Adaptive Recreation Highlights in August

DCR Universal Access Program update in Massachusetts State Parks - It has been a very busy summer and gone by all too fast! Some of my favorite moments from this month - 

Hiking at Walden Pond - I was thrilled to see David and others travel 1.7 miles around the pond where Henry David Thoreau staked his claim to literary history. We visited the original site of Henry's hand-hewn cabin with three people in wheelchairs then worked our way along the well-beaten trail - even over some massive stone steps. It was a real sense of accomplishment for all involved. David transferred out of his new power wheelchair - which he controls with his head - to circumnavigate the popular pond with his wife Brenda and Universal Access Program staff Chauncey and Fiona.

Horseback Riding at Bradley Palmer State Park - I fit in a visit to our annual 2 day riding program in which people with all kinds of disabilities take the high view of the trail thanks to Windrush Farms from nearby Boxford. They provide staff, volunteers and four mellow horses, plus a wheelchair ramp that unfolds off of a trailer. One hour rides give some the much needed enjoyment some have waited for all summer, even those who may have ridden all their lives prior to losing a leg, as was the case for Posie (shown on left with cane) and Lee (astride the first horse).

Sailing at Community Boating in Boston - It was a pleasure to meet Margaret, a participant who has been sailing for four years and now spends most days of her summer on the dock and river. When she's not sailing, she uses skills honed in building theater sets to help out with much needed tasks at Boston's oldest public sailing venue, including creating the sign at the entrance. Margaret's arthritis, vision impairment, and lack of private transportation don't stop her from taking the T to pursue her passion.

Though horseback riding is done for the season, hiking and sailing continue into the fall. Don't let summer end without fulfilling your sense of adventure!

Hiking:
September 6 - George's Island, Boston Harbor
September 13 - Chicopee State Park, Chicopee
September 30 - Bradley Palmer State Park, Topsfield
October 3 - Holyoke Range State Park, Amherst
October 18 - Borderland State Park, Sharon
October 20 - Maudslay State Park, Newburyport
Call Stavros Outdoor Access at 413-259-0009 to sign up!

Sailing:
August 27- September 30
Weekdays: 1-5pm
Weekends: 10am-3pm
Call Community Boating at 617-523-1038 to find out more. Sessions through the fall are booked, but visiting to check out the program for next year is a worthwhile chance to enjoy the Esplanade and there may be cancellations!

Celebrating the ADA with Outdoor Recreation!

Yesterday's 22nd Annual Celebration of the ADA at Dunn Pond State Park in Gardner, MA was another fantastic day! Threatening weather forecasts did not stop the Massachusetts Statewide Independent Living Council from conducting their popular event which included a free catered meal on the green and wonderful live music. DCR's Universal Access Program provided kayaking and trails experiences. The rain and storms held off, the sun came out, and over 150 people enjoyed a meaningful day commemorating the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

I especially noticed a lot of people were discovering they could enjoy kayaking and getting out on a woodland trail when previously they had not thought this was possible or something they would enjoy. Some people with severe disabilities were well bolstered with padding in the front of a kayak while someone paddled and steered in the back seat.

Other individuals were able to use unique hand adaptations to help them paddle independently on the gentle waters of the pond. Our rugged hiking wheelchairs allowed those who are challenged by walking to get further into the woods with less effort on a smooth trail, supported by team members. Out on the trail, people enjoyed nature interpretation and following clues to find letterboxes (hidden boxes that contain stamps to commemorate an outing).

All in all, it was a great experience, enjoyed and appreciated by not just those who came to attend, but by the park staff and those who worked hard to organize the event. Such opportunities should not be seen as a once-a-year event.  Summer is not over! We have programs going on in a variety of parks through August! Space is still available in many programs so please don't hesitate to call, find out more, and sign up for more outdoor summer fun!

Here's a list of upcoming recreation opportunities: Don't miss out!!!

Kayaking at Douglas State Forest (on the Rhode Island border) - 2 days left: Thursdays, August 2 and 9.
Kayaking at Regatta Point, Quinsigamond State Park, Worcester - 2 dates: Thursdays, August 16 and 23.
Canoeing at Hampton Ponds State Park (near Springfield) - 3 dates: Tuesdays: August 7, 14, and 21. Call All Out Adventures at 413-527-8980 for the above 3 programs!

Kayaking at Hopkinton State Park in Hopkinton (out the outskirts of Boston) - 3 dates: Thursdays: August 2, 9, and 16. Call 508-435-3965 to sign up! Families are especially welcome!

Upcoming Hiking Programs:
Walden Pond State Reservation (in Concord, outside Boston): Thursday, August 2
Robinson State Park (in Agawam, near Springfield): August 28
Boston Harbor Islands ferry ride and hike: September 6
Chicopee State Park, (in Chicopee, near Springfield): September 13

Call Stavros Outdoor Access at 413-259-0009! Hiking programs continue through October!

Summer 2012 Adaptive Biking Opportunities!

Adaptive cycling opportunities in Massachusetts and beyond continue to increase! Here are the active cycling opportunities in New England I know of - all great resources if you are looking for bikes to use and others to ride with!

Spaulding Riders Club - A community cycling club in Boston inclusive of athletes with physical disabilities will hep members find the right assistive devices to enjoy cycling on a regular basis. The Club hosts rides that are open to everyone regardless of disability status, every other Thursday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The dates are June 14 and 28, July 12 and 26, August 9 and 23. Cyclists meet at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Boston Pier, 125 Nashua Street in Boston (near the MBTA North Station) at 5:30pm. Ride begin at 6pm. If you own our own cycle, no reservations are necessary. For more information or if you are an athlete with a physical disability who are already been fitted to an adaptive cycle and would like to rent a cycle for the nominal $5 per session fee, please call 617-573-7104. Cycles are available by reservation only on a first come first served basis.

Spaulding's Adaptive Sports Center also hosts an every other Wednesday adaptive cycling ride along the Cape Cod Canal in Sandwich from Memorial Day to Labor Day in conjunction with CapeABLE Adventures.

Gaylord Sports Association Cycling Club - Monthly rides in Connecticut - Bring your own bike or reserve one. Call to reserve and directions will be sent to you a week before the ride. Rides are from 5-7pm, Tuesdays July 31 in New Haven, August 21 and September 18 in Cheshire. 203-284-2272.

DCR Universal Access Program - Weekly adaptive cycling program on Fridays from 11am-4pm in Hadley, MA from July 13 to August 24. A wide range of bikes available to ride in hour time slots on the 8 mile Norwottuck Rail Trail, including handcycles, recumbents, tandems and kid's bikes. Call All Out Adventures to register: 413-527-8980.

DCR also offers 2 adult handcycles for rental on the Cape Cod Rail Trail in Brewster at Rail Trail Bike Shop. Call 508-896-3491 for more information.

All Out Adventures - Cycling for Seniors (60+) - Weekly cycling program on Wednesdays from 10am - 2pm through October 17 in Hadley, MA. (No program June 27 and July 4). View their bike selection on line here. Call 413-527-8980 to register.

Northeast Passage - Click here for NEP's Summer Cycling Schedule! They'll be in NH, MA, and ME this summer with a variety of rides including the annual Notch Century Ride in the White Mountains where you can challenge yourself to ride 100 miles in 1, 2 or 3 days!!

Summer Opportunities with Northeast Passage!

RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES abound with this exceptional adaptive recreation organization!!!! Water Ski on Tuesday evenings! Fee: $20/Session Two locations: Attitash Lake in Merrimac, MA on June 12, 19, July 10, 24, Aug 7, 14 Swains Lake in Barrington, NH on June 26, July 17, 31, Aug 21, 28

Waterski Weekend: Fee: $20/day -- Sign up for one or both days! August 11 & 12 in Mashpee, MA Essential Eligibility Requirement: Participants must be able to turn themselves from face down to face up in the water, while wearing a PFD (life jacket). Instruction on how to do this can be provided. Please contact NEP in advance if you are concerned or have questions.

Disabled Sports USA 'I Can Do Anything' Youth Scholarships Available! The Disabled Sports USA ‘I Can Do Anything!’ Youth Adaptive Sports Scholarship! This initiative provides funding for youth with disabilities (under 18), with limited financial means, to participate in adaptive sports programs. By filling out the application, your child can receive a scholarship for the event registration fees, transportation and lodging costs! This scholarship is good for ANY NEP program between now and September! Contact NEP at 603-862-0070 or northeast.passage@unh.edu to receive an application.

Cycling at Acadia National Park, Maine! Date: June 16, 2012 Time: All Day Ride Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, ME. Meet NEP there to rent your adaptive cycle and spend the weekend riding the 45 miles of historic carriage roads! NEP Cycle Rental Fee: $25/day. Summer Equipment Rentals! What do you do when you want to play but don’t have the toys? YOU RENT! NEP's equipment rental program makes it affordable to try before you buy, be a weekend warrior, gain skills, and be involved in more than one sport. Best of all, you get the choice and freedom you deserve. What are you waiting for?

Contact NEP to reigster for programs and reserve rental equipment. You can even rent waterskis! Call 603-862-0070 or email northeast.passage@unh.edu. Pre-registration is required for all programs and payment is required at the time of booking to hold your spot. Space is limited, so register soon!

Adaptive Recreation and Summer Fun is Here!

Summer has officially arrived! A broad spectrum of adaptive recreation opportunities is available throughout New England. Here's a sampling of just some of the fun you don't want to miss out on:

I have to toot our own program horn first: DCR's Universal Access Program is already in action with hiking this month. Our statewide trail outing program, facilitated by Stavros Outdoor Access, visits parks across Massachusetts from the coast to the Berkshires with plenty of educational themes and fun activities mixed in. Check the Summer Program page to the right in the sidebar to see when we'll be at a park near you! Sailing on the Charles River is underway daily with Community Boating. In July we'll be up and running everyday of the week with a program somewhere - kayaking, canoeing, cycling and rowing all take place on weekdays!



Next - Northeast Passage! Based in Durham, NH, this long-standing barrier-free recreation organization expands outward into Maine and Massachusetts as well as covering the ground in New Hampshire this summer. If you want to play golf, tennis, cycle, kayak, or waterski, give them a call. They also rent adaptive recreation gear for you to use on your own! Everyone who works there is a certified therapeutic recreation specialist so all the fun they provide comes with a great deal of expertise. Their full summer season culminates in September with a 100-mile ride through the White Mountains for those who seek an athletic challenge.

Accessible kayaking opportunities in the Boston area have taken a leap forward this year! Outdoor Recreation of Hopkinton with the help of Waypoint Adventure is offering adaptive programs at 2 new locations besides Hopkinton  - Spot Pond in Middlesex Fells Reservation and UMASS Boston. Check these out at their new website: Boating in Boston.

In the Pioneer Valley, a wonderful program has been gaining momentum on the Norwottuck Rail Trail for a few years now. All Out Adventures provides Cycling for Seniors! I glimpse this program in action while passing by and it is great to see people 60 years and older enjoying a wide variety of supportive bikes. AOA also offers Kayaking for Seniors. It's great to see more focused recreation activities available now for this age group!

A little bit of rain did not deter these hikers from a recent
exploration of Mt. Tom State Reservation in Holyoke!

And don't forget DCR's REC CONNECT program - if you live in Boston, Worcester, or Holyoke, and surrounding areas, we can help you meet your recreation dreams and goals and build your skills in a wide variety of activities. Check out our facebook page linked above to see what's going on and give Heidi a call at 413-577-3840 to find out more! We are looking for mentors, volunteers, and more people who just want to have fun! We also need your input: What activity would you like to see us turn into an adaptive recreation program next? Please vote on the sidebar poll and talk to Heidi!

There's more - look around here and stay tuned!

Dreaming of Summer? Time to Start Planning!

If you are winter weary or just want to fast forward towards summer, here are a few things to consider as you dream of warm weather, green trees and open water:

Yurt Camping 
Now is the time to make reservations for accessible yurts and cabins in Massachusetts State Parks! Several parks from Cape Cod to the Berkshires offer great accommodations (including electricity!)that make camping easier than ever before! Reservations open up 6 months in advance so we are already booking for mid-July! Click here for more info on yurt camping and here for more general info on camping in Massachusetts State Parks.

Beach Wheelchairs
Boardwalks and beach wheelchairs help make beaches more accessible. Our popular wheelchair buggies are available throughout Massachusetts State and Urban Parks on both inland and ocean beaches. Families and couples with a variety of disabilities have made regular use of these chairs over the years. They feature a movable arm for easy transfer from wheelchairs. Use is free - we recommend calling in advance to ensure a chair will be ready for your arrival. Click here for more info!

Accessible Sailing
If you are planning a trip to Boston this year, come sail on the Charles River with Community Boating. With adapted Mercury and Sonar sailboats, you can sail independently or in a supportive group with friends and family. Adaptive sailing takes place every day of the week from May 2 through October 2. With a brand new dock and a hoyer lift, plus a daily schedule, sailing this summer will be better than ever! Many participants who live in the Boston area sail regularly and have earned various sailing certifications. You can read about a participant's experience here!

Last, but not least, stay tuned for our summer program schedule of kayaking, cycling, hiking and other activities at numerous locations around Massachusetts - it won't be out for awhile, but you can get a newsletter via email or U.S. mail - just email me at marcy.marchello@state.ma.us and put "summer!" in the subject box.

Time to Plan a Trip to the Beach!

Summer is fast approaching and as warmer weather gets more consistent, most of us start thinking about a trip to the beach. Sunshine, cooling breezes and being by the water brings a welcome relief from our usual routine.

For people who use wheelchairs as well as others with limited mobility, the beach can be a barrier to the water, but not so for those who pick a beach with a good boardwalk or better yet, beach wheelchairs. Boardwalks in good condition and cleared of sand provide great specific access points to a beach experience and may or may not have places to sit. Beach wheelchairs offer the possibility of traveling on the sand to the water's edge with more general access to wherever you want to go, within pushing range. Those who need a comfortable place to sit and rest in order to enjoy a beach experience with the family will appreciate the roomy comfort and cushions.

Now's the Time to Reserve Campsites - and Yurts!

Missing summer? Hankering for a little adventure? If you are considering camping this summer, now is the time to make reservations!If you are thinking that camping is a thing of the past for you, think again!

Camping has been made much more accessible in some Massachusetts State Parks with the use of yurts. These circular structures feature a door that locks, windows, a skylight, beds, table and chairs, ramped deck and electricity. Based on a portable structure from Mongolia, yurts have become a permanent and popular addition to camping in recent years.

Yurts come in two sizes - one that sleeps four and one that sleeps six people. This makes them great for families and small groups that want to camp but don't want to lug everything. They make an exceptionally convenient home away from home. Nightly fees run $30-$40 - more expensive then tent camping, but less expensive then a motel. You bring your sleeping bag, food, and other personal items and you are good to go!

In Massachusetts, the following parks have a few yurts in their campgrounds:

Cape Cod:

Nickerson State Park in Brewster

Shawme Crowell State Park in Sandwich

Central:

Otter River State Forest in Baldwinsville

Wells State Park in Sturbridge

Berkshires:

October Mountain State Forest in Lee

Now's the time to reserve for summer camping! Reservations start 6 months from the date you want to camp. You might want to check availability online at http://www.reserveamerica.com/ or call them at 1-877-ICAMPMA or 1-877-422-6762.

A few other critical points for those with severe disabilities:

The electrical capacity at yurt sites is good for lights, but not recommended for life dependent equipment such as ventilators. Electricity is not guaranteed as power outages can occur anytime.

There is usually a water spigot on the campsite, but no running water inside the yurt.