Take Advantage of State Park Programs to Explore Winter in Massachusetts



Frank Grindrod (left) provides tracking
expertise for a Universal Access outing.

 Now that there is a little snow on the ground, animal tracks and trails are visible! Last weekend I found signs of coyote, gray wolf, fisher, snowshoe hare, deer, mink and weasel on a hike in the woods, along with small birds, squirrels, mice and voles. Its a great time to get in touch with local wildlife, which often can be found not far from areas of human habitation. Our Universal Access Program yesterday at the D.A.R. State Forest in the Berkshires gave winter adventurers a good look at coyote and red fox tracks along the the trail.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation offers education programs year round in state parks. Park programs offer a wonderful chance to learn about nature and the outdoors for people of all ages and abilities. Here's a few of the most noteworthy and relatively accessible opportunities coming up - featuring wildlife in eastern Massachusetts and a taste of culture in the Berkshires!



Boston Area:

Even dog tracks (left) provide an opportunity
to study how animals move and how tracks
change as snow ages. Human boot
print on right.

Breakheart Reservation, Saugus

January 28 and February 18 - Nature's Mysteries - 10-11am and 1-2pm. Join ranger Matt Nash in the fully accessible Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center for a children's learning experience about the lives of animals. Pre-registration required - contact matthew.nash@state.ma.us or call 781-485-2804 extension 105 to sign up.

January 29 - Winter Tracking Hike - 1:30-3:30pm. Join expert tracker naturalist David Brown in search of wildlife signs. We may discover the trails of the coyote, fisher, deer, otter, and other animals normally associated with distant wilderness. Two miles or less will be covered at a slow pace. Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear. Please call 781-233-0834 to pre-register and inquire about access. The visitor center is fully accessible but this hike is probably best for those who are ambulatory.

Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, East Boston

February 11 - Winter Tracking Hike - 9-10:30am. Join reservation staff for a walk in search of animal tracks and signs in this wetland environment. No visitor center or restrooms on site, but the trails are quite accessible depending on winter conditions. Call 781-485-2804 to pre-register and for specific info.

Wompatuck State Park, Hingham

February 21 - Tracks, Scats and Nests - 9-10:30am. See listing for Borderland State Park below - and be aware that there is a 2" dip in the concrete near the front door of the visitor center at Wompatuck State Park, otherwise the center is wheelchair accessible. Please call (508) 866-2580 x 163 for more information.
Southeast & Cape Cod:

Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Waquoit

February 4 - Coyote/Coywolf Ecology and Behavior - 2-3:30pm. Jonathan Way, Ph.D., is the leader of the Eastern Coyote/Coywolf Project in Massachusetts. Hes part of a team that has recently investigated the eastern coyote's genetics, finding that the animals are coyote and red wolf hybrids, and proposes to call them coywolves due to their mixed species origin. His talk will focus on his team's genetic findings as well as the ecology and behavior of coywolves in urban/suburban settings. Meet at Reserve Visitor Center, 149 Waquoit Highway (Rt.28), Waquoit, MA. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge. For information, call (508) 457-0495.

Borderland State Park, N. Easton

February 21 - Tracks, Scats and Nests - 1-2:30pm. Animal signs tell stories if we know how to read them. Watch a 45 minute interactive slide show in the Visitor Center and guess who made the signs. Afterwards, we will enjoy a short excursion outdoors at a gentle pace searching for wildlife and the signs they left behind for us to discover. Please dress in warm clothes and winter boots. Program meets at the Visitor Center at 259 Massapoag Street in N. Easton. Rain, snow storm, or very icy conditions will cancel the hiking portion of the program. Please call (508) 866-2580 x 163 for more information. Program is free; there is a $2.00 per car parking fee, unless you have a handicapped placard.
Berkshires:

Western Gateway Heritage State Park, North Adams

Winter Global Theatre - Global theatre venues from around the world, for all ages. All performances at 10am. For more info, call 413-663-6312.

January 14 - Kamishibai - Japanese Paper Theatre
January 21 - Shadow Theatre
January 28 - Noh Puppet Theatre

Click here for other intriguing programs in the Visitor Center in the month of January.

Get Ready for the Holyoke Winter Carnival!

We are desperate for snow in southern New England, although I have to admit not having snow sure makes life easier! Outdoor snow sports are suffering - even the outdoor ice is marginal. Let's hope conditions improve so we can break out of our indoor rinks and enjoy some snow soon. In the mean time, hiking adventures and outdoor skating on man-made ice will have to suffice.

Either way, thank goodness for the Holyoke Winter Carnival - a brand new event in western Massachusetts this year! The whole week of January 29-February 4 is devoted to fun events across the city for all ages and tastes, indoors and out! Among the scheduled events are a free pancake breakfast, a dog show, a domino tournament, an ice hockey game between the local police and fire departments, adaptive outdoor recreation with All Out Adventures at Mt. Tom State Reservation, concerts, games, activities, merry-go-round rides, and a spaghetti dinner. There is also a city-wide public art exhibition - of snowmen! Even without snow, snowmen will reign in Holyoke - anyone is invited to enter the exhibition by making and decorating an Elizur-the-Snowman. See their website for instructions and more info.

Ken Johnston, a main organizer of the event, had a daughter with a severe disability and is dedicated to providing accessible elements of the carnival. You can reach him at holyokewintercarnival@yahoo.com with your access questions about specific events. DCR's Universal Access Program will be at the closing event at Holyoke Heritage State Park on February 4 with an info table, adaptive winter equipment on display, and adaptive games activities.

Don't miss out on this special event!

Janet Zeller - Forest Service Advocate for Access



Janet paddling in Utah.

Janet Zeller is the National Accessibility Manager for the U.S. Forest Service - a woman with a severe disability and enormous enthusiasm for helping others access the great outdoors. Although we had met long ago, she remembered me when we crossed paths again this fall at a conference. The warmth of her personality and her vibrant energy for the work she does leaves me with a glow that continues to inspire the work I do. She's been traveling extensively this fall, presenting at conferences and conducting trainings, so it was only recently we were able to speak on the phone in preparation for this post.

"Outdoor recreation was my lifeblood," she said, "my sanity. I grew up with the idea that you work so you can recreate." Her childhood summers were spent in the White Mountains with her family, in a big cottage built in 1890 that served as a wonderful base camp for outings. She became an avid canoeist and had just learned to sea kayak before her injury. Her first career was as an elementary school supervising librarian, a "hazardous occupation", she emphasized with a laugh, in which she became quadriplegic after a serious fall in the school building.

Janet was paralyzed from the chest down, with severely limited hand function. After extensive rehabilitation she was "desperate to recreate" and began researching her rights to do so. It was the 1980's - before the ADA was passed - and the only entity she found that was required by law to provide access was the federal government. Try as she might, her previous career was no longer feasible. "I kept ending up in the hospital," she says. Those were difficult days, when she was often unable to access public buildings to get basic business done, let alone find a path back to the wilderness.



Janet providing consulation at Crotched Mountain
in New Hampshire. Photo by Donna Moxley of NHPR.

Janet had done some mediation work part time before the accident, so in the late 80s she moved toward it as new career, and people who knew her started contacting her with regard to recreation issues. Soon she was working with the White Mountain National Forest on an access issue. Janet eventually gained employment with the Forest Service in a brand new position in 1991 as a regional advisor on accessibility. It wasn't long before she was also advising on national policy in Washington D.C for the Forest Service. Twenty years later, she continues to lead the development and implementation of policies and procedures related to accessibility on national forest lands. She also represents the agency in relation to other federal agencies, state governments, partners and other organizations, educating at various national venues.

Janet is a fountain of zest for teaching and working with people. "There are two things I need in a job," she said, "something challenging and that makes a difference to people - and this the job for me!" She instructs Forest Service employees and the 5000+ outfitters who provide recreation programs and trips on national forest lands on how to be in compliance with the federal accessibility laws and standards without "undercutting the quality of the experience while also paying attention to safety". The network of Forest Service employees around the country can help match people to the type of recreation experience they are looking for with the type of access they need. Thanks to Janet, the range of their expertise includes an array of accessibility information, from places to go on your own to what types of wheeled devices are allowed in wilderness areas to the essential eligibility criteria each participant must meet to go on wilderness excursions.

"America's Big Backyard" as Janet calls the Forest Service lands, is 193 million acres, visited by 172 million people per year. This really puts our own work within the Massachusetts State Park system into perspective! I can barely fathom what must be required to keep a nationwide agency up to speed on accessibility. Two things I learned: Janet conducts monthly webinars on a wide range of accessibility topics for employees and the Forest Service will soon be introducing an online guide to short hikes around the country that meet access guidelines and provide great experiences to waterfalls, scenic vistas and other beautiful spots.

Janet is a firm believer that such opportunities provide incentive for people to begin and continue outdoor adventure on their own. All you need to do is ask - Forest Service staff on the national forest you plan to visit can link you to local opportunities to match the type of recreation and means of access you are looking for on national forest lands and friendly outfitters who may operate elsewhere too. Here in New England, our national forests are the Green Mountains in Vermont and the White Mountains in New Hampshire and Maine. Possibilities expand across the US where national forest lands are more concentrated.

Janet found her way back to the wilderness again in her favorite way - on the water. Paddling - which she calls "the ultimate equalizer" - provides remarkable access to wilderness areas. One of her most favorite places is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of northern Minnesota, an extensive region of lakes and rivers shared by the U.S. and Canada. (Anyone interested in paddling there can contact Wilderness Inquiry - I've been on their trips and Janet and I agree about how wonderful they are!) It seems that where ever Janet goes, positive change follows. She inspired the first prototype of an adaptive canoe seat by Colin Twitchell of Hampshire College, which is now available for sale at Creating Ability. She wrote the manual on adaptive paddling with others that is the standard in the industry. She also trains paddling instructors in adaptive techniques, co-instructing the American Canoeing Association Adaptive Paddling course where she fits in most of her paddling these days. Luckily she's got two of those coming up - in San Antonio in April, and Alaska next September.

(The next ACA Adaptive Paddling Workshop in New England will be hosted by Northeast Passage and take place June  7 - 10, 2012 in Durham, NH  hosted by Northeast Passage, Contact: Crystal Skahan (603) 862-0070, crystal.skahan@unh.edu )

Thanks for your great work Janet!! - and kudos to the U.S. Forest Service for their pro-active approach to access for all!!

Jim Ebert - A Life Well Lived Helping Others to the Top



Jim Ebert (left) with Juan Botero at the top of
Mt. Kilimanjaro.

At year's end I offer up the story of Jim Ebert - a professional mountaineer who not only lived to summit the world's most challenging peaks, but focused his work on helping others experience the thrill of extreme adventure. Jim died this year in July at 64 years old, while climbing Mt. Whitney in California in preparation for a trip that will bring people with disabilities to the highest point in the lower 48 states.



Jim was raised in a family of mountain climbers who were well connected with the world's leading mountaineers. He took hold of the family's passion early on and devoted his life to the epic sport. Along with numerous personal climbing accomplishments, Jim also made a stunning array of contributions to the climbing world. These include guiding the Iowa Mountaineers to become the world's largest university climbing club, offering the first outdoor toprope instructor certification course in the U.S., training the U.S. military in mountain climbing and winter wilderness skills, and leading countless first ascents in the U.S. and abroad. In thirty years of climbing expeditions and trainings he maintained a perfect safety record, personally guiding over 67,000 people to 17 alpine countries ascending over 1300 major peaks. Jim loved to share the joys of reaching pristine places with others, yet his life work was not complete without helping those with disabilities to access the same thrill of adventure he sought out for himself.



Jim directed an Easter Seals camp in Kentucky in his later years to ensure that adults and children with disabilities could experience accessible camping. His lasting contribution, however, was starting Alpenglow Adventures, an Iowa based organization that helps people with disabilities fulfill their dreams to access the world's most inspirational wild places. Alpenglow's trips in the past few years have helped individuals reach Machu Picchu in Peru, the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, and the bottom of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. One thing I really appreciate about Alpenglow Adventures is that the trips are decided based on where someone who has a dream wants to go, then hikers and climbers are recruited to form an assistive team. It truly is a pioneering experience. Each trip is usually the first of its kind to the destination. I'm tempted to sign up to help out on a trip myself!



Jim Ebert (on right) on the Bright Angel trail
 in the Grand Canyon.



Justin Ebert, Jim's son, says "Anyone who ever knew my Dad, Jim Ebert, will speak of his infectious optimism. He cherished living in the moment and never stopped dreaming of the next adventure. What my Dad loved about Alpenglow Adventures, was the opportunities it provided that had never before been possible. He was always amazed that the beautiful places he loved so dearly had never before been experienced by people with disabilities. He felt it was one thing just to see the Grand Canyon, and another to actually get on the trail and experience all the wonders it had to offer, and that was his motivation. By what he dreamed of with Alpenglow Adventures, his legacy is only beginning."

Alpenglow plans to complete the trip Jim was planning on Mt. Whitney in 2013. In 2012, they will be tackling the Half Dome at Yosemite National Park and doing a Rim to Rim hike of the Grand Canyon, and possibly an international trip with an Everett Base camp trek in the Himalayas.

Thanks Jim, and to those who are continuing your work! You are surely missed by those who knew you and those of us who appreciate the spirit of your life and all you accomplished!

Thanks to Justin Ebert for photos of his father!

DCR Hosts Accessible Winter Activities

Here's the official release on our winter program season! You can find these and more opportunities from other organizations on on Winter 2012 Recreation Calendar - just click the tab above.

This month begins the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Accessible Winter Activities calendar. DCR’s Universal Access Program will sponsor a wide variety of adaptive cold-weather recreation opportunities at locations across the Commonwealth. Designed for people with disabilities and their families and friends, the programs are free. Pre-registration is required.

Activities offered through March include accessible cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, kick sledding, snowmobiling. Staff assistance and free use of accessible equipment, such as sit skis and kick sleds, will be available.

DCR’s Universal Access Program is one of the most innovative accessible state park programs in the nation. It enables people with disabilities to participate in a wide variety of activities, making recreation programs in Massachusetts more inclusive. DCR invites participants to come out and enjoy the various adaptive winter programs, and is also looking for volunteers to assist with them. Interested volunteers should call Heidi Marie-Peterson at 413-577-3840. Two trainings are scheduled: January 7 at Wendell State Forest and January 22 at the Weston Ski Track.

For additional information on DCR’s Universal Access Program, a schedule of activities, and to preregister, visit www.mass.gov/dcr  and click on “universal access.”

DCR Universal Access Program

2012 Winter Schedule

Call the phone numbers listed to register for these exciting programs!

Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Kick-Sledding, and more!
D.A.R. State Forest, Goshen Thursdays: December 12 & 19, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Tuesdays: March 6 & 13, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 413-259-0009

Weston Ski Track, Weston Sundays: January 19, February 5, 12, & 26; March 4

Monday: February 20 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. 413-259-0009

Mt. Tom Reservation, Holyoke Saturdays: January 21, February 4 & 18

Wednesday, February 22 from 11a.m. – 3p.m. 413-527-8980

Wendell State Forest, Wendell Saturdays: January 14 & 28, February 11 & 25, and March

3 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. (includes snowmobile rides) 413-527-8980

Accessible Skating Program Schedule

Asiaf Memorial Rink, Brockton Sundays: January 15 & 29, February 12 & 26
 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. 413-527-8980

Buffone Skating Rink, Worcester Thursdays: January 26 from 10 a.m.-noon; March 1 and 29,
 from 2 - 4 p.m. 413-577-3840

Cronin Rink, Revere Tuesdays: January 10, February 14, & March 20, from
 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 413-577-3840

Fitzpatrick Skating Rink, Holyoke Sundays: January 22, February 26, March 18 and April 1, from

12 noon to 2 p.m. 413-577-3840

Kelly Outdoor Rink, Jamaica Plain Wednesday: January 18 and February 1, from 1-3p.m.

413-527-8980

Steriti Rink, Boston – North End Tuesdays: January 24 and February 7 from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

413-527-8980.

Thursday, February 9 from 7 – 9 p.m. Call 413-577-3840.

Tuesday, February 21 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Call 413-577-3840.

Ice Sleds Available for Public Skating & Winter Gear You Can Use at Weston Ski Track!

The skating season is upon us and many state rinks in Massachusetts have accessible ice skating sleds for people with disabilities to use on their own during public skating! Call in advance to ensure availability and find out anything else you need to know before you go!

Here is a list of places to go:

Auburn - Horgan Rink: 508-832-7201 (2 sleds)
Cambridge - Simoni Rink: 617-354-9523 (3 kids sleds)
Boston: Hyde Park - Bajko Rink: 617-364-9188 (2 kids sleds)
Boston: North End - Steriti Rink: 617-523-9327 ( 2 sleds)
Boston: West Roxbury - Roche Rink: 617-323-9512 (4 sleds)
Brockton - Asiaf Rink: 508-583-6804 (4 sleds)
Franklin - Pirelli/Vets Rink: 508-541-7024 (2 sleds)
Greenfield - Collins/Moylan Rink: 413-772-6891 (2 sleds)
Holyoke - Fitzpatrick Rink: 413-532-2929 (6 sleds)
Jamaica Plain - Kelly Rink {OUTDOORS!}: 617-727-7000 (1 sled)
Medford - Flynn Rink: 781-395-8492 (2 sleds)
Newburyport - Graf Rink: 978-462-8112 (1 sled)
North Adams - Vietnam Vets Rink: 413-664-8185 (3 sleds)
Plymouth - Armstrong Rink: 508-746-8825 (2 sleds)
Revere - Cronin Rink: 781-284-9491 (4 sleds)
Springfield - Smead Rink: 413-781-2599 (4 sleds)
Taunton - Alexio Rink: 508-824-4987 (2 sleds)

Each sled has a set of hockey sticks with which you can propel yourself and there is at least one stroller bar at each rink to allow for being pushed too. Some sleds have more support - a higher back and chest strap for those who need additional stabilization. If a rink has 2 sleds, one will feature extra support and a stroller bar handle. Kids usually fit fine into adult sleds (but alas the reverse it not true!). If you prefer to use another DCR rink that isn't listed, call 413-545-5758 to see if we can accommodate your need.

At the Weston Ski Track outside Boston, there are 2 cross country sitskis and 2 kicksleds available for use. Even if there is no snow, as long as its cold enough, snow is made for 2km of groomed trails! When there is snow, the trails expand! For those who have utilized the adaptive ski programs on site but don't have their own sitskis, you can go on your own any day of the week! If you are already experienced at sitskiing, contact the Ski Track at 781-891-6575 to find out how you can access the snow. The Ski Track is open until 9pm Monday - Thursday! Try night skiing!

Scandinavian kicksleds are a nice accommodation for anyone who can't walk far and would like to tour the trails with an assistant to push them. They are also great movable seating for seniors who would like to watch ski races at the Weston Ski Track!

For a list of adaptive winter program opportunities in Massachusetts, click on the Winter Calendar tab under the header above.

Accessible Gyms and Adaptive Fitness - A Ticket to Greater Adventure

While recovering from a serious illness fifteen years ago, I started to work out at my local gym. I've been working out ever since because it feels good and keeps me in reasonable shape. A friend helped me get started and now as my partner supports my regular routine. (A tip-o-the-laptop to you Meb!) Over time, I've come to realize that fitness habits of stretching, cardio, nautilus weight training, and that rewarding sauna afterwards not only contribute to my greater health, but support my outdoor activities, from yard work to long bike rides.

The benefits of good health and fitness can't be underestimated yet it seems that our society is increasingly losing its grip on how to maintain healthy habits. While there are many known factors for this sad trend, people with disabilities have significant risk for poorer health according to a recent report. You don't have to be a serious athlete to benefit from exercise. Those benefits can be as simple as feeling better, making more social connections, gaining strength, endurance, resilience, and self confidence.

Adaptive Games Debut Before Snowstorm

I took a break from preparing for a shockingly early snowstorm today to observe our first Adaptive Games program at Mt. Tom State Reservation in Holyoke. Lead by Heidi Marie-Peterson and a small group of volunteers, about 40 students from Chicopee High School participated in three rounds of outdoor games. Students with and without intellectual disabilities were paired up as Best Buddies. The Adaptive Games program offered new Best Buddies an opportunity to get to know each other and recreate together outside of school. Cold temperatures, wet ground, and the threat of an early snowstorm did not stop anyone from having a good time on the playing field near the top of the mountain!