somerville Archives - Waypoint Adventure MA

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!

Shady Hill School and Somerville Public Partner

April 30, 2019/in Uncategorized

It all started with a call from Waypoint volunteer, Ross Fitzgerald. Ross is an 8th grade teacher at Shady Hill School in Cambridge, and with his years of experience volunteering with Waypoint, he wanted to bring the two communities together. We couldn’t have been more psyched. Shady Hill is an innovative, creative, mission-driven school and their students are respectful and helpful. Over the course of 3 adventures this winter-spring (and hopefully more), Shady Hill students joined in on our Adventure Programming with Somerville Public Schools – coming out with one class twice!

It was incredible to watch these kids interact and get along – Developing a deeper understanding of the diverse world we live in, fostering relationships with kids just a few towns away, and creating a common bond while overcoming a challenge together like kayaking or hiking. Mr. Fitzgerald and his class have been an incredible addition to the Waypoint Adventure series with Somerville Public Schools and we can’t wait to see where this partnership goes.

Increasing Communication

January 22, 2019/in Uncategorized

One of our favorite moments to witness is when a student surprises their teacher. These students from Somerville, all on the autism spectrum, climbed with Waypoint this week and were using this custom-designed adventure-education program to work on communication. Ayman had just learned recently how to communicate “Yes” and “No” on his picture board, so his teacher was almost in tears when he came down from his first climb and audibly said “More! I want more!” This was unprompted, spontaneous communication! Adventures like rock climbing really do bring out emerging skills and create opportunities for growth!

Click to see video of Ayman saying “I want more” and check out pictures of the rest of his class practicing communication while rock climbing at Central Rock Gym in Watertown.

That’s A Wrap! Somerville 2017-2018

June 26, 2018/in Kayaking, Schools, Uncategorized

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:

Beginning-year Somerville Programs

Mid-year Somerville Programs

Self Confidence is on the rise in Somerville

April 10, 2018/in Achievements, Annnouncements, Hiking, Kayaking, Latest News, Past Programs, Rock Climbing, Schools, Series, Uncategorized, Volunteer

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 – Team Building

April 2018 – Hiking at Ward Reservation in Andover, MA. Thanks for volunteering Long Wharf Capitol!

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!

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!!

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!

Making a Splash in Somerville

May 31, 2017/in Kayaking, Past Programs, Schools, Series, Uncategorized

If the pool could talk, The Kennedy School Pool in Somerville would tell you about a lot of adventure-learning that has happened there this winter/spring. Our partnership with Somerville Public Schools has taken students all over greater-Boston (hiking, rock climbing, snowshoeing, etc), but it’s time to highlight our Indoor Kayaking adventures in Somerville.

Five classes of students on five separate occasions came to school with their bathing suits and towels packed and ready to learn… Not about math, reading, or science, but about challenging themselves, working with others, asking for help, following directions, and being a friend. Kayaking is not just about paddling, pivoting, or balancing; It’s about the opportunity to experience things outside of our comfort zone with others who support us. And we think kayaking (right in their own school!) is the perfect “challenge-tool” for these students.

A huge thanks to Rich Cheney, the Aquatics Director, for helping make these programs happen. And to everyone at the Kennedy School – teachers, paras, Special Ed Department, Recreation Specialists, and more – We’ve loved having you pop in and see the skills being learned and challenges being overcome. We’re glad you’re talking about it too!

Check out our kayaking adventures by class:

Ms. Berkwitz 4th & 5th Grade

Check out our Snapchat story!

Ms. Pacheco 3rd – 5th Grade

Ms. Sweeney 7th & 8th Grade

The SKIP Program – Specialized Kennedy Intensive Program

Click for Ms. Messer 4th & 5th Grade

Snakes, Turtles, and Birds! Oh My!

May 18, 2017/in Hiking, Uncategorized

Last week, our hike with the East Somerville Community School had some surprising encounters! The Middlesex Fells was teaming with the sounds, smells, and sights of spring and this young group from Somerville Public Schools took full advantage. In our opening circle at the trailhead, we challenged the group to be observant and no sooner had we started following the trail – we saw a snake! We all gathered around and watched it slither around the tree, rocks, and roots. (Almost) everyone was excited by it and could not wait to see and hear more.

All morning long, the bird songs were loud and near. We even paused to listen to how many different birds we might hear around us. One student counted 6 while another counted 7 different bird sounds or tunes. After lunch and a great soccer break at Wrights Tower, we had another chance to find animals. We found a few turtles sunning themselves on the log at Bellevue Pond.

From the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, unfortunately “today’s children may be the first generation at risk of having shorter lifespans than their parents. Evidence suggests that modern sedentary indoor lifestyles and use of electronic devices have contributed to increased health problems in childhood.” – Children, Nature, and the Importance of Getting Outside podcast. Let’s reverse this by hiking and giving opportunities for everyone to experience adventure learning! Check out pictures of these students taking in the world around them.