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It’s A Wrap! Somerville 2019

June 12, 2019/in Hiking, Kayaking, Past Programs, Rock Climbing, Ropes Course, Schools, Series

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

6/5/19 Kayaking on the Charles River in Allston

We can’t thank our site partners from Central Rock Gym, Paddle Boston – Charles River Canoe and Kayak, Kennedy School Pool, and Massachusetts DCR enough for supporting this programming. THANK YOU!

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!

Three States, Three Series’, One Awesome New Partner

August 31, 2018/in Hiking, Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Ropes Course, Series, Special Events, Support, Uncategorized

Waypoint has a new partnership! This summer, we had the awesome opportunity to partner with Epilepsy Foundation of New England (EFNE) and run programs in three different states! EFNE’s mission is: to lead the fight to overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy and to accelerate therapies to stop seizures, find cures, and save lives. They serve approximately 100,000 people in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island affected by Epilepsy and the people who care for them.

Throughout July and August, we custom designed three series programs across New England. Our first series was at Lincoln Woods State Park, Rhode Island. It included outdoor rock climbing and a day of exploring the beautiful park on a hike. On our second program series, we traveled west to Central Rock Gym in Worcester, MA for two indoor rock climbing programs. And our final program series took place in Maine for a ropes course at Camp Ketcha in Scarborough and kayaking at Range Pond in Poland.

The goal of it all? EFNE wanted to provide “camp-like” experiences for some families who just couldn’t do sleep away camps. They recognized the learning and growth that happens when youth are challenged through adventurous experiences. The goals to challenge ourselves and recognize support from our networks rose to the surface as goals. We were psyched that so many individuals and families got to come together and meet others in their community living with Epilepsy, but more-so, we were blown away at the impact these experiences had!

One 10-year old girl showed up to the ropes course visibly anxious. She had never been on a ropes course before! When it came time to do the high element “Multi-Vine,” she was the last in her group to try. When it was finally her turn, her whole team cheered her on as she climbed the staples embedded in a large tree to a thin foot cable, 20 feet above the ground. This thin foot cable was connected to an adjacent tree 100 feet away. She carefully balanced on the cable and shimmied her way across using hanging ropes above her like vines to get to the other side…. and she made it! As she was lowered down by her team, she beamed with pride and a large smile appeared on her face from ear to ear. To the whole group at the end of the day, she said: “I wasn’t sure I was going to come to camp, but I am so glad I did! I challenged myself all day and achieved my goals. I’m so proud of myself!”

These are the kind of moments that make these partnerships run deep! These programs would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of the staff at EFNE, our awesome site locations that allowed us to run programs, and the individuals and families that participated! We can’t wait to see what’s next for Waypoint and EFNE!

Check out pictures from each series!

July 17th Outdoor Rock Climbing

July 18th Hike at Lincoln Woods State Park, RI

July 24th & 25th Indoor Rock Climbing at Central Rock Gym in Worcester, MA

August 21st Ropes Course at Camp Ketcha in Scarborough, ME

August 22nd Kayaking at Range Pond in Poland, ME

A little rain didn’t stop us from having an awesome day out on the water!

The First Graduating Class of LITs

March 9, 2018/in Hiking, Latest News, Open Enrollment, Past Programs, Rock Climbing, Ropes Course, Series, Snowshoeing, Special Events, Support, Uncategorized

Eleven young adults – each with such unique stories, sets of strengths and challenges, personalities, and character – graduated from the Leaders-In-Training program on March 1st. It was a “waypoint” for all – a monumental marker along their journey. Parents were beaming, siblings and friends were excited, and LITs were incredibly proud of their achievement.

But to us, it was big as well! This was no typical program! It was the first time since Waypoint opened in 2010 that we’ve put together an intentional, goal-focused, extensive series for a specific population that is “Open Enrollment” style – meaning we formed a team from the public. And it was an incredible success! There are a million good stories or times we can point to and say “THAT was a moment that he/she grew…” but the BIGGEST, most impactful outcome was belonging.

Let me set the stage: The transition from youth to adult is scary for anyone. Even with the most solid support systems, it’s easy to lose confidence in yourself, lose sight of your preferences, get confused about what decisions to make, know when to take risks, etc. And it’s precisely why transition-age youth with disabilities – who aren’t given the same opportunities to step out of their comfort zone and take on leadership roles – have the odds stacked against them.

But our theme addressed this: “Leadership” is actually all about knowing yourself. Knowing who you are deep down. When decision-making opportunities come up or there are relationships to manage, if you know yourself well, you can trust your judgement and your preferences, rely on your strengths, or ask for help. In this LIT program, the curriculum was written around “learning to be leaders,” but it turned out to be so much more about knowing yourself and being known by others. This group formed quickly into a “family” and they used this word over and over again to describe the group… “We’re a family!”

On March 1st, on the 13th floor of a Boston high-rise at Wilmington Trust, the evening celebration began. With food and drinks, a slideshow, and view of the city, each LIT was given a new name honoring the ways they were “known” within the group. Several LITs shared about what they had taken away from the experience, and all received a certificate and gift. Also in attendance were the new LITs and their families – those that have been accepted into the 2018-2019 crew! The graduating class got to shake hands and welcome in these new and excited young adults.

Check out pictures of this exciting event and some posts we’ve done along the way: LIT is in Full Swing, The Progress Report, and LIT Backpacking Trip 2017. And a huge thank you to Wilmington Trust for making this program possible!

Lastly, this could be YOU or someone you know! We’re still accepting applications for the new LIT team! Apply at www.waypointadventure.org/leadersintraining/!

Ryan Horrigan delivering his speech: How he has felt a sense of belonging in the group.

Shayda Tahmili and Sara Young share about the ways they became friends and what they have in common… The list was extensive!

Sara Frost shares about what she has learned from the LIT program… her biggest takeaway: confidence in herself!

It says "I have learned to tell myself to "think positively" There is no room for negative talk in our heads. By being an LIT, I have learned a lot about myself and my abilities. The more I learn about myself, the more confident I have become. I feel most confident when I am helping others and working as a team. I am so proud of myself, and my fellow LIT friends. I think we all look forward to more adventures our new skills and CONFIDENCE!

An excerpt from Sara’s speech

Robert King receives his certificate. His new name was The Magnifier.

Sara Young receives her certificate. Her new name was The Connector.

Tessa Geomelos receives her certificate. She got the Mirror Award.

Ryan Horrigan and Chris Dunn welcome in new LIT, Daemon Tendler.

Will Haas welcomes in new LIT Anthony Curioso.

Sara Young and Kristina Gillis welcome in new LIT, Emma Ferrick.

A proud group standing together having just graduated!

All the LITs! The graduating class as well as the new class inducted in!

The big group along with Wilmington Trust. Thank you Carl Robinson, Rob Coly, Alycia Joyal, Josh Christian, and Timothy Wade for hosting us!

The rest are pictures from our last few programs. Below is our Outdoor Rock Climbing adventure at Quincy Quarries in October 2017. Everyone was assigned a specific partner that they had to work with for the rest of the day. On this day, friendships in the group really started to go deeper.

Next up was our Indoor Rock Climbing adventure of November 2017. This program started out a bit differently than most. Thanks to the gracious hosts at Central Rock Gym in Watertown, we held a panel discussion and all the LITs’ families joined us. On the panel were three young adults with disabilities who had leadership experience and could speak to the adulthood transition process: Melissa Bradley, Kamisha Heriveaux, and Jack Hanke. These three shared about their experiences getting jobs, finding roommates, balancing schedules, navigating relationships with parents, and gave good advice to our LITs who were working on figuring that stuff out! At the end, we all climbed together!

Our planned January “Snowshoeing” adventure turned more into an ice-hike in the 60s…. strange… but wonderful. We spent the day at the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge practicing navigation, making decisions, and working together as a team.

Our last adventure was a full weekend up at The Browne Center at UNH. It was a perfect way to celebrate the culmination of hard work and personal growth. This group became a family. And no, that doesn’t just mean “they became great friends.” That means dragging gear on sleds to a yurt, burrito buffet by headlamps, a NEVER-ENDING, no-mercy Uno game, a chorus of snoring unlike anything you’ve ever heard, launching through the trees on the Flying Squirrel, trying to balance the entire group on a teeter totter, Robert hoarding the pop tarts, Zach’s mad libs, Ryan sampling the roast beef, and a heartfelt, honest, and beautiful bracelet ceremony. There’s so many memories to take away from this weekend and this series overall. But it’s the connection to purpose and investment in relationship that made weekends like this one stand out.

Somerville Makes Outdoor Education a Priority

March 5, 2018/in Hiking, Latest News, Past Programs, Rock Climbing, Ropes Course, Schools, Series

Outdoor Education within schools is proven to work. Students learn and perform to their potential when they are confident, self-esteem is high, cooperation is strong, and students feel like they belong. At Waypoint, we know this works when Adventure-Education is integrated into a classroom curriculum over the course of a semester, but in Somerville, we’ve learned how much of an impact it has on one classroom even just one time! Somerville Special Education teachers keep speaking up: “When can my class go on an adventure!?” These programs – a day of rock climbing, a hike, a ropes course – all enhance the process of learning. Kids who persevere on a rock wall and achieve success or the encouragement of their classmates have created a lasting memory (or a “waypoint”) that reminds them to persevere through a math problem or writing assignment!

The 2017-2018 school year has brought BIG success, achievement, and impact to Somerville Public School’s Special Education program. Students are feeling empowered, supported, and, of course, having fun! Even Somerville News Weekly did a piece on our adventures:

Check out pictures and stories from the school-year thus far:

A huge thanks to educators of Somerville Public Schools, the PEP Grant, parents, students, volunteers and countless others. These programs are made possible with a group effort!

Adventure Learning in Somerville

October 3, 2017/in Rock Climbing, Ropes Course, Schools, Series, Uncategorized

Last week we kicked off another year of adventure learning with students from many schools within the Somerville Public School system. We love this partnership because it allows us to showcase the power of adventure to the diverse Somerville student population

As we design each of these programs, we work hard to take a very classroom centered approach. What I mean is that we don’t want to just throw them a canned program that highlights concepts they may not be interested in learning or that don’t fit the student’s current goals. Prior to each program, we spend time talking with each teacher to hear more about their students, the work they’re doing in the classroom and the social and emotional goals they’re trying to achieve throughout the year. We take that information and craft lessons and experiences that augment the work they’re doing in the classroom, in hopes of providing fodder for further conversation, growth and development.

The first two programs that we ran with these schools (highlighted in the photos below) focused on the overarching themes of “challenge” and “support” — when we are supported we’re more able to challenge ourselves, when we challenge ourselves we learn and grow. During these programs we took those themes of challenge and support and dove deeper into more individualized topics like positive self talk, kindness, learning from mistakes, positive risk taking and knowing that it’s okay to fail. Our hope is that these experiences will act as markers for the students when these same themes are brought up back in school and home.

Enjoy the pictures below and keep checking back throughout the year as we continue programming with Somerville. Happy fall!!

Dorchester Boys & Girls Club

August 30, 2017/in Hiking, Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Ropes Course, Series, Uncategorized

Every August, we host a week of adventuring and life-learning alongside the Boys & Girls Club of Dorchester’s Inclusion Program. It was another awesome week with a new and excited group of teens ready to take on challenges and participate in fulfilling summer trips. This group was working on taking more positive risks as individuals and socializing well within constructive teams. Each day involved a discussion at the end about what challenges we faced, the supports that we used to meet those challenges, and then culminated in delivering compliments to everyone in the group.

This group was funny, encouraging, articulated their feelings, supported each other, and participated with full hearts and good attitudes. They were AWESOME to work with for 4 days of adventuring around Boston. Thanks again BGC Dorchester and we hope to see you again next year!

The Ropes Course at North Andover Youth Services

Hiking in the Blue Hills

Indoor Rock Climbing at Central Rock Gym in Watertown

Ocean Kayaking from World’s End Park in Hingham, MA

Next Wave Full Circle: The Series

May 31, 2017/in Hiking, Rock Climbing, Ropes Course, Schools, Series, Snowshoeing, Uncategorized

Throughout this school year, we have had the opportunity to work with Somerville’s Next Wave Junior High School and Full Circle High School. Next Wave / Full Circle teaches students who have difficulty learning in traditional educational settings. They boast of an environment safe for every member of the community and a place where everyone is treated with respect.

David Aronofsky, teacher at NWFC, got a taste of Waypoint programming last year and sought his own funding to make it happen for his students again this year. He champions the belief that adventure education has a “positive impact on building self-esteem and confidence in [his] students.” We whole-heartedly agree!

This year, the theme was community and we built a strong one throughout time at school working through team initiatives and five adventures off campus (indoor and outdoor rock climbing, snowshoeing, hiking, and the ropes course). Students quickly caught on that working through challenges equips you for life! Each teen took their role within the community seriously; They were supportive of one-another’s progress and courage. It’s in knowing that our community is encouraging that we’re more willing to try something new.

Check out this series:

Teambuilding program: Students had to (1) get two different weighted balls into the bucket across the gym without letting either one hit the ground and without anyone touching the ball; and (2) lower a hula hoop with keeping only a flat finger underneath to support the weight. Both simulated challenges introduced the idea of working together with a common goal and purpose.

Indoor Rock Climbing: At Central Rock Climbing Gym in Watertown, students were encouraged to take the challenge and try something new. One student’s experience was so impactful, she wrote about it in the Full Circle Newsletter.

“It was a good experience because not only did people have fun, but we got together and really got to show support and be a group. I got to meet some of the the kids I wasn’t that close to in school!”

Snowshoeing: In February, we were able to explore snowy trails and work together to follow our map through the Middlesex Fells. Many students were experiencing snowshoeing for the first time! To cap it all off, we enjoyed hot chocolate with the views of the hills on one side and Boston on the other.

Outdoor Rock Climbing: In April, we spent the day in the woods using the team-belay to keep each other safe. We talked a bit more about how we can rely on each other and why supporting each other is so important.

Hike: On a hot and gorgeous day in the Blue Hills, we went up to Hancock Hill and enjoyed some amazing views of Boston, the Atlantic, and felt a little like we’d made our way to New Hampshire. Everyone in the group had a great perspective on why it’s important to look out for one another. Countless times on the hike, a hand was extended, the bug spray shared, or some encouraging words were given to get up and over a hard spot. It was an awesome day!

The Ropes Course: Our final adventure! We wrapped up our series in Waltham at Cedar Hill Day Camp. (Thank you gracious hosts from Girl Scouts of Eastern MA!). What turned out to be another gorgeous day filled with teamwork, laughter and memories was a great way to end the series. Students walked away with ideas as to why are we valuable to the many communities we are part of, and how what we do everyday impacts the community and each individual member.

Thanks for a great series Next Wave/Full Circle School! You have an awesome community to begin with. We were glad we got to help build it even more!

P.S. David A, teacher, emailed us soon after this post was published with the following letter. Check out the progress of a student who made huge strides in confidence because of the relationships built and challenges overcome. Way to go Jess!

Leaders-In-Training is in Full Swing

May 25, 2017/in Open Enrollment, Ropes Course, Series

We started! This Saturday was the first adventure of a year-long series with our LIT program and we were swinging indeed. At Hale Reservation (in perfect spring sun) we spent the morning laying the foundation for our series and building the team; and then dedicated the afternoon to the Giant Swing – where each individual LIT had the opportunity to take on a big challenge.

It’s a theme on most adventures, but the relationship between challenge and learning rings especially true within a series like this where the goal is right in the name – we are training (or LEARNING) to become leaders. Here at Waypoint, we believe that when we step into the challenge zone, we learn. The Challenge Zone and the “Learning Zone” are one in the same. Over this year, these Leaders-In-Training will be encouraged to step out their comfort zone, take positive risks, be given the freedom to fail, learn from mistakes, push through things that are hard, and step up to challenges – all while doing so alongside peers that support them.

The Giant Swing brings it all together. Each LIT steps up one at a time to get hooked into the Giant Swing harness while the rest of the group holds the haul rope. When the swinger is ready, he or she tells the group when to start and when to stop. And with a deep breath and a mustering of courage, he or she pulls the cord and disconnects from the haul rope sending them swinging through the air.

Henry Moses, former Freshman Dean at Harvard University and Founder of the First Year Outdoor Program summarizes it well:

“Learning is hard; learning is messy; learning happens when you’re uncomfortable and would rather be doing almost anything else. But we do learn and we learn most effectively when we face challenges with other people who support us and whom we learn to support. And that’s when learning becomes joyous.” – Henry Moses

Learning became joyous this past weekend. You could see it on the faces of everyone mid-swing and the feeling of being accepted and loved by their group. We are thrilled to work with this fun, supportive, and adventurous group over the course of this year and we hope you’ll follow along too! Check out our vidoe of the day posted on youtube.com and if you haven’t already, start following us on Snapchat at @WaypointAdv (We’re also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram :).

Somerville’s Adventure Community

December 2, 2016/in Hiking, Rock Climbing, Series

Waypoint’s partnership with the Somerville Public Schools is going strong. We are thankful for the opportunity to have started our second year with these students and teachers!

It’s been a busy few weeks and here are some of our favorite autumn highlights with a few of these classes:

(1) We headed indoors to go rock climbing at Central Rock Gym in Watertown after a rainy morning changed our plans to go to the Middlesex Fells. The students’ excitement for adventure and of trying something outside of their comfort zones radiated throughout the morning. “Adventure” was our motto and this was a glimpse into the perspectives of these students and staff.

This class especially demonstrated the impact of supporting their community. Each student chose a wall that would really challenge them and saw their accomplishments in a big way. As each one climbed, the others rallied around them. Some were cheering, encouraging and pointing out the routes, others were giving high fives and making sure everyone was proud of what they’d done after finishing. It was hard not to join in on the encouragement.

(2) With another class we headed out to the Middlesex Fells Reservation for a day of outdoor rock climbing. It was a gorgeous day to get outside and they could not have been more excited or more willing to challenge themselves and recognize their personal potential and the potential in others. We set goals together and stepped up to accomplish them. We even had the opportunity to celebrate the day with a short hike to the top of the rocks for a view of downtown Boston.

One teacher commented about the impact he has seen in his class – “If a child can set a goal and challenge himself then he can practice this throughout his life. Starting early and recognizing one’s accomplishments is a key to success, and Waypoint Adventure gave my students this wonderful opportunity to show themselves and each other what they were capable of.”

(3) With yet another class, we headed up the road to North Andover Youth Service’s Ropes Course. The misty morning turned into a gorgeous day to cross a “raging rip current” with the Nitro Swing.The students all jumped right in to the scenarios and created ideas for how to succeed together. The goal was to get everyone safely across the “current” and onto the “island”. After crossing safely to the “island” everyone enjoyed a run down the Zip Line.

Emphasizing community and how challenges can bring us together, this class stepped up to find new ways to see and support each other. Not only did they work together on the Nitro Swing but they found success in each other on the Zip Line. Their friends and peers were present each step of the way.

(4) The Middlesex Fells Reservation provides access to more than just outdoor rock climbing. The reservation is filled with trails winding through the beautiful New England forests with great views of downtown Boston. Another class joined Waypoint for a day of hiking these gorgeous trails. We explored a few small rock caves and enjoyed a scavenger hunt focused on “what lives in the woodlands”. Discovering more about each other and more about the natural world captivated the students.

We enjoyed lunch at the base of Wright’s Tower over looking downtown Boston and the surrounding communities. Wright’s Tower gives any hiker a great view of the beautiful coastline of Massachusetts. The kids loved it!

One of their teachers said – “Experiencing nature outside of the classroom helps my students understand the bigger picture of where they live. Today, they’ve been able to do that”

With all four classes, we’re thankful for opportunities to talk about community and the impacts of challenging yourself with the support of that community. It is only through challenge that we learn more about ourselves, each other, and our natural world.

Waypoint’s looking forward to our winter adventures with the Somerville Public Schools. Come back soon to read more about those adventures!

Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester

August 10, 2016/in Backpacking, Kayaking, Ropes Course

The Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs are all about inclusion in Dorchester. Their focus of building community amidst teens with and without disabilities fits seamlessly into a Waypoint adventure series. Adventures like a Ropes Course, Kayaking, and Backpacking teach us about what we are capable of as a team and that we do, in fact, need each other. It was an impactful week of zip-lining in North Andover, sea-kayaking out of World’s End Park in Hingham, and backpacking in the White Mountains. For some, it was their first time sleeping away from home and for many, their first time camping. One young lady was excited because she heard the stars were beautiful when you get outside the city and once we went star-gazing, she kept saying how she would never forget that view!