BOALSBURG — Teams will once again put their communication, creativity and problem-solving skills to the test when the fifth annual ACRES Amazing Race returns to Tussey Mountain on Sept. 20.
Hosted by The ACRES Project, the event combines fun challenges, live music and food while raising awareness and support for the organization’s mission of serving autistic and other neurodivergent adults after they leave high school.
Founded by Bellamarie Bregar in 2016, ACRES was created to address what staff describe as a critical gap in services for neurodivergent adults.
“You get all of the support during high school and then whenever you graduate, where does the support go?” said Kya Gresh, ACRES operations manager and certified ACRES support leader.
Rather than creating a traditional office environment, Gresh said the organization wanted to build a place that truly feels like home.
“We didn’t want ACRES to be going into an office and sitting at a desk and talking about stuff,” she said. “We wanted it to be more of a home.”
Today, ACRES operates out of a house where participants gather around a dining room table, cook in the kitchen and spend time together in living spaces designed to feel welcoming.
“It’s more like you’re walking into a friend’s house or a family member’s house,” Gresh said.
That same sense of connection is at the heart of the Amazing Race.
Inspired by the television show, the event features 20 team-based challenges spread throughout Tussey Mountain. Participants work together to solve puzzles, complete physical and mental activities and earn points. Despite its name, Gresh emphasized that speed is not the focus.
“Just because it has the name race in it does not mean you actually have to run,” she said. “Think of it more as a large field day.”
The event is point based rather than timed, allowing families, friends and coworkers to enjoy the experience at their own pace while sharing plenty of laughs along the way.
“If you’re not having fun, then why are you doing it?” Gresh said.
While teams pay an entry fee to compete, the community is also invited to stop by and enjoy the festivities. Live music from Biscuit Jam, Honey Pie and Quarterstick will be featured throughout the day, and Weinie Panini will be on site serving food. Bona Fide Photography and Sara Moyer Productions will capture the day’s activities.
Beyond the fun, the event serves as an important fundraiser for ACRES.
Gresh said sponsorships help keep many of the organization’s programs free for participants, including gardening and growing groups, after-school art clubs, video game clubs and other activities inspired by the interests of those they serve.
“Sponsoring the event can help students find a place where they enjoy,” she said.
More than anything, Gresh hopes participants leave with stronger relationships and a deeper understanding of what ACRES offers.
“I hope they’re thinking about ways that they can connect more with ACRES or that was a really good thing to do as a family,” she said. “Nowadays with screens, you kind of lose your family connection. Working together as a team builds a family bond and also a community bond.”
As the organization continues to grow, Gresh said she hopes more Centre County residents discover what makes ACRES special.
“ACRES is like a huge family,” she said. “We all care about each other. You make friends where you don’t think that you were going to make friends.”
The fifth annual ACRES Amazing Race will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 20 at Tussey Mountain. Registration information is available through The ACRES Project, and community members are welcome to attend, enjoy the entertainment and cheer on the teams.
