Programs & Services
Theatre Bristol
Theatre Bristol Annual Performance
Theater provides a great opportunity for youth and young adults with differing abilities to show how they can contribute to our community. Each year, Theatre Bristol provides River’s Way participants with a chance to perform a play.
We are fortunate to have the help of Dottie Havlik who directs our efforts and who writes the plays. One unique aspect of these performances is that we act alongside Theatre Bristol actors and actresses. This makes for an inclusive experience where people of all abilities gain recognition for their talents.
Cafe Central
River’s Way worked with Bristol Tennessee City Schools and Bristol Virginia Public Schools to establish Cafe Central in December 2015. Our primary goal is to give students with disabilities the opportunity to develop workforce skills. Cafe Central enables students to learn how to prepare and serve food to the general public. The cafe also teaches students how to work as a team in accomplishing a very challenging task!
Cafe Central is located at Central Christian Church in Bristol, TN. The church was gracious in its offer to host the cafe and the members of the congregation see Cafe Central as a way to help people with disabilities to thrive in a community setting.
Cafe Central serves delicious meals every Friday during the school year with the exception of the third week in each month. Lunch includes soup, a sandwich and/or a salad and a dessert. In many cases we use produce from our gardens in preparing the lunches. The cost of a meal is $7.00 and it includes coffee and tea.
You would be hard pressed to find a better deal! You receive a great lunch at a great price and you help students to become skilled and productive workers in the process!
Walking
Walking is central to nearly all River’s Way programs. Walking on a regular basis benefits health and it creates community. For people with differing abilities, walking is one of the best ways to prevent the early onset of chronic disease. Walking is also a proven means for building social connections. Both of these benefits can be experienced in in-person programs and in virtual programs.
Walktober
City of Bristol
We are able to work directly with gym classes, our inclusive walking programs enable us to impact over 1,000 middle school and high school students of all abilities. Students learn how to set goals for walking laps and they spend 30- 45 minutes walking in hallways, gymnasiums, or around the school track.
Our staff check in with students before and after each walking session to record the number of laps that students walk. Our Gamechangers are a part of each program and they set an example when it comes to effort and accountability. Walking programs are successful because they are inclusive, they promote 100% participation, they allow students to pursue individualized goals.
Gardening
Gardening provides for a great learning tool. As with all of our programming, students with special needs have hands-on opportunities to learn the team skills that are essential to success in the workplace. Students also learn about gardening, and they learn about foods that many have never encountered.
In addition to providing produce for the Bristol Emergency Food Pantry, we also provide vegetables for our lunch program at Cafe Central where we strive to have our meals match the growing seasons of our many vegetables. Join us for a meal at Cafe Central and see how our efforts in the garden pay off when it comes to serving great food!
River’s Way has been working with special education students in gardens since 2011. One garden is located across the street from Viking Hall in Bristol TN. We also operate two hoop houses on the grounds of Central Christian Church in Bristol TN.
Gardening has proven to be a highly successful collaborative project involving Bristol TN City Schools, Bristol VA Public Schools, the Bristol Family YMCA, Appalachian Sustainable Development and Central Christian Church. The Bristol Morning Rotary Club, Appalachian Sustainable Development and Grow Appalachia were instrumental in helping us to construct our two hoop houses.
YMCA Fitness
The YMCA Bristol Fitness program works with an average of 8-15 youth and young adults with differing abilities and runs from 2:00-5:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday. Activities include weightlifting, yoga, cardio workouts, and walking. All activities are adapted to participants’ ability levels. YMCA memberships are required for this program.
For more information contact:
Matt Kyle, matt@riversway.org
Emory & Henry Programs
River’s Way teams with student volunteers from Emory and Henry College to host two Saturday programs per semester (Fall and Spring) with youth and young adults with disabilities. The River’s Way student organization at Emory and Henry College has provided volunteers for programming since 1996. Programs are held at the Emory and Henry College campus. These overnight and day programs provide campers with opportunities for positive social interaction and for continued involvement with River’s Way outside of school on weekends.
Students and participants must bring the required forms listed below:
Medications Form (if medications are required)
For more information contact:
Matt Kyle, matt@riversway.org
River’s Way Summer Programming will run during June and July 2026. Families may choose between the Half-Day YMCA Program, Monday–Thursday from 1:00–4:00 PM, or the Full-Day Summer Program, Monday–Thursday from 8:00 AM–4:00 PM.
The Half-Day YMCA Program can serve up to 22 participants. The Full-Day Summer Program can serve up to 10 participants in the morning.
This summer will include gardening, walking programs, YMCA fitness, yoga, cardio, Camp Friendship, and our flower program at the Bristol Farmers Market. Programming is free for families, but space is limited.
River’s Way will offer two main registration options:
1. Half-Day YMCA Program
2. Full-Day Summer Program
Option 1: Half-Day YMCA Program
Days: Monday–Thursday
Time: 1:00–4:00 PM
Location: YMCA of Bristol
Capacity: Up to 22 participants
The Half-Day YMCA Program is our afternoon fitness program. Participants will take part in weightlifting, yoga, walking, cardio machines, and other healthy movement activities.
Option 2: Full-Day Summer Program
Days: Monday–Thursday
Time: 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Drop-off/Pickup: YMCA of Bristol
Morning capacity: 10 participants
The Full-Day Summer Program includes morning gardening and walking programs, lunch, and the Half-Day YMCA Program.
Each morning, participants will take part in gardening and walking programs with local community partners. In the afternoon, participants will return to the YMCA for fitness, yoga, walking, and cardio.
Walking program partners may include:
- Girls Inc.
- Children’s Inc.
- Boys & Girls Club
- Fairmount Elementary
- YWCA
- YMCA
Optional Friday Program: Camp Friendship
Days: Fridays
Time: 8:00 AM–1:00 PM
Drop-off/Pickup: YMCA of Bristol
Capacity: 7 participants
Camp Friendship will be offered on select Fridays during the summer. Space is limited due to transportation and staffing.
Families can check a box on the registration form if they are interested in Camp Friendship.
Matt will communicate separately with families about Friday availability.
Optional Saturday Program: Farmers Market Flower Program
Days: Saturdays
Time: 8:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Downtown Bristol Farmers Market
Capacity: 4 participants
Participants may have the opportunity to help sell flowers grown through River’s Way programming at the Bristol Farmers Market.
Families can check a box on the registration form if they are interested in the Farmers Market flower program.
Matt will communicate separately with families about Saturday availability.
Important Dates
Summer Programming Begins: Monday, June 1, 2026
Summer Programming Ends: Friday, July 31, 2026
River’s Way will be closed:
- Friday, July 3
- Saturday, July 4
What Participants Should Bring
Participants should bring:
- A backpack
- A cold lunch in a lunchbox
- Any utensils needed for lunch
- A water bottle
- Closed-toed comfortable shoes
- Sunscreen, hat, or other sun protection as needed
Please pack a cold lunch each day. River’s Way will be on the go during summer programming, and we may not always have access to a microwave or refrigerator.
Closed-toed shoes are required. No sandals or flip-flops.
Attendance Expectations
River’s Way Summer Programming is free for families, but each spot is valuable. Because space is limited, participants are expected to attend consistently on the days they are scheduled.
Families should communicate absences in advance whenever possible.
Repeated no-shows or inconsistent attendance may result in a participant losing their summer spot so another individual on the waiting list can attend.
HALF DAY (YMCA ONLY) Summer Program – https://riversway.dm.networkforgood.com/forms/summer-registration-half-day-ymca-only-2026
Full-Day Summer Program: https://riversway.dm.networkforgood.com/forms/summer-registration-full-day-2026