Waypoint Carolinas: Momentum & Milestones in Western North Carolina

By Kevin Clark & M.A. Gallerani (from May 2025)

Earlier this month, M.A. and I had the pleasure of visiting our Waypoint Carolinas team in Black Mountain, North Carolina. The warm welcome from Adam, Shelby, Ryan, and Theresa set the tone for a day full of inspiration, strategic dialogue, and vision casting for the future of Waypoint in the region.

We began by celebrating a meaningful milestone—Shelby’s 1-year anniversary with Waypoint. Her passion has been instrumental in building the foundation of our NC programs. From there, Adam walked us through several incredible stories from the field, highlighting four recent adventure programs and spotlighting one participant’s transformative journey, accompanied by a compelling photo.

Among the most moving stories shared:

Rick, a participant with Huntington’s disease, lives in a care facility where residents have minimal time outside. His experience on our hiking program—run by Shelby and the team—brought him indescribable joy.
Paul, a wheelchair user, was supported by Ryan’s expertise in adaptive gear. Ryan recounted how teaching Paul to use our off-road chair independently became a moment of trust, dignity, and self-belief.
A low-vision group from BRAVO paid full price for their program—a testament to the value and impact they experience.

Waypoint NC team & Kevin

Participant Rick with Waypoint’s Ryan Carlson

These moments are why we do what we do!

Community Partnerships & Growth Strategies

Adam shared our growing list of local partners, including The Biltmore, who generously waived fees to host a Waypoint program—an unprecedented gesture from them. M.A. is personally reaching out with a note of gratitude to acknowledge their exceptional support.

We also discussed opportunities to deepen local partnerships by inviting businesses—banks, mortgage brokers, real estate offices, and others—to sponsor or “adopt” programs in their area. Even one-year commitments could evolve into multi-year support, particularly when they can align their brand with a mission of empowerment and inclusion.

Ryan noted that while equipment donations from local bike manufacturers may be limited, nearby financial institutions may be more equipped to offer support at scale.

Adam shared impressive growth in volunteer engagement, with 160 volunteers now in our system. Theresa and I discussed creating more intentional communication to engage and retain these supporters—perhaps through a volunteer-only newsletter, videos, or stories from the field.

We’re also exploring internships and video training to streamline operational tasks like kayak loading/unloading. A nearby volunteer has even offered her driveway for trailer storage near James Lake, which could ease our logistical burden.

Additionally, Adam is in early conversations with Friends of State Parks, who recently awarded Waypoint $57,000 to renew another season of inclusive outdoor adventure in North Carolina State Parks.

The Road Ahead and Program Experience

A critical point of discussion centered on how we speak to potential supporters who do not have a personal connection to disability. Both M.A. and I emphasized leading with participant outcomes—the “why”—to demonstrate the broader impact of our work before diving into the “how.” This is backed by data from our recent NC outcomes report and our work with the research firm 2nd Nature TREC to quantify impact.

We also discussed:

The use of “Exceptional Children” (regional terminology for special education).
Reinforcing our pricing strategy to more accurately reflect true program costs (already showing results in North Carolina).
Piloting a Destination Adventure model: leveraging Black Mountain’s popularity as a family camp destination to run inclusive weekend programs for families vacationing nearby.

Finally, we brainstormed creative fundraising opportunities—from golf tournaments at local courses to securing bibs through the Asheville Marathon.

The first day concluded with a partner site visit to Chimney Rock State Park, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Helene just nine months ago. The spirit of recovery and community resilience was intense.

M.A. and I spent our second day volunteering on a kayaking adventure with Waypoint NC at Lake James, the largest waterfront park in North Carolina.

The park features an exceptional, accessible boat launch, an ideal starting point for an unforgettable day. We set out with 15 kayaks and were introduced to a remarkable group of young adults who had participated in 10 programs this year. For four of them, this was their final adventure before graduating high school, making the day even more meaningful.

As we paddled, we spotted two bald eagles, the first M.A. and I had ever seen – perched in a shoreline tree before taking flight above us. My friend George volunteered alongside Max, a young man with Down syndrome who grew more confident with every paddle stroke. I partnered with Willy, a high school senior who became the unofficial emcee of the group, bringing joy, humor, and leadership throughout the experience. We laughed, practiced our technique, and supported others as needed.

This was one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had in a long time. I’m deeply grateful to Waypoint for the opportunity to contribute my talents as a volunteer and to witness—firsthand—the immediate outcomes of confidence, camaraderie, resilience, and community.

Your support allows Waypoint North Carolina to flourish and empowers people with disabilities to access the outdoors with dignity, confidence, and joy. Thank you for making moments like this possible.