There are over 4,000 miles of nature trails in Massachusetts state parks – yet less than 7.5 miles of natural surface woodland trails are considered accessible to people with limited mobility. That means nearly half the state – an estimated 36-49% of residents, including people with disabilities, older adults, and caregivers with young children – face unnecessary barriers to the benefits of outdoor recreation in their communities.
To change this, the Trail Access Working Group – led by the Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation – hosted the Accessible Trails Public Forum this past May. Held as part of the Trails for All initiative, the virtual event brought together people with disabilities, caregivers, advocates, and trail professionals to share their struggles and hopes for equitable access to nature.
To be clear: this isn’t about paving the woods. We value the full range of trail experiences in Massachusetts. But everyone should have access to a high-quality, welcoming outdoor experience in their own community – whether that means a quiet loop around a pond, a forest walk with a stroller, or a woodland trail that accommodates a mobility device.
Accessible trails don’t just offer recreation. They offer health, independence, belonging, and joy – especially for the nearly half of Massachusetts residents who benefit from accessible design.
Massachusetts has the chance to lead – to affirm that nature belongs to everyone, and no one should be left out because of how a trail is built. Join us on our hike on Sep 26th and let’s pass the Trails for All Act – making the outdoors truly open to all.
https://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Trails-for-All-Launch-Photos-110624_web_rez-5798.jpg11111670Jacobhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngJacob2025-09-09 17:21:582025-09-09 18:07:29Waypoint Adventure Co-Hosts “Trails for All” Hike
This January, we invited our supporters to gather ’round the fire so-to-speak and hear from Directors, Dan and Adam, directly on Waypoint Adventure MA and NC updates, stories, news, and things we’re looking forward to in the future.
Some highlights:
Paul, a wheelchair user in NC, got to experience the freedom of full-control while hiking for the first time. Stories of discovering freedom and opportunity are happening all the time!
Memories from our first year in 2010: trying to file for 501c(3) status, borrowing Annie Combs’ minivan and denting it, launching our Education Program in Boston Public Schools.
Supporters still with us: Jim Cubeta still donating rental vans for transporting participants.
Launched NC branch in 2023. The next year, ran 38 programs and served 213 participants. Big partners include NC State Parks, Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Parkway. Just received $270,000 from Dogwood Health Trust to start Leaders-In-Training program and Waypoint Education Program.
MA branch up to 14 staff, 300+ programs, 2000+ participants served last year.
MA branch – waiting list for many programs, Cross Country ski season filled up before first program.
Serving more people with Spinal Cord Injuries, doing more cycling.
You can get involved by sharing Waypoint’s story! Participate in MA or NC, Volunteer in MA or NC, or Donate!
2025 is going to be a big year and we hope you join us for the adventure. Thank you to all 75+ of you who attended and participated in the Q and A.
On December 3rd, 2024, we’re recognizing International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a day to raise awareness and understanding about disability and the . The following are statistics from the UN website:
An estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disability. This represents 16% of the world’s population, or 1 in 6 of us.
Some persons with disabilities die up to 20 years earlier than those without disabilities.
Persons with disabilities have twice the risk of developing conditions such as depression, asthma, diabetes, stroke, obesity or poor oral health.
Health inequities arise from unfair conditions faced by persons with disabilities, including stigma, discrimination, poverty, exclusion from education and employment, and barriers faced in the health system itself.
Organizations around the world are hard at work to change stigma and build systems that support inclusion. We’d like to shine the spotlight on three that we love.
1. Kupenda for the Children
Kupenda works primarily in East Africa to transform harmful beliefs surrounding disability to those that improve children’s lives. In certain parts of the world including Kilifi county, people impacted by disability are viewed as cursed leading to their neglect, abandonment, abuse, rape, and murder. Kupenda combats this stigma through awareness-raising events, education, and trainings for local leaders. In 2016, Waypoint Adventure staff partnered on Kupenda’s journey to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with three teens with disabilities to prove to their communities what they were capable of. Check out info about the documentary here.
2. Inclusive Trails
Inclusive Trails founder Travis Saunders has been a long-time advocate for improved services and inclusion for autistic Australians. Saunders and his son visited Waypoint Adventure in MA in 2024 as part of a Churchill Fellowship to investigate models of support that enable autistic people to access and enjoy bushwalking. Their goal is to deliver the most inclusive and accessible outdoor recreation programs and adventures in the world for neurodivergent adults.
3. ROMP
Range of Motion Project‘s mission is to ensure access to high-quality prosthetic care for under-served people, improving their mobility and independence. In the past 10 years, ROMP’s 300+ mountain climbing expeditions around the world have raised impressive funds to provide prosthetic care to those in need in Guatemala, Ecuador, and the US. Friend of Waypoint, Luis Benitez, has guided some of their expeditions!
https://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/bigger.jpeg375750JULIA SPRUANCEhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngJULIA SPRUANCE2024-12-03 08:58:342024-12-03 08:58:34International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Have you ever wanted to test out gear to see if it fits your needs? Have you ever wondered what the best off-road wheelchair or adaptive bike setup works for you?
Waypoint Adventure North Carolina’s Launch Party was a remarkable celebration of community, inclusion, and the spirit of adventure. Over 140 people braved the winter weather to celebrate the expansion of Waypoint’s accessible adventure programming into Western North Carolina.
The event took place in Black Mountain, NC thanks to the support of the WNC Outdoor Collective.
It was a cold night, but the warmth of a strong community made this milestone moment one for the books. It was inspiring to witness the enthusiasm of the people who came to support this mission to empower people with disabilities and make our community more accessible, through outdoor adventure programming.
A highlight of the evening was a surprise announcement about a significant donation from the Jack Tarver Family Foundation toward the successful launch of Waypoint Adventure North Carolina.
On top of that, our friends at Eurosport Asheville joined this initiative with an additional and amazing gift!
Because of these key supporters, the support of the WNC Outdoor Collective, and several individual donations, the event raised just under $16,000!
As we reflect on the success of the North Carolina Launch Party, we extend our gratitude to everyone involved—participants, supporters, volunteers, and partners. Your dedication and support are the driving force behind making these adventures possible.
We look forward to embarking on this new chapter, knowing that the path ahead is paved with the support of a strong and caring community. Thank you for being an integral part of this journey towards inclusion and adventure!
Warm regards,
The Waypoint Adventure NC Team!
00JULIA SPRUANCEhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngJULIA SPRUANCE2023-12-08 11:16:022023-12-08 11:16:02Celebrating Inclusion and Adventure: Waypoint Adventure North Carolina Launch Party Recap
Have you ever wanted to test out gear to see if it fits your needs? Have you ever wondered what the best off-road wheelchair or adaptive bike setup works for you?
Join us on Saturday, October 14th at Waypoint Headquarters for our “Waypoint on Wheels” Expo in collaboration with Grit and sponsored by Rodman For Kids. You’ll experience a customized session just for you and try out different adaptive gear. From electric, to self-propel, to full assist, we have an off-road wheelchair, hand-cycle, or tandem bike/trike to fit your desire for adventure!
Look through the mobility devices below. When you register for a session, you will complete the Medical Form, then after checking out, you will be asked to complete a Follow Up Form, called “Gear Day Preferences.” In that Follow Up Form, please indicate what devices you are most interested in trying, and we will make sure there are not too many others in your session that also want to try that. To add your answers to the form, press “Edit” in the top right corner, and then “Submit” when you are finished.
*Please read directions above to make sure there are not too many others in your session who also want to try what you want.
Off-Road Wheelchairs
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GRIT Freedom Chair and Freedom Chair Junior
The Freedom Chair by GoGrit is a simple design, 3-wheeled wheelchair with hand-crank propulsion and braking. The handlebars behind the riders head make it easy to push from behind. We also have a Freedom Chair junior for youth riders!
The Trail Rider is one of our two most supportive off-road wheelchairs. It is a full-assist device – meaning the rider maintains their posture while a person pulls from the front and pushes from the back. This chair has arm rests, foot rests, and only one wheel to create a smooth ride and the ability to go up and over anything. This chair has climbed Kilimanjaro!
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Hippocampe
The Hippocampe wheelchair was originally built as a beach wheelchair with big wheels for the sand and the ability to float. However, we love it for it’s reclined comfortable seat with headrest and that it’s lightweight for someone to push. It’s not easy to self-propel, but it is possible. Mainly used as a push/pull chair.
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Hoyt Racing Chair
Built by the Hoyt Racing Chair company and inspired by the Rick and Dick Hoyt team, this chair is built for comfort, stability, and ease of pushing. It has mountain bike all-terrain tires as well as road tires. The front wheel can also come off and the whole chair can be hooked up to the back of a bicycle.
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Terratrek
The Terratrek is a rugged, all-terrain manual wheelchair built to withstand the trail. This chair comes in two different footrest options to accommodate the most comfortable or natural position of a rider’s feet/legs and it comes in two different seat-width options. It accepts a seat cushion and has sturdy tires. This chair is ideal for the user that is able and willing to self-propel.
Mountain Trike
The Mountain Trike Chair is all-terrain, rugged, self-propulsion, and self-steering. It has the option of direct steering with only one arm. It has excellent control for smooth turns and is easy to ride across slopes. The hydraulic disc brake system gives you great control and braking in all weather. The seat tilt is more conducive to racing-chair style and is not adjustable.
Trionic Veloped Off Road Walker
The Trionic Veloped Walker is the only truly off-road walker on the market. With its patented climbing wheel, the Veloped can negotiate even tougher terrain as the three-wheel design is more off-road capable than any 4 wheel walker.
Cycling: Tandem Bikes, Trikes, and Hand-Cycles
Hase Recumbent Hand Cycle
This hand-cycle recumbent trike is also new to Waypoint. Made by Hase. The two Hase devices connect to each other for a tandem experience.
Hase Recumbent Trike
This foot pedal recumbent trike is for a single rider. It’s new to Waypoint! Try it out! Made by Hase. The two Hase devices connect to each other for a tandem experience.
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Tandem Bicycles
We have a wide array of tandem bikes of different heights and lengths. Our Tandem Cycling program is popular. We’re always looking for more Captains to steer and command the front of the bike! These bikes are for people with full balance and trunk strength.
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Recumbent Tandem Bikes
We have two different styles of recumbent tandem bike with different levels of support.
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Tandem Trike
Our tandem trike offers the extra stability of a third wheel and the ability to have two pedalers – either on separate chains or connected to the same chain
00JULIA SPRUANCEhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngJULIA SPRUANCE2023-09-07 10:30:572023-09-07 10:30:57Waypoint on Wheels 2023
Two childhood friends are back to run the same race they used to run as kids. But this time, as a team. Drew Smith and Luke DiLillo will be participating in the 2023 Falmouth Road Race on August 20th in the wheelchair duo division.
Drew Smith was diagnosed with Acanthocytosis Chorea, a rare neurodegenerative disease, 10 years ago. According to Luke, despite the set backs, and challenges, Drew perseveres and is an inspiration for those who support him. They are looking forward to raising awareness about Acanthocytosis Chorea and are running to support Waypoint Adventure.
Drew and Luke will be using the Hoyt Running Chair seen below. Cheer them on as they get ready for August 20th!
Read more about Drew’s story at his blog, Living Rare, here.
On April 27th, 2023, Pete Quinn spoke about why adventure should be accessible to everyone. Hear his powerful words! (Or read them below).
Intro: Pete Quinn grew up in an active family as the youngest of 5 children. He was on skis at age 2, and his childhood days were filled with a variety of family adventures, from skiing to tennis to family softball and football, skating on ponds and the occasional scuffle with his older brother as they fouled each other in their 1 on 1 basketball face-offs.
Pete went on to be a dual sport athlete at UNH (skiing and tennis), after which he taught Math and coached at a ski racing academy in New Hampshire. Pete eventually returned to UNH for graduate school and pursued a professional career with a handful of consulting firms in the areas of business development and corporate strategy. Weekends were spent coaching ski racing in winter and bike racing in summer. Pete eventually worked as an independent consultant, allowing him to spend more time raising his 3 children.
Outdoor adventure has always been a critical part of Pete’s life—a key piece of his identity, his DNA. It is one of the places that is “home” to his soul. So, when a disease that progressively attacks the body showed up on his doorstep in 2015 and began taking away his ability to move– a new, often dark, chapter of his life began…”
Pete has Primary Lateral Sclerosis, a very rare, progressive neurological disease that mimics ALS and Parkinson’s Disease, yet with an unknown trajectory. We’ve asked him to speak about “why making adventures accessible to everyone is important”
Freedom & Equality…
Freedom…& Equality…
Are two rights I’ve taken for granted most of my whole life… For most of my 62 years. Sixty two!
That all changed one day in December of 2015. That day when I got the very first symptom of my disease – very, very small. I remember the day well. I remember where I was and exactly what I was doing. I remember the solitary nature of that moment….perhaps FORESHADOWING the road ahead of me.
Over the next several years, the disease progressed. The most obvious signs are physical, … I became unable to do many of the things that give me joy, the things that fill my soul, the things that fuel a fire within me– I couldn’t ride my bike, I couldn’t ski, I couldn’t kick the soccer ball around with my son, Luke, or my daughters Kara & Alexa…I couldn’t exercise with my beloved kettlebells!…Today, I struggle to walk with my walker. I KNOW THERE IS MORE AHEAD…
There were other changes. Not only was the disease stripping me of the things I love to do, the things that gave me joy… But, my phone stopped ringing; people began to avoid me; It was harder to go to places where people gathered. I began to feel like a like a prisoner; my world was closing in…I suddenly found myself ISOLATED, ALONE, and LONELY.
I had become disabled before my very eyes. The words “CAN NOT” invaded my world…I cannot do this, I cannot do that. Every day was something new.
What I needed to hear was “Yes you can, Bro!” Yes you will. You will ride a bike again. Maybe not the same bike you rode before. You will ski again! Maybe not standing up, but you will ski.
Waypoint says, “Yes, you can!” Waypoint says, “Yes, you will!”
I carried on… Those years were hard… But I also learned something very quickly. I learned that every day I need to smile. Every day, I need to laugh. But I don’t have great days every day. In fact, I have bad days. I don’t always want to smile. I know, hard to believe! I don’t always have the boisterous laugh that some of you may have heard. That my friends refer to as my OBNOXIOUS laugh. In a loving way, of course.
It’s true, I have bad days. I have dark days. Dark days when I feel trapped like a caged animal. I feel like I’m ALIVE BUT NOT LIVING—like I’m just existing; just taking up SPACE…like my existence DOESN’T MATTER…I have no purpose. Like I’m on the sidelines of life without ANY chance of every getting into the game again.
BUT ON MY BEST DAYS, I feel like…like I did on October 12, 2022… when I went on a bike ride with Waypoint.
There’s the magic. The Waypoint magic. I’ll tell you exactly what that felt like:
I felt ALIVE and like I was LIVING
I felt JOY
I felt CARED FOR
I felt SUPPORTED
I felt PASSION
I felt FIRE
I felt HOPE
I felt…FREE
I felt…EQUAL
I felt COMMUNITY!
That’s Waypoint right there. Those are the gifts that Waypoint is giving to the Disabled.
In-fact, those are the gifts that ALL OF YOU are giving to the Disabled. Whether you give money, or whether you volunteer your time and effort… or whether you lend emotional and moral support. These are the gifts you are giving. You are breathing the life into the souls of the Disabled. I REPEAT, you are BREATHING THE LIFE INTO THE SOULS OF THE DISABLED.
I can think of NO more worthy cause …THANK YOU.
Check out pictures from the night…
If you didn’t get a chance to come to the event, but would like to make a donation, thank you! Click below.
00JULIA SPRUANCEhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngJULIA SPRUANCE2023-05-02 14:38:032023-05-02 14:38:03Freedom and Equality – Why making adventure accessible to EVERYONE is important
Due to caronavirus concerns, we have canceled our April 2nd Annual Fundraiser.We will be releasing virtual alternatives that will still celebrate our 10-year anniversary, bid farewell to Co-Founder Adam Combs, and raise important funds. We will be sharing video messages from three members of the community that were selected as event speakers in the coming weeks to explain why Waypoint creates opportunities that allow growth for life.
I’m sure you can imagine this is a difficult reality, especially given that this is our biggest fundraiser throughout the year, bringing in 35% of our annual individual giving. The average attendee of the spring fundraiser gives between $200 and $750. With initial projections expected to raise $80,000 and $20,000 lost in program revenue so far, we need your contributions toward raising 100K. If you feel led to generosity during this trying time, please help Waypoint continue into the next decade!
These friends of Waypoint had committed to inviting their friends and co-hosting this event. They’ve committed to giving their typical donation and we’re so grateful. Thank you to…
Cherise and Bobby Bransfield, Sarah Perry and Tony Kingsley, Sandy and John Gillis, Dubs and Rob Dickey, Laura and Rick Malnight, Liza and Chris Mills, Suzanne and Stephen Erwin, Stephanie and David Javaheri, Stephanie and Dan Allred, Eunice Groark and Kevin Clark.
Thank you to our event sponsors! Each and every one of the sponsors below committed to leaving their donation in place despite the canceled event. We’re honored and thankful for your support.
00waypointhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngwaypoint2020-02-14 14:36:142020-02-14 14:36:14GROWTH FOR LIFE
Rock climbing, team building, beer, networking and raising money for a great organization!
Rally a team of coworkers (no prior climbing experience needed) and earn bragging rights as you compete against other local companies. Prizes awarded for the number of climbs completed, most money raised, and other fun competitions.
Post climb, party with us at Mighty Squirrel brewery next door for a celebration, networking, and winner gloating. Don’t worry, everyone wins, as each competitor will receive one ticket for a free brew!
All of your support makes transformational adventure programs accessible for people with disabilities!
WHEN? Thursday, March 5, 2020 | Climbing: 4:00 – 6:00 | After Party: 6:00 – 7:00
WHERE? Central Rock Gym, 411 Waverly Oaks Rd. Suite 105, Waltham, MA 02452
HOW MANY PEOPLE MAKE UP A TEAM? Teams can be made up of 4-10 individual climbers.
WHAT IF I’VE NEVER CLIMBED BEFORE? No problem! All skill-levels are welcome. We’ll have the necessary equipment as well as staff and volunteers to make sure you learn how to climb and get to the top of as many climbs as you want.
WHAT ABOUT THE “FUNDRAISING” PART? We are asking every climber to raise a minimum of $100 to support Waypoint Adventure transformational adventure-programs. We’ll even provide you with plenty of materials and videos that you can send to family and friends to raise support for your team. People in the past have raised funds on social media, GoFundMe, or sent physical letters to family/friends.
DOES YOUR COMPANY WANT TO SPONSOR? “Anchor Teams” buy in at $1000 and get your companies logo on marketing materials and post event updates.
