Andrea (photo: right) was a graduate student at Bentley University when she found Waypoint Adventure through volunteer postings on BostonCares.com. With a background working with people with disabilities and a love of all things athletic and challenging, she saw Waypoint as the perfect fit for her volunteerism. For Waypoint up to this point, she’s volunteered on 17 programs so far in 2025 including a Leaders-In-Training Alumni overnight program!
When we asked Andrea what keeps her coming back, she said she loves the troubleshooting—The challenge of delivering information in an engaging and meaningful way to new individuals every time. Whether its rock climbing, skiing, snowshoeing, or backpacking, “it’s so applicable to life!” she says. Doing something challenging as a group alongside people with different ways of communicating and processing requires thinking on the fly —Connecting relationally, authentically, and being open to new experiences.
Andrea recently graduated from Bentley with an MS in Human Factors in Information Design. (Congrats Andrea!) Her work and studies are centered around optimizing the design of technology to fit every user. So at Waypoint, Andrea fits right in. She’s brought so much to our team as she helps us think through the user-experience—How creative adaptations and intentional set up impact learning outcomes.
Thank you, Andrea, for your dedication to the Waypoint team, participants, and mission. We’re excited to see where your passions take you!
https://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/andrea-scaled.jpg11161920Jacobhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngJacob2025-08-20 16:11:542025-08-20 16:12:10Volunteer Highlight: Andrea Jacobs
https://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Photo-Sep-17-2024-5-35-22-PM-scaled.jpg15691920JULIA SPRUANCEhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngJULIA SPRUANCE2024-12-22 21:40:302024-12-27 10:00:22Perspective of a First-Time Volunteer
Earlier this week, we gathered at Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co. in Waltham to toast to our incredible volunteers. It was a night full of belly laughs, big cheers, and plenty of high-fives as we celebrated the heart and soul of Waypoint. And leading the pack? Drumroll, please…our Volunteer of the Year 2024, Kevin Hegarty!
From being named Rookie Volunteer of the Year to earning the title of Volunteer of the Year, Kevin’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Kevin didn’t just show up this year; he showed out! Clocking in over 146 hours across 31 programs, Kevin brought his A-game, big heart, and endless energy to every Waypoint Adventure program. Whether he was belaying at Central Rock Gym Stoneham (more than seven times!), paddling a canoe at Harold Parker State Forest, or captaining a tandem bike at the Rodman Ride for Kids, Kevin was always there, making magic happen.
Check out Kevin’s 2024 Waypoint Adventure map below—it’s a journey worth celebrating!
Here’s a snapshot of the Kevin’s volunteer stats:
Hit the water for 5 paddling adventures
Belayed at CRG 10 times
Took on outdoor rock climbing 4 times
Captained a tandem bike for 5 rides
Explored trails on 3 exciting hikes
“We’re thrilled to honor Kevin as our Volunteer of the Year! His incredible dedication and hard work have been essential in making our programs run smoothly. Kevin’s commitment and passion have facilitated a lot of smiles this year (including Jim pictured below!). Thank you, Kevin!”
– Steve Robinson, Waypoint Adventure Program Director
Scroll through below for some photo highlights from the evening and a big thank-you to all our amazing volunteers! Thank you for believing in the power of adventure and helping us free what’s possible. Cheers to our Volunteer Team that helps create growth moments, lasting connections, and memories that keep us all coming back for more! Keep being awesome, and we’ll see you on the next adventure!
https://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/5D58E97A-6B5A-46F9-BF27-7673B6D15E68-scaled-e1733257164376.jpg414837Nikki Lairdhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngNikki Laird2024-12-06 07:06:592024-12-06 07:51:21Kevin Hegarty: From Rookie to Volunteer of the Year 2024
Volunteers typically arrive an hour before the program start time to help set up and learn about the participants joining us for that day and what supports they may need to have a successful experience.
Set up could include things like unloading kayak trailer, setting up materials for a game, preparing name tags, setting out gear, etc.
If applicable to the program, we’ll teach how to use any needed adaptive equipment like off-road wheelchairs, and give volunteers some time to practice.
If applicable to the program (like tandem kayaking), we like to pair volunteers with participants ahead of time. We’ll give you information on how you can best support the participant we’ve paired you with and have time to allow for questions.
A typical group program might run from 10 AM – 1 PM and follow this general schedule:
Opening circle (introductions, review the schedule for the day)
Play a game
Goal talk (we often have a theme or goal we are working on that ties into the activity, like teamwork, community, perseverance, etc)
Start hiking (or whatever the activity is)
Stop along the trail for lunch
Hike back
Closing circle (time to reflect on the day’s experience)
After participants leave, we typically ask volunteers to stick around for another 30 min – 1 hour depending on the program to help us clean up and do a volunteer debrief…(what went well, what was challenging, improvements for next time, etc).
Become a Waypoint Adventure Volunteer, and join us on an adventure!
https://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/3.jpeg7631800Nikki Lairdhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngNikki Laird2024-05-23 09:11:052024-06-21 09:32:48What does a typical program day look like for a volunteer?
It has been an INCREDIBLE year of volunteering so far! Our Volunteer Appreciation Night is held at the end of every summer and these four individuals won some pretty prestigious awards. Volunteer Coordinator, Carly Steinauer, gave the following speeches:
Volunteer of the Year – Chao Xie!
“Each year, Waypoint Adventure honors a special volunteer who has gone above and beyond all others. This is a very special award that our staff takes very seriously and with a lot of consideration. We truly could not do what we do without support from our volunteers who care about creating more accessible and inclusive spaces! Our recipient this year is newer to our Waypoint community, and has truly dove into the Waypoint waters with enthusiasm. This person has tried just about every single Waypoint program type, even the ones that are not their typical preferred recreation. They have taken every opportunity on programs to learn about how we make our programs accessible, so that they can in turn create more accessible experiences in their personal life and work. They create a warm, energetic, and fun environment for participants, caregivers, fellow volunteers, and staff. With a WHOPPING 19 programs this year, the 2023 Waypoint volunteer of the year is Chao Xie!”
Hall of Fame Inductee – Deb Laufer
“Our volunteer of the year award is a tradition that has dated back to 2013, through people donating their time, knowledge, and passion to Waypoint programs dates back to before Waypoint truly existed. Our next honoree has been adventuring with us for well over a decade. Whether she’s riding her bike 25 miles to volunteer on a program, partnering with us to provide expert instruction on adaptive Nordic skiing, or going above and beyond to provide access for Waypoint participants to enjoy the Charles River in a Paddle Boston boat… Deb Laufer has been a consistent champion of inclusive adventure. When I asked our ED/ Co-Founder Dan Minnich how long Deb has been a Waypoint volunteer, he said pre-2010 (Waypoint’s founding year), but he wasn’t entirely sure- just that he couldn’t remember a time WITHOUT Deb Laufer. Deb is the kind of person who will spend all day with you on an adaptive ski program, and finally mention at the END of the day that she actually got ran over by a car on her bike that very morning. She’s the type of person who grabs TWO open cockpit soleras (aka the Cadillac boats) to haul up to the trailer in one go. While she is consistently in our most frequent volunteers each year, she has somehow avoided an official award and embarrassing display of gratitude… We are very excited to officially induct Deb Laufer into the Waypoint Hall of Fame!”
S.K.I. Award – Susan Roe
“This person braved the winter cold and snow the MOST this winter as a volunteer on our Winter Adventures at Weston Ski track programs. Though this season they perhaps saw more slush than actual snow, this volunteer brought sunshine to our participants’ lives even on the cloudiest of winter days. The Super Kool Individual award (or S.K.I) goes to Susan Roe!”
Rookie of the Year – Kevin Hegarty
This person spent lots of time on Walden Pond with us this summer… and the Charles river, and the Mystic, and the harbor, etc. He paddled with our youngest participants, our oldest participants, our fastest paddlers, and our slowest paddlers- a diverse range of people who all who have one thing in common: they loved their time on the water with Kevin. The Keel as a Kukumber award for most summer kayaking programs and our new Rookie of the Year goes to Kevin Hegarty!
Thank you to our team of volunteers who supported access and inclusion all year. You make it possible! A special shoutout to several individuals who came on 10+ programs this year:
Long-time volunteers Paige and Kyle just opened their own fitness center in Wakefield, MA called Omni Gym and have committed to making it open, accessible, and inclusive to people of all abilities – they say – thanks to their involvement with Waypoint!
Paige and Kyle starting volunteering in 2018 and quickly fell in love – both with Waypoint and with each other. (Yes, their relationship actually started around the same time as they started volunteering). They joined our Leaders-In-Training program as Captains – meaning they volunteered with the LIT cohort throughout their year-long series – and were hooked! As fitness instructors, they both loved pushing people of various abilities to their maximum potential and seeing them reach goals.
Omni Gym (Omni meaning “everyone”) is currently training athletes with disabilities and Paige and Kyle attribute 100% of their focus on inclusion to their involvement with Waypoint. How awesome to see the ripple effect of inclusion on the community! Thanks to the volunteer experience, now a gym in Wakefield is staffed with trained and experienced leaders who feel equipped to include people with disabilities in their programming!
Go check out Omni Gym on their social channels (links below) and sign up to train with them! They’re currently taking clients for personal training and group classes and they are specifically trained in ASD fitness through Eric Chessen’s Autism Fitness Certification in Natick.
And we wish them the VERY best for their upcoming WEDDING in June! We love you Paige and Kyle!
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!
Looking for a fun afternoon of camaraderie, competition, exercise, and the opportunity to raise awareness and funds for Waypoint Adventure? COME BE A PART! Check out pictures from last year!
WHEN? Saturday, October 26, 2019 from 1-4pm
WHERE? Central Rock Gym, 74 Acton St, Watertown MA 02472
WHAT IS IT? An opportunity to gather a group of friends to go indoor rock climbing AND raise awareness and revenue for Waypoint Adventure.
HOW MANY PEOPLE MAKE UP A TEAM? Teams can be made up of 2-10 individual climbers.
WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE A TEAM? No worries! We will be organizing teams of individual Waypoint supporters just like you!
WHAT IF I’VE NEVER CLIMBED BEFORE? No problem! All ages and all skill-levels are welcome. We’ll have the necessary equipment and plenty of extra belayers around to make sure you 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.
CAN I VOLUNTEER TO HELP OUT WITH THE EVENT? We need 20 volunteers to help belay at the event, and 5 others to help with greeting, registration and raffle. Contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Steve, at sdastous@waypointadventure.org or 781-325-7980.
Volunteer Training this year got an upgrade. Not only did we do our typical “soft skills” session Friday night and our “hard skills” kayaking session on Saturday, like we’ve done in the past, but this year, volunteers had the option of TENT CAMPING too at Camp Chickami in Wayland! We love how this Volunteer Community is always up for a grand adventure! It was an awesome weekend full of good questions, curiosity, positive risks, and learning about adaptive strategies among a supportive community.Our session on Friday night at the Waypoint office covered Disability Awareness and Sensitivity as well as our signature “CAP Sauce.” Volunteers got to hear about the three ingredients that go into every program to give it that Waypoint flavor. We had a cookout, watched a video, and got to dive in to important topics such as inclusion, language, statistics, etiquette, and those three key things: Community, Access, and Preparation.
Then the crew camped at Camp Chickami (thanks for letting us use your site, Camp Chickami friends!) and played a thrilling game of “Waypoint survivor.” You all know this fun night was dreamed up and designed by our very own Volunteer Coordinator Extraordinaire, Steve Dastous.
Lastly, on Saturday morning, we kayaked at Wayland Town Beach. We used task analysis techniques to teach 3 basic skills, (putting on a life jacket, getting in and out of the boat, and paddling), practiced transfers, got to use adaptive set-ups for seats and paddles, and practiced a t-rescue scenario. Volunteers got the basics of adaptive kayaking and walked away with a better understanding of their role on Kayaking programs in general. We couldn’t have had a more engaging group of volunteers and more perfect day to train. Thanks also to our new Trip Leader, Kelsey Gross for leading us! Check out pictures!
Friday night at Camp Chickami playing Waypoint Survivor.
00waypointhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngwaypoint2019-06-28 13:58:392019-06-28 13:58:39Volunteer Training 2019
We see it all the time, but it never gets old: Participants and their communities surprised at what they can achieve when they accept a challenge and are given support through that challenge.
Thulasi arrived for our climbing program with Best Buddies fully expecting to just watch. Her goals were social – she would just hang out with her friends from Cotting School, her new “Buddies” from Meadowbrook School, and watch others climb. But after engaging in the group activities and feeling support from her friends the option was presented to her and she changed her mind. Girded by the support of classmates and friends, Thulasi climbed to the very top!
Thulasi’s dad choked up in our closing circle. He said “I am constantly surprised by my daughter. I never thought she would climb! But seeing her at the top was a great reminder of what she is capable of.” Thulasi pushing her limits on the rock wall changed things for her dad that day. Thulasi’s confidence certainly grew, but so did the understanding of those that love and support her.
Waypoint Adventure and Best Buddies (an organization spanning 123 different cities and 14 different countries) are teaming up in 2019 for a 3-program-series designed to provide “Buddy” pairs experiences in trust building and real life challenges. Relationships that go deep are founded on trust and vulnerability and what better way to make new friends than on a challenging adventure where support is vital! Middle School pairs of students from Meadowbrook School and Cotting School were the first in this 3-program series and the kick-off was a resounding success!
We’re thrilled to be working with students like Thulasi and organizations like Best Buddies for the opportunity to break down misconceptions of abilities and barriers to access so all can experience powerful transformation!
Thank you again as always to Central Rock Gym for the space to learn and grow!
00waypointhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngwaypoint2019-02-27 17:00:032019-02-27 17:00:03Best Buddies; A Series Built on Trust and Accomplishment
