Hello!
I wanted to share a few exciting updates about Vermont Adaptive from the last six months.
At the core of what we do is always programming — for anyone, of any age and any ability. It’s what makes this organization tick, live and breathe! In December, we kicked off volunteer training at five of our winter resort partners. With the merger with Bart Adaptive now complete, Bromley Mountain and Stratton Mountain Resort officially joined the Vermont Adaptive family.
What a winter it turned out to be! We had one of the snowiest seasons in years, along with some truly frigid days. During one especially cold weekend in February, we hosted the 17th Annual Vermont Adaptive VI/Blind Athlete Winter Festival at Pico Mountain. The cold certainly did not stop more than 20 VI/Blind athletes and Vermont Adaptive volunteers from coming out to ski, snowboard, and snowshoe together. All that snow also helped make more than 4,700* winter lessons possible this season, another record winter for participation.
In December, in partnership with the Vermont Land Trust, Vermont Adaptive completed the purchase of more than 100 acres and a farmhouse in Rochester, VT. This property will become the Vermont Adaptive Outdoor Center — a future home for interns, Veterans retreats, mountain biking and hiking programs, winter hiking and snowshoe outings, and so much more. We are incredibly excited about the opportunities this new space will create in the years ahead.
In January, our Board of Directors gathered for a ski day at Stratton and returned again in February for a community mixer at the Stratton Mountain Club. It was an opportunity to introduce the board to the community and share more about the Vermont Adaptive Forever $3 million Endowment Campaign, including a $500,000 match from a generous anonymous donor. Building the endowment continues to be an important priority to help ensure Vermont Adaptive remains strong and sustainable for generations to come.
In March, Vermont Adaptive released the results of its Economic Impact Study — the first study of its kind for an adaptive sports organization. The findings showed that Vermont Adaptive helps generate more than $10 million in economic impact across Vermont while supporting over 72 jobs statewide.
More recently, if you’ve visited Bolton Valley, you may have noticed construction of a new yurt and wondered what it was for. Vermont Adaptive now has dedicated programming space at Bolton Valley! We are thrilled to be moving into this new home and expanding programming opportunities at the resort. Stay tuned for more details and a ribbon cutting soon.
The Vermont Adaptive staff continues to advocate for adaptive sports and outdoor recreation access at both the local and national levels. Nationally, staff members presented at the National Outdoor Recreation Conference in Duluth, Minnesota, and attended the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation conference in Boston as well as the Vermont Tourism Day and Outdoor Recreation Economy Day in Montpelier. Staff also attended the Vermont Tourism Alliance’s annual Tourism Summit plus the Move United Education Conference, participating in professional development, strengthening connections across the adaptive sports community, and sharing Vermont Adaptive’s experiences with others. I am always impressed by how brightly our staff represents Vermont Adaptive wherever they go.
As you can see, it has been a busy and exciting six months. However, none of this would be possible without you. Your generosity helps ensure Vermont Adaptive can continue creating opportunities for people of all abilities to experience the joy, freedom, and community that outdoor recreation provides.
Thank you for being a part of this community and for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Tim MacLean
Board President
Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports
*Includes two new locations and large Veteran groups