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
The summer of “I Can” is all about discovering more. Discovering what you CAN do, what your community can do, what’s possible, and what’s fun. We’re proud to be back for another year of MA DCR Universal Access sponsored programs and are grateful to be using beautiful Walden Pond for most of them. Thank you Walden Pond State Reservation for accommodating us so wonderfully. Participants, Volunteers, and Families, you inspire us every day with your love for kayaking and appreciation for our diverse community. Check out pictures of our adventures!
July 23rd at Walden Pond with Cambridge Street Upper School
“This will be the most memorable trip of the summer!” The staff at Cambridge Public School’s summer program are calling it now. “They did so much better than I ever thought possible!”… To be honest, we were surprised too! In the pouring rain, the bus arrived and every kid got off and was ready to go! Sometimes we forget that the bigger challenges are the most rewarding. Rain probably isn’t your top pick if you could pick the weather for your kayak program, but life’s surprises and a community that’s up for an adventure together create moments to never forget. We could NOT have done it too without the stellar support of volunteers from LogMeIn. Thank you all for your love of adventure and for not being afraid of a little rain 🌧. We all discovered I CAN KAYAK IN THE RAIN!
July 23rd Open Enrollment for kids at Walden Pond
July 30th at Walden Pond with Newton North High School’s Community Connections Program
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.
July 18th was a very special day. Our kayaking program at newly renovated Magazine Beach in Cambridge had some big firsts! Several new experiences and accomplishments added up to one magical night on the water. Here’s the list.
1. Lydia paddled the back of a tandem boat with a participant in the front. This was her first time! Watch her talk about her “I Can” Moment: Lydia Paddles the Back of a Tandem Boat
2. A care-taker that came with a participant had a fear of the water. But he, too, embraced the theme of discovering what you can do and chose to paddle with us. Guess who he paddled with…. Lydia! Watch him talk about overcoming his phobia: Yinka Overcame His Phobia of the Water
3. We had a dog in a boat! This service dog was admirably obedient and brave for scooching all the way down in the cockpit of the boat seat his human was in. It was Sally’s first time kayaking as well! She learned that she doesn’t need ANY specialized equipment or kayak to go again on her own!
4. The Cambridge Police Department volunteered! Thank you Officer LeVecque for volunteering your time and bringing patches!
5. And last but not least, there’s NEVER been a bigger smile and happier-looking combo on a Waypoint program than Zach McLeod and his paddle-partner, Dave Su. Zach has the most infectious love for people and connecting with others than you’ll ever experience. (Zach’s been on Waypoint programs before, so this technically isn’t a first… but you get the idea). The McLeod’s just released a book “Hit Hard” about Zach’s football injury at age 16 and his family’s journey of letting go of what was and learning to live well with what is. You’ll read it in one sitting! Highly recommend. Buy it here.
There were so many more “Waypoint moments” on this trip. There’s just too many to mention. Check out more pictures of the program. And a shoutout to Friends of Magazine Beach, the City of Cambridge, and the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation for constructing an accessible boat launch! Waypoint was honored to have consulted on the project so that more people with disabilities can access the beauty and serenity of the water and the fun of paddling with a community. Come down to the park for an official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to open the launch on Thursday, August 1st at 9:30am… right before our last Magazine Beach kayaking program of the year!
00waypointhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngwaypoint2019-07-25 17:06:232019-07-25 17:06:23One Program With Many Firsts
24 Programs! Our biggest partnership ever! What an awesome year it has been with the thriving Special Education Department of Somerville Public Schools. Thanks to a Cummings Foundation grant the Somerville SPED Department received and the tireless efforts of Wellness Coordinator and friend, Caitlin Kelly, Waypoint was BACK in Somerville for the 2018-2019 school year designing and facilitating quality adventure-education programs for 19 different classes across the district. Social-Emotional Learning was happening on these programs: students immersed in problem solving scenarios, supported by the process of learning and community, and given the right to take on challenging experiences and we saw it in action – the perfect recipe for character building come to life.
These programs were not just work for us. The buy-in from teachers and administrators made this series a joy to facilitate. We even had volunteers come out on one program and come back again and again and again because of how much fun they had just being a part of these days! Shoutout to Jim Bradley, Sylvana Weinstein, and some awesome repeat groups from Definitive Cares and The Shady Hill School. This community is vibrant and excelling because of your support!
You HAVE to peruse some of the pictures below. It felt like a family photo album putting these together and laughing about ridiculous things that happened on programs and awesome students, teachers, and volunteers we met along the way. Here are some snapshots from all of the programs we ran with Somerville during 2018-2019:
10/25/18 Ropes Course at Hale Reservation
11/14/18 Hike in the Middlesex Fells
12/19/18 Indoor Rock Climbing at Central Rock Watertown
1/9/19 Indoor Rock Climbing at Central Rock Watertown
1/11/19 Hike at Prospect Hill in Waltham
1/15/19 Indoor Rock Climbing at Central Rock Watertown
1/23/19 Hike at Ward Reservation in Andover
1/30/19 Indoor Kayaking at the Kennedy School in Somerville
2/5/19 Hike at Ward Reservation in Andover
2/13/19 Indoor Kayaking at the Kennedy School in Somerville
2/27/19 Indoor Kayaking at the Kennedy School in Somerville
3/19/19 Hike at Harold Parker State Forest in Andover
3/27/19 Indoor Kayaking at the Kennedy School in Somerville
3/28/19 Indoor Rock Climbing at Central Rock Watertown
4/2/19 Outdoor Rock Climbing at Hammond Pond in Newton
4/10/19 Hike at Breakheart Reservation in Wakefield
4/24/19 Hike at Lynn Woods in Lynn
5/1/19 Indoor Rock Climbing at Central Rock Watertown
5/15/19 Hike at Lynn Woods in Lynn
5/16/19 Hike at Prospect Hill in Waltham
5/23/19 Outdoor Rock Climbing at Hammond Pond in Newton
5/24/19 Hike at Breakheart Reservation in Wakefield
5/29/19 Indoor Kayaking at the Kennedy School in Somerville
And THANK YOU to all the students for participating, and the teachers and administrators that helped coordinate transportation, get forms filled out, opened the pool, and made sure adventure programming fit seamlessly into your curriculum. We believe it’s so important and it’s encouraging to see others agree. Looking forward to next year!
00waypointhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngwaypoint2019-06-12 13:31:012019-06-12 13:31:01It’s A Wrap! Somerville 2019
Sometimes, noticing that someone has a brain injury is easy. Other times, it’s invisible. You would never be able to tell that someone had one. But regardless, people who have acquired Brain Injuries or Traumatic Brain Injuries experience challenges that are very unique. So when someone with a TBI wants to do something as simple as going for a walk in the woods, he/she may need some very simple support.
Trekking poles for balance
Someone to guide the group so no one get’s lost on the trails
Calls before the program and extra care during the registration process.
And someone to design the day with a strong sense of community and a path to success (quite literally) that leaves no one getting too frustrated or anxious.
The MA Department of Conservation and Recreation recognizes the support that’s necessary to be able to provide access to their parks and has sponsored Waypoint’s hiking programs. This was an awesome day with adults who had TBIs in Blue Hills Reservation. Check out pics!
00waypointhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngwaypoint2019-03-02 18:50:332019-03-02 18:50:33Winter Hiking with Brain Injury Support Group
Waypoint empowers people with disabilities to say “I CAN!” These opportunities are made possible because of your partnership and support. Join us in celebrating the many I CAN moments of 2018, and discover your part in making I CAN a reality in 2019.
Dress in Festive Spring Attire and note that Brae Burn Country Club specifically requests NO DENIM, PLEASE.
Are you interested in Sponsorship?
Lead with us! Corporate Sponsorship of this event shows community involvement, strong partnership, and is a perfect way for your brand or name to reach the Boston-area community.
A huge thanks to those who have stepped up to sponsor this event so far!
Meet Our Host Committee!
Dan and Stephanie Allred
Robert and Cherise Bransfield
Amy and Yumin Choi
Rob and Dubs Dickey
M.A and Jim Gallerani
Sandy and John Gillis
Laura and Rick Malnight
Sarah Perry and Tony Kingsley
Kelly and Jeff Woolbert
Bryce and Chrissy Youngren
00waypointhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngwaypoint2019-02-27 17:57:542019-02-27 17:57:542019 Fundraising Party
Another school term in the books! Over the past year, Waypoint Adventure has had the privilege to work with over 13 special education classes from all over the Somerville Public School system. Seven program types were run (ropes course, indoor/outdoor rock climbing, indoor kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing and team building), which gave over 100 students the opportunity to experience adventure!
For most of participants, this was their first time ever going on a hike or rock climbing or to a ropes course. Roughly 92% of the students from Somerville that came out on an adventure program with us were experiencing that type of adventure for the first time. There is a real need to get more kids out in nature, on adventures and into their local community!
We are so grateful to have worked with such incredible students, facility, and administration this year at Somerville Public Schools. Thank you to all the volunteers and coordinators that made these programs possible and so successful. But…It’s not over yet!!
Thanks to a very generous grant given by the Cummings Foundation to the Somerville Public Schools, we are excited about the potential of continued programming with SPS!”
Here are some pictures of the last program we ran with Somerville Public Schools:
April 2018: Indoor Kayaking; Thanks for volunteering Definitive Cares!
To see our other posts about Somerville Public Schools, click the links below:
For the second year in a row, students from Dallin Elementary School sought out a big adventure with Waypoint and the first time ever, we got to host it at the Arlington Boys and Girls Club. The Dallin School, part of Arlington Public Schools, values experiential education at it’s core. And especially in the Dallin’s Supported Learning Center, teachers, parents, and administrators have fought to make adventure-learning part of their curriculum. They see the power it has on their students! Even just one adventure creates opportunities for learning and growth that translate back in the classroom!
When Waypoint approached the Arlington Boys and Girls Club’s Aquatic program, their staff was all on board. We’re all grateful for a new place to run Indoor Kayaking programs and a space that students can come back to that’s in their own back yard.
Check out these students as they learned how to kayak in the pool. All while focusing on the importance of taking courage (one of the Dallin Core Values). We’re thankful for partnerships like these!
00waypointhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngwaypoint2018-05-02 19:08:432018-05-02 19:08:43Arlington Boys and Girls Club opens it’s doors
Transformational adventure programming is happening in Somerville! Roughly 100 students from across the district are experiencing challenging experiences and big, impactful, life-learning is coming out of it. Hiking, Rock Climbing, Snowshoeing, and Kayaking programs, all within just a short bus-ride from school are increasing self-esteem, self-confidence, and students are learning new skills. Check out pictures from some recent adventures!
December 2017 – Indoor Rock Climbing at Central Rock Gym in Watertown
January 2018 – Snowshoeing at Prospect Hill in Waltham
January 2018 – Indoor Kayaking at the Kennedy School in Somerville
February 2018 – Teambuilding and prep for Indoor Kayaking
April 2018 – Indoor Rock Climbing at Central Rock Gym in Watertown, MA.Thanks for volunteering Definitive Cares!
April 2018 – Indoor Kayaking.Thanks for volunteering Definitive Cares!
Thank you to Somerville Public Schools, Somerville teachers, aids, principals, and administrators for allowing us to be involved in your community. We hope the memories from these adventures stay with these students for a lifetime!
00waypointhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngwaypoint2018-04-10 19:18:422018-04-10 19:18:42Self Confidence is on the rise in Somerville
