KILLINGTON, Vt. (July 17, 2025) — Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports and the Bart Adaptive Sports Center announced today their intent to join forces through a planned merger. The proposed combination reflects a shared commitment to empowering independence for individuals with disabilities through year-round access to sports and outdoor recreation. Bart Adaptive currently offers programs at Bromley Mountain, Stratton Mountain Resort, and in the Manchester region. Vermont Adaptive provides winter programs at Pico Mountain/Killington Resort, Sugarbush Resort, Bolton Valley Resort, Saskadena Six Ski Area, and multiple locations throughout the state in the summer and fall.
A joint merger transition is underway, pending legal finalization, and expected to be completed by July 31. At the closing of the merger, Bart Adaptive will merge with and into Vermont Adaptive. The corporate existence of Bart Adaptive will cease, and Vermont Adaptive will continue its existence as the surviving organization. Programs, volunteering and participation will continue without interruption.
“We’re excited and looking forward to meeting and getting to know the Bart Adaptive community, its athletes and volunteers,” said Erin Fernandez, executive director at Vermont Adaptive. “We’re committed to maintaining the close-knit culture of Bart Adaptive and expanding opportunities for everyone. We work closely with our resort partners and are grateful for their support. Working with the staff at Bromley and Stratton will be no different. It will be a busy time in Southern Vermont!”
Founded in 2002, Bart Adaptive has offered year-round opportunities for people with disabilities to ski, snowboard, bike, and various summer sports.
“This combination with Vermont Adaptive is exciting for our athletes, volunteers and mountain partners,” said Daniel Mon, Bart Adaptive board president. “Joining such a respected organization will allow us to bring the experience of outdoor sports to even more participants as we build on our rich legacy. I would like to thank Bart Adaptive’s current and past staff, volunteers and board members for their dedicated service.”
Bart Adaptive provides 600+ winter lessons and 180+ summer experiences annually to people with disabilities. Programs are taught by about 250 trained volunteer instructors. Year-round programs include skiing, snowboarding, swimming, golf, indoor climbing, martial arts, tennis, and cycling.
“We’re excited about the merger of Vermont Adaptive and Bart Adaptive,” said Bromley Mountain President and General Manager Josh Witkin. “This new partnership aligns with our mission at Bromley Mountain—to ensure every person can experience the joy and freedom of the mountain environment. This partnership strengthens our shared commitment to making year-round experiences accessible to all. Bromley is proud to support this next chapter in adaptive sports in Vermont.”
Bart Adaptive added the Stratton Mountain location in 2018. The number of lessons offered at Stratton has nearly doubled since the 2022-2023 winter season, to nearly 200 winter adaptive lessons in 2024-2025.
“Our adaptive program has been growing each season thanks to the staff and volunteers of Bart Adaptive, and we look forward to welcoming Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports to Stratton Mountain with plans to add events and summer programs in the future,” said Director of Skier and Rider Services Devon Cavagnino. “This nationally recognized program builds on the tradition of providing access to winter mountain sports here at Stratton with our ideal teaching terrain and a convenient location for registration. We are excited to join the network of Vermont Adaptive locations across Vermont.”
Vermont Adaptive was founded in 1987 and is the largest year-round adaptive sports organization in the East. In 2024, it served over 1,200 participants through 5,300 outings. Since 2017, its Veteran Ventures Program has provided more than 9,000 activities and 35+ multi-day retreats to veterans and service members.
Both organizations are members of Move United Sport, which will help to ensure a smooth transition in operations, including insurance, structural systems and centralizing administration.
More information will be available at vermontadaptive.org as the merger progresses.
###
About the Bart Adaptive Sports Center
Founded in 2002 by Joe Hurley, his friends and the family and friends of Bart J. Ruggiere, the Bart J. Ruggiere Adaptive Sports Center provides 600+ winter lessons and 180+ summer experiences annually at Bromley and Stratton Mountains as well as in Manchester to people with disabilities. Programs are taught by about 250 trained volunteer instructors. Year-round programs include skiing, snowboarding, swimming, golf, indoor climbing, martial arts, tennis, and cycling. Bart Adaptive was named after Bart J. Ruggiere, a young man who lost his life in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks in 2001. Bart loved to ski at Bromley with his family and friends for nearly 20 years. Friends and family formed a foundation in Bart’s name to help support people with special needs through an adaptive sports program at Bromley Mountain. Their initial generosity has been one of the main catalysts for the organization’s success. For more information visit www.bartadaptive.org.
About Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports
Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports is a nationally recognized organization that empowers people of all abilities through inclusive sports and recreational programming regardless of ability to pay. In addition to sports, year-round programming options integrate environmental, holistic wellness, and competitive training philosophies for people of all ages with cognitive, developmental, physical, and emotional/behavioral disabilities. Sports and recreational opportunities include alpine skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports; kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding, cycling, mountain biking, sailing, rock climbing, horseback riding, Veterans programs and retreats, and more. More than 400 volunteers serve athletes from all over the world at Vermont Adaptive’s current winter program locations including Pico Mountain, Killington; Sugarbush Resort/Mt. Ellen, Waitsfield; Bolton Valley Resort, Bolton; Saskadena Six Ski Area, Woodstock; and other various mountains upon request. In the summer and fall seasons, the organization provides adaptive adventures throughout Vermont including on the Burlington waterfront and bike path on Lake Champlain, Chittenden County, Waterbury/Montpelier and Mad River Valley, Rutland and Windsor Counties and points south. For a complete map of program locations and offerings, visit vermontadaptive.org.
