Spring Into Cycling with Northeast Passage

Spring is springing so early this year! The weather is already great for cycling. I've seen people out on bikes everywhere I go and am looking forward to getting out on my bike this weekend.

If you are looking for adaptive cycling opportunities in New England, Northeast Passage is one of the best organizations around for cycling expertise and experiences. They offer a great selection of quality handcycles and recumbent bikes, including tandems and bikes for kids. Most, if not all, of their staff are certified therapeutic recreation specialists. Over the years I have always been impressed by their ingenuity and ability to support people with physical disabilities in competitive sports and amazing adventures, including summit hiking in the White Mountains.


Northeast Passage offers cycling clinics and rides throughout spring, summer and fall. Coming right up Saturday, March 24, is an Introductory Cycling Clinic in Durham, NH - a perfect chance to jump start into spring and try out a variety of bikes to see what works best for you. They'll have Top End and Quickie handcycles; Greenspeed, Hase and Trailmate foot-powered bicycles; tandems; and the new Lasher ATH handcycle designed for off road riding. This is a rain or shine event - indoors or out depending on the weather. The $20 fee is well worth it for the expertise and variety of quality bikes involved. Families and friends are welcome!

There are a couple other chances to ride with Northeast Passage coming up this spring. They will do another introductory cycling clinic in Cheshire, CT, on May 12 in conjunction with the Gaylord Sports Association.  

Northeast Passage will also host a clinic on Cape Cod with Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and CapeAble Adventures in Sandwich on May 19, followed by a ride on the Shining Sea Bike Path on May 20.

To find out more and sign up, contact Northeast Passage at 603-862-0700 or northeast.passage@unh.edu

Thanks to Dave Lee and Keely Ames for photos!

Adaptive Swim Lessons - Get Ready for Summer!

 "I am amazed with how comfortable my child has become in the water!! When we first introduced him to the water he had only fear and tears - now he looks forward to swimming!"

So says the parent of a current student of Courtney Buckley, a resident of Natick, Mass., who specializes in providing private swim lessons for people with disabilities in the Boston metrowest area. She has been offering swim lessons since 2006 and works with clients at the local pool or pond of their choice. Courtney uses adaptive teaching methods to accommodate individual needs at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.

Courtney has also served as program staff for several years with Stavros Outdoor Access, working one-to-one with hikers and skiers. I've noticed her consistently friendly presence makes everyone feel comfortable. Her swimming lessons are such a unique and wonderful resource I am passing this info on so more people might benefit!

"Most commonly I have used backyard pools, YMCA's, local hotel pools, state parks and town ponds", says Courtney. "I have experience with both adults and children - with anything from physical disability, TBI, developmental delay, autism, and plenty of high functioning individuals with a fear of water. I like to be in contact with my participants beforehand so I can bring materials that may help them swim. I love to have families and friends participate so that I can teach them the skills to practice, and my presence won't be necessary each time they are in the water. I do charge a small fee, mostly for transportation and material costs. If someone is looking for continuing lessons I can provide those too!"


"I like that Courtney never pushed me to do things I was uncomfortable with. She figured out a way to get me to swim independently and safely, and put up with my picky-ness", says Kara, another former client.

"All I wanted was for my kids to be safe at our lake home, now I am confident in their abilities in the water and I feel that they have the safety skills to join in water activities and parties with their friends as well!" reports the parent of twins, also former clients.

Courtney has taught 25 or so individuals with disabilities how to swim. If you live in the Boston or the surrounding area and want to learn or boost your swim skills, contact Courtney at

court.j.buckley@gmail.com

Go Get the Sweet Stuff!

DCR Maple Sugaring Programs


Tap into Nature during the Maple Sugar Days at Massachusetts State Parks!

This March, join the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and learn how maple syrup is made. Visitors will learn how the sap is collected from maple trees and boiled down to produce pure maple syrup! See below for a complete listing of programs. For all maple sugaring programs please wear sturdy footwear and warm clothing. Some fees apply as noted.

Regarding accessibility, Breakheart Reservation and Blue Hills Reservation/Brookwood Farm are   accessible sites for wheelchair users, including the visitor centers. At Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park, the visitor center is wheelchair accessible and the sugar house (very short distance) varies depending on snow cover. The Botume House at Middlesex Fells is not wheelchair accessible, nor is the Krug Sugarbush. Definitely call in advance to ask about accessibility and mud conditions!!!!


Saturday, March 3rd, noon

Middlesex Fells Reservation, 4 Woodland Road, Stoneham

The Tapping of the Trees!

Come to the Fells ‘sugar bush’ to tap maple trees for the upcoming Maple Sugaring’ event at Breakheart Reservation. Meet at the Botume House Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is located at 4 Woodland Road on Spot Pond. This program is free. For more information please call (781) 233-0834.

March 3 and 4th, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park, 287 Oak Street, Uxbridge

Maple Sugarmakers Open House!

Join the Blackstone Valley Sugaring Association and learn about the maple sugaring process. Please visit www.blackstonevalleysugaring.org for more information or call 508 278-6486.

Saturday, March 17th, 9:00 a.m.-noon

Breakheart Reservation, 177 Forest Street, Saugus

Pancake Breakfast!

Join the Friends of Breakheart Reservation at the Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center at Breakheart Reservation for their annual Pancake Breakfast. Visitors can eat delicious pancakes and watch DCR staff working in the Sugar Shack to see how syrup is made. There is a $5 admission fee. For more information please call (781) 233-0834.

Sunday, March 18th, 10:00 a.m.-2:00p.m.

Breakheart Reservation, 177 Forest Street, Saugus

Maple Sugaring!

Learn about the history of maple sugaring, participate in a tree identification activity, tap a maple, watch the evaporator at work in the Sugar Shack, and best of all taste the results! A $4 admission will support the program, used directly for the equipment you will see in action. For more information please call (781) 233-0834.

Saturday, March 10 & Sunday, March 11, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Brookwood Farm in the DCR Blue Hills Reservation in Milton

Maple Sugar Days!

It’s sugaring time in the Blue Hills! Join us as we make maple syrup in the traditional way at beautiful Brookwood Farm in Milton. Put on your boots and flannel shirt and join in the outdoor fun! Learn how to identify a sugar maple and see the sap drip into buckets from the trees. Travel along the trail of time and meet costumed characters demonstrating the changes in maple sugaring methods from Native Americans to Yankee farmers to modern day technology. Smell the wood smoke as you watch clouds of steam rise from the bubbling sap. Savor the taste of real maple syrup. Enjoy a free shuttle ride on the Maple Express Trolley. Activities are appropriate for all ages. Program admission is $6.00. Children under 2 are free. Maple Sugar Days is a joint program of the Department of Conservation and Recreation and Massachusetts Audubon’s Trailside Museum. The program admission fee is charged to benefit the Trailside Museum. This program is wheelchair accessible. For details or more information call (617) 698-1802 or (617)333-0690

Weekdays during March

Krug Sugarbush, Chesterfield

Maple Sugar Tours!

Join the Park Staff at the Krug Sugarbush weekdays during the month of March to see how maple syrup is produced. Visitors will learn first-hand how the sap is collected from maple trees and boiled down to produce pure maple syrup. Operation is based on weather, so please call one day prior to your visit. Advanced group reservations are welcome. For more information please call (413) 268-7098. (D.A.R. State Forest)

All events, programs and activities are subject to change. Please take a moment to call ahead to confirm and check on accessibility.

Young Nordic Skiers with Autism Have Fun in Weston

Despite our snowless winter, we've seen some wonderful progress at our winter program on the Weston Ski Track. Its the only place in Massachusetts that makes snow for cross country skiing. This year we've enjoyed watching several participants with Autism Spectrum disorders build confidence and skills while having fun coming each week.

Some parents are able to take a little respite time while their children are with recreation staff on the snowfield by finding a spot nearby and being available by cell phone. Other parents ski with their children, or push them on a kicksled, or vice versa. Kicksleds are useful as an alternate way to be on the snow to get used to a new place and can serve as a break from learning to stand ski. Offering ski poles gives the seated person an opportunity to physically engage and gets them used to the arm exercise.

Brenda Davies, who leads the Universal Access Program on Sundays, says "It's great to get families out together on the kick-sleds and skiing alongside!" It provides the chance for family members to have fun and learn together in the context of a program experience with the built-in opportunity to meet and make friends with similar families. Some kids have found a new friend this winter on the ski track!

The young woman pictured here gets assistance while setting up to ski with a ski walker - an interesting balance tool that can serve as a transitional element for new skiers. Adding a gait belt around her waist can make it easier for helpers to assist with balance and help her test skiing without the walker. She is now able to fit her boots into the skis independently.

Many of the steps of skiing take time to learn, such as clicking your boot into the binding using a ski pole, learning to balance on skis while moving slowly without poles, learning to use poles and increase speed, turn, and fall. Each aspect can be broken into short steps and built upon, offering opportunities for improvement on a week-to-week basis.

Only one program left coming up this Sunday March 4!!! Call Brenda at 413-259-0009 to sign up! The program will run from 12-4pm. Might be a nice chance to check it out for next year and embrace some fun on the snow before this "winter" is over! The adaptive ski program also offers seated cross country skis and snowshoes.

Winter Fun Indoors and Out!

Program Increases Access at State Rinks from Chris Lovett on Vimeo.

We are still snowless in most of Massachusetts, but our skating programs at indoor rinks are still going strong! This week 65 people joined us in Brockton and 50 joined us on the ice in Revere. The Neighborhood Network News (Channel 9 Boston) showed up to do a film feature of our program! The reporter and cameraman stay on the ice for well over an hour and got some great footage of the heartwarming happenings that occur during a typical adative skating program. Check out both the NNN feature above and the youtube version below set to music!



Join the fun! Here's a list of the rest of our skating programs for this season!

Holyoke: Sundays February 26, March 18 and April 1:  12-2pm

Worcester: Thursdays March 1 and 29 from 2-4pm

Revere: Tuesdays March 20 and April 10 from 11:30am  - 1:30pm

Call Heidi Marie-Peterson at 413-577-3840 to register for the above programs.

Brockton: Sunday, February 26 from 1:30-3:320pm during public skating.

North Boston: Tuesday, February 28 from 1:30-3:30 during public skating.

Call All Out Adventures at 413-527-8980 to register for these last 2 programs!

You can still play outdoors on the snow at the Weston Ski Track outside Boston where snow is made overnight (thank goodness the temperature is dipping below freezing!). We have three more programs coming up:

Monday, February 20
Sunday, February 26
Sunday, March 4

Each Weston program runs 12 noon to 4pm. Call Stavros Outdoor Access to find out more and pre-register at 413-259-0009.

Adaptive Skaters - More Images and Techniques

In honor of faraway adaptive skating friends Oatie and Mel, and those in Massachusetts who are coming out to our adaptive skating programs, here are a few more photos from recent programs celebrating a variety of skaters enjoying the ice! There seems to be no end to the possibilities for creative support techniques!

Power chair users can spin, slide, do donuts, and even simulate bilateral skating if they can lean side to side while in motion.

Members of a high school hockey team assist sled skaters in playing hockey.


Stroller bar handles allow for assistance as needed and can be removed easily for those who can propel themselves independently.

Skilled ice skaters can push a sled or skate alongside for company, or even get in a sled themselves to model techniques. Skating backwards in front of a sled skater can offer face to face instructions and help focus those with attention challenges.

For some who are learning to skate on conventional ice skates, pushing someone else in a sled allows for mutual support!

We've seen strong sled skaters pushing other sled skaters in a train.

I have done my fair share of both conventional and sled skating and even received a ride on a sled as shown here. Some new variation is revealed in almost every program.

A young man in a wheeled stander gets to test out his skating legs.

It is always nice to have families enjoy the ice together! We also see groups from day care facilities, group homes and even rehab hospitals at our programs.

A variety of medical equipment can acquire a sense of fun appeal out on the ice. Last week I observed a young man in a wheelchair, with skates on his feet, alternate between playing hockey from his wheelchair and trying out skating using a walker, with the assistance of a few skaters.

Kids fit fine in adult sized sleds - just make sure to fasten the seat belt! A sliding foot tray is moved to the position closest to the seat so this young boy has a place to rest his feet. A piece of foam could also be strapped or taped to the frame for leg positioning support and also serve as insulation from the cold of the ice below.

A chest strap can help keep a child, or anyone who might need additional torso support, in an upright position.

Blankets can be wrapped around the legs of sled skaters and cover people in wheelchairs to help keep them warmer.

Adaptive Ice Skating Techniques

Winter is wimping out on us so far this season. Thank goodness we can always resort to ice skating indoors! Ice skating provides an amazingly fun way for everyone to play, despite any fears of cold or falling. With more attention on this activity, we are embellishing our techniques for supporting skaters with disabilities on the ice. Here are our favored methods:

Assistive Skaters

One or more skilled ice skaters can easily assist a new skater with or without props. All Out Adventures shares some of their techniques on this video, which also shows skating on an ice sled.

Skatewalker

This is a home-made item using PVC pipe, glue and sometimes even screws. It is meant to serve as a balance aid, not to support full weight all of the time. We like to see people wear helmets when using these and work towards independent use if possible. If you make your own skatewalker, we highly recommend 1" pipe. We find 1 1/4" to be less strong and more likely to break. Can be made at varying heights. Users should grip midway along the upper side sections to ensure stability.

Gait or Transfer Belt

This standard item is a great aid for stand skaters, especially anyone for whom falling is not recommended due to fragility or a previous injury. The transfer belt has handles all the way around, allowing quick assistance when needed without invading personal space. Multiple skaters can more easily support a skater to stay more upright.

Portable Folding Ramps and Carpet

One or two three foot ramps are incredibly helpful for wheelchair access to the ice. They can be screwed into the threshold for stability. We like to add a short length of carpet coming out from under the ramp to provide a stable transitional spot for anyone who needs it. The end of the carpet can be "glued down" with some water, which quickly freezes it to the ice. This set up allows people using power chairs especially to get enough traction to come back off the ice.

Ice Grippers

This is of course not technically skating. In some of our programs we invite people on the ice "as they are" from power chair users to non-skaters, creating a near totally inclusive environment. Where rinks allow street shoes, those who truly wish to avoid skates can - using slip-on Yak Trax or other ice gripping devices - while tending to family members or clients, and enjoying the play experience on the ice. The use of ice grippers provides vital support to people assisting individuals using ventilators who have other especially sensitive needs.



Look closely to see the anti-tippers on each sled.

Ice Sled anti-tippers

We get our ice sleds from Unique Inventions in Ontario, a small company that supplies sled hockey equipment. They will custom fabricate sleds to order. We set our blades wide apart for extra stability and add anti-tippers to the backs of the blades under the seat, to prevent sled users from tipping over backwards by accident. Its a piece of aluminum rod that extends back from the blade above the ice and acts as a brace.

Ice Sled seat add-on

A jacket serves as a cover for
a personal seating device strapped
to the ice sled.

Some wheelchair users can transfer their seating devices right onto the sled. This works especially well for kids who need their usual or custom seating support. A few extra straps can help secure such items to the sled. Pieces of foam can be taped on or simply inserted under the legs as shown to provide additional support and protection from the cold beneath. We also have extra "chest straps" available to provide additional torso support for those who may need it on sleds with higher seat backs.

Ice Sled outrigger prototype

We are in the process of developing an added piece to act as an outrigger to prevent tipping sideways. Although falling down is an expected part of ice skating, some sled skaters really need to not tip over.

Ice Sled grip sticks

For those who have difficulty with grip and can move their arms, we staple or bolt adjustable straps to the sled sticks. These allow the palm of the hand to be more secure against the stick and the heel of the hand a place to push down for self propulsion.

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 fox, 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.

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.