The inaugural Wiffle Ball / End of Summer Cookout was a smashing hit. Pun intended. There was face painting thanks to our resident-artist, Miriam, balloon animals thanks to our friend and former-clown, Steph, burgers and dogs grilled to perfection by chef master Dave, expert score-keeping by Jeff and Davis, photography by Bill, pitching by Timmy and Mike, and the fantastic volunteer efforts of so many others who helped and participated. What a hilarious, awesome night.
It was the Peduto Penguins vs the Bored Chair Falcons and there was literally a diving stop at home plate to leave it tied at 5-5. We went into an extra inning ending in a 1 run squeaker by the Penguins! The Peduto Penguins won the honor of having their team name etched into the coveted Golden Bat!
To end it all, Dan and Adam each got a pie to the face. Enjoy these awesome pics!
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
We just wrapped up an awesome Rock Climbing series with LABBB Collaborative! It’s not often a group will contact us and say they want to do a focused series on one adventure-type in particular, but this school was all for it! They wanted to progress in their rock climbing and self-confidence skills!
LABBB Collaborative, based in Bedford, Massachusetts, serves students with disabilities from Lexington, Arlington, Belmont, Burlington, and Bedford and helps them reach their potential by integrating academics, social, recreational, and vocational services. This was year-two of an awesome Waypoint+LABBB partnership and 6 participants this year really progressed! We spent four Wednesday nights at Central Rock Gym in Watertown raising the bar for each individual’s level of challenge and working on autonomous decision-making. With ample time devoted to all the skills of rock climbing, each participant got a chance to learn knots, all about gear, and even belaying!
By the end of the series, students were working hard, implementing climbing strategies, and were responsible for their own knot-tying and equipment! It was awesome to watch this group form and progress in skill. Check out pictures from our series!
As always, we are so grateful for all our volunteers (Mary and Jim!) and our partnership with Central Rock Gym. Without you all, we would not be able to run successful programs!
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
00waypointhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngwaypoint2018-12-10 18:50:432018-12-10 18:50:43A unique series in skill-progression
Each summer, Waypoint partners with the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation to offer accessible kayaking adventures in local state parks through the Universal Access Program. It’s been a busy, inspiring, funny, emotional, energetic summer filled with meeting hundreds of unique and amazing people and building new relationships. Over 200 people came kayaking in some of MA’s most beautiful lakes, ponds, sections of the Charles River, and Boston Harbor.
Participants were pushed this summer to step out of their comfort zone and try something courageous! Courage is often thought of as some heroic act, but we defined it as “strength of the heart.” And many times this summer it took strength of the heart to meet someone new and paddle a tandem kayak with them, learn a new skill, or just build self-efficacy through competence! We had a blast while learning ways to grow and overcome challenges! People captured these courageous moments by writing them on our Banner of Courage. Check out of few of our favorites below.
I capsized my kayak!
I learned how to paddle without a staff!
I made new friends
I went kayaking for the first time!
I practiced setting realistic expectations
I trusted people to lift me
I asked for help from others!
I learned a new skill!!
Picture of a participant writing his moment of courage on the Waypoint banner.
One big group shot with the Banner of Courage
We’re so grateful we got to rub shoulders with individuals and groups that truly value those moments of real “life-learning.” We left each program filled with the hope and knowledge that there are such courageous people in this Greater Boston community. It was an awesome Summer of Courage!
Thank you to our sites! A special thanks to our new friends at Walden Pond! We couldn’t have asked for a more accommodating, thoughtful group of Mass DCR staff to support our programming. Our participants couldn’t have experienced the beauty of Walden without your guidance and help! Thanks also to Charles River Canoe and Kayak for access to your boats, gear, staff, and awesome sites. And Wayland Recreation Department for letting us use Wayland Town Beach, keeping your bathrooms open, and letting us use your beautiful boat launch!
Thank you to our volunteers! We had a record number of volunteers come out this summer! We felt the love! Thank you for your energy, flexibility, and eagerness to get involved. We are beyond thankful to have you be a part of our team this summer. A special shoutout to our corporate groups that went above and beyond to make “community” a tangible. Adobe and Silicon Valley Bank, thank you!
Thank you DCR Universal Access Program for lending all your financial support and expertise. Your staff are extensions of the Waypoint family! You’re making Massachusetts a better place!
7/14 with Waypoint’s Inclusive Adventure Club at Lake Cochituate in Wayland
7/17 Newton Connections ABA Kayaking at Walden Pond in Concord!
7/24 with Boston University at Walden Pond in Concord!
8/4 with Waypoint’s Inclusive Adventure Club on Boston Harbor from Malibu Beach, Dorchester. The wettest program of the year!
8/7 with Assabet Valley Collaborative at Walden Pond in Concord!
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!
00waypointhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngwaypoint2018-08-31 14:08:022018-08-31 14:08:02Three States, Three Series’, One Awesome New Partner
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:
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
This fall, Waypoint was invited to work with a group of high-school students in an 8-week long after-school series. The focus of this program was centered around one goal: team.
What is a team? A team is a group of people that work together to accomplish a goal or task. And over the course of 2 months, these students certainly got to work towards some fun and exciting goals.
If you don’t know about Cotting School in Lexington, MA, you should check them out. As the nation’s first school for children with disabilities, it has an impressive 124-year history of supporting the values of teamwork. Their mission is to provide students with opportunities to learn, gain independence, discover strengths, and build meaningful relationships. We’ve had the pleasure of sharing their campus, but – in this series – really got to foster relationships with students we’ve been seeing around campus. We were honored to facilitate some teamwork initiatives for them. Check out our series below:
Through the first couple of weeks, the group began to established trust in one another. Through challenging activities like Bull Ring and Empty the Brain, members of the group had to rely on each other to be successful. While there were many obstacles that the group encountered, they continued to support each other and build friendships.
By the end of 8 weeks, students came together as one cohesive unit. Tested by countless team-building activities and problem-solvers, each student was able to share with the group what the word “team” meant to them and how this program gave them an new opportunity to have fun with their classmates.
We’re thankful we get to partner with Cotting School!
https://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.png00waypointhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngwaypoint2017-11-18 18:24:542017-11-18 18:24:542 Months of Teamwork
Our first Connecticut program is in the books! Because of connections made through family and friends and because of the support of Christ Community Church., Waypoint had the opportunity to run TWO kayaking programs this past weekend on Long Island Sound in Darien, CT. When Within a few short days of outreach, both program rosters were full of youth and adults hungry for fun, adventure and discovery on the water. This enthusiastic community, combined with the amazing weather and scenery made for a truly incredible day of kayaking!
Not only did we hit a milestone by taking our day-programming out of MA, but the program itself felt particularly unique and impactful. You know that feeling? If you’ve been on adventure programs like these, I’m sure you’ve felt it – When their’s an overbearing feeling of joy and connectedness. When everyone is genuinely excited to be there and meet new friends. When everyone comes together to support ensure that everyone else experiences a fun and safe adventure – That was the feeling that saturated the air on this particular Saturday in July.
After the program was over, one mom weighed in on her family’s experience of the day. She says:
“Thanks so much for an amazing day. First, I want to thank you for including my son Patrick. I didn’t expect him to get a chance to kayak, as he doesn’t have special needs, but I was so happy for him that he could. As you probably know, siblings of those with special needs do a ton of sacrificing – some that they know about and some they don’t… From deep in my heart, thanks for including him so warmly. He’ll remember this special experience as something he got through his sister, which is a precious and important memory.
And of course Mags had the time of her life. Her partner, Fiona, couldn’t possibly have been a better match and Mags was her best self today!… Thank you Waypoint for your enthusiasm, knowledge, and willingness to have both patience and high expectations for our kids…”
We can’t wait to get back down there and do it all again soon! Stay tuned CT… we’ll be back!
00waypointhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngwaypoint2017-07-12 11:22:122017-07-12 11:22:12“My daughter was her best self today!”
Today marks the 1 year anniversary of our partnership with Cotting School in Lexington MA. It has been nothing short of an honor to have our office located on the campus of this school since June 21st of last year.
For those of you who don’t know, Cotting School has a 124 year history of providing world class education to kids, youth and young adults with disabilities. Cotting’s mission of enabling students with special needs to reach their highest learning potential and level of independence is right in line with Waypoint’s mission and objectives. We couldn’t imagine a better fit!
As part of our collaboration, Waypoint is providing work opportunities for three groups of students each week throughout the school year. It’s been hugely helpful to us and provides the students “on campus” vocational opportunities to help them prepare for future “off campus” employment.
To celebrate the one year mark of our partnership and the start of the summer, we took these three groups of students on a hike at the Blue Hills Reservation. It was a day filled with fun, challenge and discovery that will deepen our relationships and strengthen our bond.
On to the next year…!
00waypointhttps://ma.waypointadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/waypoint-adventure_logo_457x152.pngwaypoint2017-06-21 16:45:422017-06-21 16:45:42Amazing year with Cotting School!
n
