challenges in individual and group settings. From 2001 – 2003, Chris held a teaching position at the Lionheart School in Alpharetta, and continued gaining knowledge of the Developmental, Individual-Difference, Relationship-Based (DIR) model, developed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan, M.D. and Serera Wieder, Ph.D.
With the vision of continuing to promote productive, community-based, supportive and enjoyable programs for children and their families, Chris founded Outdoor Rec. Adventures, Inc. in July of 2010. The mission of ORA is to provide exciting and challenging learning opportunities for children with various developmental constrictions, such as ADD, ADHD, Sensory Integration Delay, Autism, PDD, PDDNOS and Aspersers Syndrome. By utilizing Dr. Stanley Greenspan’s DIR© framework, recognizing the child’s individual sensory profile, various natural settings, community resources and family participation, the program strives to strengthen each child’s relationship with the world around him or her as well as his or her physical, social and emotional development and health.