Surrounded by the White Mountains of New Hampshire, long-time participant Kamisha felt a moment of freedom. As part of Waypoint’s Leaders-In-Training program, Kamisha and a group of her peers enjoyed a 2-day backpacking trip. At the end of that trip, the friends closed out the weekend by each throwing a stone into the river, with each stone symbolizing “worries we can leave behind.” Kamisha threw her stone into the river and later shared that through activities like this at Waypoint, she has been “free to discover aspects of herself that she never knew were there.” On this trip, Kamisha finally felt grit, determination, and perseverance—empowering her at home and on her many adventures to come.
Your support of adventures like these are making an impact on youth and adults with disabilities in our community. Give the gift of freedom and opportunity in 2023.
Kamisha went on a recent backpacking trip with the Leaders-In-Training program. In an interview with Waypoint staff, Julia, this is what she had to say about her experience:
Q: How long have you been involved with Waypoint?
A: I have been a part of Waypoint for 10 and a half years. I absolutely love it. Waypoint is a huge part of my life and my family.
Q: What has Waypoint meant to you?
A: Waypoint has opened my eyes and shown me different aspects of myself that I hadn’t really noticed were there yet.
Q: What kind of aspects of yourself have you noticed?
A: As I was and still am navigating through life, sometimes I’ll say “You’re in a jam. What are you going to do?” And instead of staying down, I’m going to find a way out… Instead of saying, “No I can’t do this.” I think it comes down to dedication and perseverance.
Even though I may be having a hard time this year, I can say “I got this.” For me, it’s about pushing past perceived boundaries. I’ve been on two backpacking trips with Waypoint now. The first one showed what kind of strength I had. The second, [this recent one with the LITs], showed me how to communicate with people in certain situations. It’s all about community and connecting with one another.
Q: I heard on this recent backpacking trip with the LITs that you participated in a rock-throwing activity where you threw a rock into the river to figuratively leave something behind. Can you tell me more about that and what that meant to you?
A: That activity really put things in perspective for me. I told myself, “Kamisha, get out of your head. Stop and be thankful for the now. Be appreciative. Don’t worry about what’s happening later on. Focus on what’s around you.”
Usually when I’m home and back to reality, I have to go 110 miles an hour. I have to put my brain on work-mode. This trip reminded me to do self-care and take time to figure out what I want to do. How to reflect, be yourself, feel free.
Q: What sort of goals are you working on in your current stage of life?
A: I’m focusing on being more independent. I have relied on people for 29 years of my life. Trying to get away from that is hard – especially when you have loving parents like mine. I’m learning now to work on being heard and not being shut down. And that I don’t have to say yes to everything.
Kamisha’s story is one of many who are experiencing growth and freedom through adventure programming. Through access, community, and preparation from our team, Waypoint Adventure is freeing what’s possible. Volunteer, Donate, or Participate today!
00JULIA SPRUANCEhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngJULIA SPRUANCE2023-12-01 10:48:552023-12-01 10:48:55An Interview with Kamisha
On November 10th, 2022, families, friends, volunteers, and donors gathered at M&T Bank headquarters in downtown Boston for the special graduation ceremony of 8 young adults from the Waypoint Adventure Leaders-In-Training program. Program Coordinator, Carly Steinauer, led the evening with speeches, memories, and personal awards for each LIT. The joy and pride in the room was palpable – tears were shed and parents requested copies of the speeches afterwards. It was an incredible night!
We are so proud of each and every graduate: Brenna, Joshua, Paul, Brendan, Rachel, Ruby, Will, and Otto. You’re LIT Alumni now and forever!
A huge shout out to the LIT Captains who volunteered on most/all of the programs to help see this group through to the end of the series. Thank you Paul, Malika, Haley, Jill, Will, Tate, and Sofia!
Check out this video of the LIT 2022 Series and pictures of Graduation below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzn15T9T6QI&t=61s
00JULIA SPRUANCEhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngJULIA SPRUANCE2022-11-22 10:46:272022-11-22 10:46:27Leaders-In-Training is BACK!
It’s the third year of the Waypoint Adventure Leaders-In-Training program. Young adults with disabilities are engaging again in 2019 with real-life challenges within a supportive environment and learning goal-setting and attainment skills. This is an ENERGETIC crew and we’ve loved watching them grow already. These young leaders are going to be contributing members of their communities!
The High Ropes Course started it all off in May. Each LIT had to decide how high they wanted to swing on the Giant Swing and rose to the challenge. All while their teammates pulled them up! Everyone started meaningful friendships off on the right foot through a shared experience together.
In June, we hit the trails of Ward Reservation in Andover practicing navigation and learning water-purification skills to prepare for the September backpacking trip. We started Life Stories too, where a few people in the group share their Life Story over lunch and we take turns over the course of the series. At the end of each Life Story, we have a call and response. Group: “We hear you”; Story Teller: “I am heard”; Story Teller: “Do you accept me?”; Group: “You Belong Here!”
In July at Harold Parker State Forest, we actually had to move our adventure up a few hours and cut it short due to the 100 degree heat advisory! What a hot July! But this crew toughed it out, learned all about kayaking in small groups and then had to share what they had learned with the big group and/or their paddle partner. This brought out real-life scenarios of needing each other. And on top of that, everyone was given the challenge of attempting the wet exit! With the hot day, several people took that challenge and flipped their boat over and then did a on-the-water re-entry!
In August, the LITs REALLY had to put their leadership to the test when young kids from the community came to learn kayaking from them! We did a quick refresher in the morning and then after lunch, everyone had a job to do or a skill to teach. Once everyone was ready on land, we all went for a paddle on the Charles River in Waltham with the kids in the tandem kayaks.
In September, we had our big backpacking trip in the White Mountains. This is no ordinary camping trip! Everyone comes to a Pre-Trip Meeting to go over the packing list and what to expect and then Saturday morning, bright and early, everyone arrives and gets a BIG backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and has to take group gear and tent pieces and fit it all in their bag. We drove up to Lincoln Woods in Lincoln, NH near Loon Mountain and hiked back to the Franconia Brook tentsites to set up camp, getting caught in a brief rain shower right at the end. We cooked dinner on camp stoves, purified water from the river, told the remaining Life Stories and slept in tents. It was the first of this type of experience for many in the group! We ended with a “solo” journaling time by the river the next morning and then hiked out and drove home. What a bonding experience for everyone!
And to end it all in October, we heard from 3 adults in the community with disabilities through a panel discussion talking about what life has been like for them as they’ve worked through the in’s and out’s of transitioning into adulthood. These 3 people, Kamisha Heriveaux, Melissa Bradley, and Zach Trickett have a lot of experience when it comes to navigating employment, living situations, social situations and friendships and had good advice to share with our LITs. Parents and siblings came too and afterwards, everyone got a chance to take on one last challenge and go rock climbing at Central Rock Gym in Watertown! One of the LITs, Harry, has some extensive rock climbing experience so he got to lead the group in learning some basics about equipment and how to use it correctly to keep you safe.
Our annual Inclusive Adventure Club (IAC) backpacking trip was one of the best IAC programs to date. Our vision for this club is that all people regardless of ability have the opportunity to share in the costs and rewards of the experience. We recognize that the thrill of backpacking can be even more rewarding when done alongside a diverse community! So…
On September 21st, 15 adults and their packs filled with food, sleeping bags, tents, and the like, journeyed up to the White Mountains for a beautiful weekend of fall backpacking. The specific destination: Franconia Brook Campsite. S’more-making; star-gazing; bowl-licking; weird wraps (peanut butter, cheese, pepperoni, hummus, and Doritos); and games around the fire were just some of the many highlights that made for a magical trip.
Several people by the end of the weekend said that this trip made their year. It is rare when a large, new group of people can come together and work so effortlessly. Genuine adventure allows that to happen!
If you are interested in backpacking or in other inclusive adventure club adventures, please check out our IAC 2019 Flyer and sign up!
Filled with anticipation and excitement, the group of 9 set out for the Highland Center in legendary Crawford Notch, NH. For some, it was another chance to summit Mt. Willard. For others, it was their first experience being up in the White Mountains in winter and hiking there with new friends.
The theme for this year was this: It Matters. Throughout the weekend, group members were given the challenge of reflecting on the decisions that they made and interactions that they had with each other to determine why they matter.
On the final night together, everyone shared their favorite moments from the trip. Some things that were said were: “This was the most challenging hike I have ever done, but I feel so proud of myself for doing it!”, “I needed this. This empowered me to get out into the world.”, and “This was excellent! (coming from a participant who uses limited speech)”.
After each person shared their favorite moment, they were given a cutout piece of the map from the trail they had just hiked. With a sharpie, each person wrote their favorite part on the back of this piece and had to figure out how their pieces came together to form the whole map. Without all the pieces, the map would have been incomplete. By the end, everyone realized that all the small things can make a huge difference in our lives. They Matter.
While the summit of Mt. Willard was truly a magical and special place, the weekend was made complete through the difficult journey up and down the mountain, eating way too much food, and hanging out with quality people in the lodge (not to mention the endless games of corn hole and ping-pong to boot!). Mt. Willard was just the icing on the cake.
But don’t take our word for it! Below are some pictures from the weekend.
Lodge Life:
Hike:
We are so grateful to have such a welcoming and loving community of people come out with us every year. 2019 was a very special year and we hope to continue the tradition in 2020. Thank you to AMC YOP for extra gear and the reservation at the Highland Center, Peter Fuller Vans (shout out to Jim Cubeta!) for the van and everyone else who made this all possible.
Our Inclusive Adventure Club kicked off this 2018 and it’s been an awesome year for this pioneer series! Our vision for these adventures is that all people regardless of ability would have the opportunity to share in the costs and rewards of challenging experiences together. We recognize that the thrill and fun of rock climbing or hiking or paddling can be even more rewarding when done alongside a diverse community!
Two kayaking programs kicked off the series this summer. The second one being the WETTEST Waypoint Adventure of all time! What a day! Then in September, 8 adults packed in food, stoves, tents, and gear to the remote Sawyer Pond in the White Mountains for an overnight backpacking experience. One woman said, it was the weekend that changed her life! And we capped off the series this fall with some Indoor and Outdoor Rock Climbing. Check out pictures of our adventures and sign up to join Inclusive Adventure Club 2019! We’ve got some awesome trips planned!
Kayaking at Lake Cochituate in Wayland, MA
Kayaking at Malibu Beach in Dorchester, MA
Backpacking in the White Mountains, NH
Indoor Rock Climbing at Central Rock Gym in Watertown, MA
Indoor Climbing again (due to rain) at Central Rock Gym, Watertown
00waypointhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngwaypoint2018-11-27 19:14:552018-11-27 19:14:55Inclusive Adventure Club 2018
We are committed to understand the impact of Waypoint programs on the lives of people with disabilities and their communities. Thanks to a collaboration with the Social Innovation Forum, Public Service Economics, and Boston University’s Occupational Therapy Department, we released an impact report that includes feedback from participants, parents and teachers/caregivers.
Want a quick snapshot? Keep reading…
Waypoint PARTICIPANTS were asked to fill out a post program evaluation that looked at four key outcome areas which research has shown as deficits in the lives of people with disabilities. Following a Waypoint program, participants report…
At the end of the evaluation we ask a few open ended questions about what participants valued, advice they would give others, and what they would change. Some of their responses include:
When we askedTEACHERSto report back on their perspective of Waypoint’s impact they continually tell us things like:
PARENTS are a crucial part of the feedback we seek in determining impact. When weask them to report on the impact of their son or daughter’s participation in Waypoint programs and we continually hear things like…
00waypointhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngwaypoint2017-12-08 14:36:562017-12-08 14:36:562017 Program Impact Report
Have you recently done something that challenged you in a significant way, for the first time?
At the end of September a group of 11 young adults participated in an overnight backpacking trip. For most of them this was their first experience backpacking. The trip included many challenges: following a map, filtering water, cooking over a camp stove, hanging food between trees to keep it out of reach of bears and trying to stay warm under a tarp when the temperature dropped to the mid 30s overnight! The adventure marked the halfway point for this year’s Leaders In Training program, and was a significant marker for everyone involved. It would have been challenging for anyone, but especially so for those with physical, sensory and developmental disabilities.
Your support makes these opportunities possible!
After kayaking with Waypoint this summer, one young man with autism has been able to join his family on the water several more times – a new experience. His mother told us, “This showed me that we can be much more adventurous and active as a family.”
Another mother told us after watching her son and daughter kayak with Waypoint, “It was amazing to watch both of my kids enjoy the outdoors in a way I never thought possible. Our daughter was her best self today.”
After a rock climbing trip a special education teacher commented, “going rock climbing with Waypoint provided a real life example of how grit is important not only in the classroom but throughout their lives. After we returned to the classroom I found that I was able to tie the grit and determination needed to go rock climbing to grit needed to navigate academics and even peer relationships. It has become an ever present metaphor.”
YOU are positively changing the culture of classrooms and empowering families to embark on their own adventures.
We’d be enormously grateful if you’d partner with us by making a year-end gift toward our goal of $100,000. Your support will ensure that more people with disabilities will get to experience adventures in 2018 that will change and shape them in ways we can only imagine.
When Waypoint staff met this Leaders-In-Training crew for the first time in May at the Ropes Course, we looked at each other and said almost in unison, “….I can’t wait for the backpacking trip.” Five months later, this group of 11 young adults journeyed up to the White Mountains and took part in the type of experience that defines Waypoint Adventure. Immersion in the challenging and restorative power of the wilderness provides for some serious learning opportunities. We believe people discover big, important things about themselves – especially attributes of their character – during adventures, but it’s longer, challenging trips like these that let those skills really develop. Zach, Robert, Shayda, Sara F, Sara Y, Will, Adam, Ryan, Kristina, Tessa, and Chris all stepped out of their comfort zone and learned important life lesson.
It was cold! 33 degrees cold! But facing the challenges of a tough trail and a cold night strengthened our camaraderie and built confidence in each individual. If you can survive this, what other challenges can you face!? This weekend was a BIG deal for a lot of people and it was a joy to not only see these individuals “survive” but really flourish and have an awesome time coming together as friends.
On Sunday morning, each LIT participated in a 45 minute solo and reflected on this quote by Alan Watts:
“To spend a lengthy period alone in the forests or mountains, a period of coming to terms with the solitude and nonhumanity of nature is to discover who, or what, one really is – a discovery hardly possible while the community is telling you what you are, or ought to be.”
Waypoint’s version of this quote is:
“When you spend a long period of time alone in the wilderness, you are also spending time gaining a better understanding of what aloneness actually feels like – without other humans around. When you spend time alone away from other people, and the people on the other side of social media, you are also removed from their opinions or projections of reality. Only then can you discover who you really are!”
When our group came back together after solo, one LIT said “spending time alone helps you form your own opinion. It’s hard to do that sometimes when you’re constantly reading other people’s comments on Facebook.” When asked why it’s important to form your own opinion, he said “because then you can be unique and be who you are.”
These LITs are building their leadership skills, yes. They’re getting a handle on specific attributes good leaders have, sure. But the most crucial lesson they’re learning is how to be themselves – even when it’s hard – even when you have to make decisions. The very best leaders know who they are.
Each LIT participated in a one-on-one check in with a Waypoint staff on the hike down where we asked them to reflect on what attribute they knew they were good at and to decide on a personal goal for the remainder of the series. It was new to many to set a goal directly related to an attribute of their character, but the results were awesome! Can’t wait to see how these LITs will grow further!
The group gathers at Waypoint at 6am to for gear checks and final prep before loading the van. Here, we’re reiterating our goal of learning to be leaders and each LIT picked an attribute of a leader they wanted to set as their personal goal
Even before getting in the van, everyone committed to giving up their cell phone for the weekend and adopting a “Be Here Now” spirit – taking a break from technology, social media, and contact with friends/family.
A bag of cell phones – proof you can really spend a weekend without it!
The blurry, rainy view out our front windshield. The rain in Boston was a bit of a surprise and made us nervous, but once we got into NH, it stopped.
Robert and Zach standing with a life-size stuffed bear found at the Lincoln NH rest stop.
All the LITs at the trailhead suited up and ready to start hiking!
Collette, Skylar, Will, Dan, Sara Y, and Chris crossing a narrow high bridge right at the start of our hike
Zach and Robert posing in the trees – Zach with his never-far-from-reach Mad Libs notepad.
Most of our group taking a break on the trail. Several thumbs are up and smiles are broad.
Sara Y checking out a babbling stream below her from her spot on the bridge
Sara F and Adam R hiking together. Sara was a great sighted guide for Adam.
A view of our group on the narrow trail. Backpacks were huge – carrying ALL of our stuff.
Will and Robert look back at the stream they just crossed.
Chris being an excellent sighted guide for Adam R – leading him around a particularly muddy, wet section of the trail. Adam is using Chris’s backpack to guide him.
Dan, Sara Y, and Will hiking along… almost to camp!
Will, Tessa, and Robert smile at the camera. They’re excited to get to camp and put their packs down.
Robert’s knee got sore just before getting into camp. Zach and Kristina help get him the rest of the way.
With Zach and Kristina and Robert without packs, Sara F volunteers to take another! She’s wearing one on her back and one on her front.
We finally get to Sawyer Pond tent platforms and are getting warm layers on and setting up camp. The girls’ platform is here and the guys’ platform is in the background to the right. They’re setting up their tarp and will come over to the girls’ side after to help while the girls learn how to purify water, hang the bear bag, and start dinner.
Shayda and Will purifying water with a water pump and water from the pond.
Collette and Kristina cooking up some delicious rice and chicken pots!
All the LITs sit around an unlit campfire after dinner and Kristina is telling her life story. Robert is aiming his flashlight at her paper so she can see. Kristina and a few others shared their Life Story that night finishing up our goal of giving everyone a chance to share their Life Story.
It’s completely dark now and we’ve finished dinner, s’mores, and we’ve brushed our teeth. It’s time to put everything with a scent (food and toiletries) up in the bear-bag so no critters can get it! It takes a group of us but we finally haul it up out of reach.
Good morning! We think it was about 36 degrees this morning! A picture of most of the girls still sleeping at 7am under their tarp and snuggled in their sleeping bags. From Right to left (was) Julia, Sara Y, Skylar, Shayda, Kristina, Tessa, and (was) Sara F.
The sunrise coming over the distant mountains and reflecting off Sawyer Pond in the foreground.
After a 40 minute Solo time where each LIT sat alone and reflected on the importance of time spent alone, we start packing up camp. In this picture, Ryan and Shayda work together to stuff a sleeping bag back in it’s sack.
Robert pumping purified water into everyone’s Nalgenes for the hike down.
Zach, Chris, and Ryan have packs on, walking sticks in hand, and are ready to hike out.
Tessa and Kristina are bundled up and ready for the hike down.
Collette and Ryan working together to get Ryan’s pack fitting correctly.
One big group shot of 11 LITs, one PCA, and three Waypoint staff/volunteers before our Sunday morning hike back to the van.
And obviously a silly one…
Will, Sara Y, and Dan on their way out of the Sawyer Pond area amidst beautiful greenery, dark blue brook, and lighted sky with a mountain in the distance.
Adam R and Julia so close to the end – doing the final stretch without bags. Adam R is stepping over a big rock.
Will, Sara Y, Dan, Skylar, and Ryan cross the narrow bridge again to get back to the parking lot. Blue skies are behind them and stream below them. Leaves are beginning to change color.
The whole group eating lunch before loading in the van – pitas with hummus, cheddar cheese, and pepperoni.
One of our two vans all loaded up and ready to get home!
