Wellness and Recreation Activities

Hiking

This is the first wheelchair-accessible section of the Appalachian Trail in Vermont. It is a 900-foot boardwalk and path through flood plain and forest. The trail takes you to the base of Thundering Falls.

Organization: Green Mountain Club
Cost: Free
Where and When: The Appalachian Trail in Killington. The boardwalk off River Road extends over a wide expanse of the Ottauquechee Creek flood plain.
Accommodation Information: Wheelchair-accessible.

Organization: VSA Arts of Vermont
Cost: None
Where and When: Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hanover, N.H. July 19-24.
Contact Name: Judy Chalmer
Contact Phone: 802-655-7772

Sailing

Come sail on Lake Champlain.

Organization: Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports
Organization Web Site: www.vermontadaptive.org
Event Web Site: www.vermontadaptive.org/sailing.html
Cost: $100 for three-hour group sail, $60/hour for private/competitive instruction; sliding scale fee available!
Where and When: Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center. Seven days a week.
Accommodation Information: We have an adapted Sonar and Martin 16 for a variety of different disabilities as well as instructors with a vast knowledge of disabilities.
Contact Name: Maggie Burke
Contact Phone: 802-343-1193

Cycling

Come enjoy tandem cycling, handcycling and guided trips on the bike path in Burlington.

Organization: Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports
Organization Web Site: www.vermontadaptive.org
Event Web Site: www.vermontadaptive.org/bikes.html
Cost: $20 per person; sliding scale fee available!
Where and When: Local Motion, Burlington bike path. Seven days a week all summer.
Contact Name: Maggie Burke
Contact Phone: 802-343-1193

Innovative Therapeutic Recreation Services

Northeast Passage delivers disability-related health promotion and adapted sports programs throughout New England. Northeast Passage is a program of the University of New Hampshire’s College of Health and Human Services and is an affiliate of Disabled Sports USA.

Organization: Northeast Passage
Organization Web Site: www.nepassage.org
Where and When: Across New England
Contact Phone: 603-862-0070

Summer Custom Group Outings & Adventures

Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports specializes in hosting group outings and adventures. We can schedule daily, weekend, or even weekly outings for your group. We welcome your group to schedule a custom-made outing with us; you think of it and we will create it! We offer sailing, canoeing, kayaking, indoor rock climbing, tandem biking, horseback riding, hiking, ice skating, trips to museums and more.

Organization: Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports
Organization Web Site: www.vermontadaptive.org
Contact Phone: 802-786-4991

Adaptive Sailing, Canoeing & Kayaking

Private and group lessons are available at affordable rates for all.

Organization: Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports
Organization Web Site: www.vermontadaptive.org
Where and When: Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center, Burlington. Seven days a week from June through September.
Accommodation Information: Wheelchair-accessible.
Contact Name: Maggie Burke
Contact Phone: 802-343-1193

Fishing

Fish Vermont waterways such as Crystal Lake and the Missisquoi River.
Organization: Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife
Organization Web Site: www.vtfishandwildlife.com
Event Web Site: www.vtfishandwildlife.com/library/Reports_and_Documents/fishing…
Where and When: Various sites around Vermont
Accommodation Information: Many states, ponds and rivers around Vermont have universal shore fishing platforms. Site conditions vary, and all anglers should inspect each site to determine if assistance may be needed.
Contact Name: John Guilmette
Contact Phone: 802-241-3458

Adaptive Ski & Snowboard Lessons

Daily ski and snowboard lessons for students who have physical and developmental disabilities. Stand-up skiing and snowboarding, 3 & 4 track skiing, mono-skiing, bi-skiing, and snow-slider lessons are offered. Lessons begin Dec. 26 and last through April. Call to schedule an appointment.

Organization: Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports
Organization Web Site: www.vermontadaptive.org
Where and When: Sugarbush Resort in Waitsfield and Pico Mountain in Killington
Accommodation Information: Many different techniques and adaptations are used for teaching and working with students of all ages and abilities. Don’t hesitate to call with questions about programs, equipment, or skiing techniques.
Contact Name: Donna Stanley (Pico)
Contact Phone: 802-353-7584

IDEAL Exercise Program

The Individually Designed Exercise for Active Lifestyles program provides a quality, supportive and individualized exercise program for people with special exercise needs (such as MS, Parkinson’s, spinal cord injury, etc.).

Organization: University of Vermont, Dept. of Rehabilitation & Movement Science
Cost: Participants pay a nominal fee to cover program costs. Payment is dependent on ability to pay.
Where and When: Patrick Gymnasium, UVM, Burlington. Tuesdays or Thursdays, 11 am – 12 pm, or 4-5 pm
Accommodation Information: The program is a collaborative effort with rehabilitation professionals. Parking is available close to the facility.
Contact Name: Dr. Susan Kasser
Contact Phone: 802-656-3252

Cross Country Skiing & Snowshoeing

These programs will be offered on a by-request basis at both Sugarbush Resort in Waitsfield and Pico Mountain in Killington.

Organization: Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports
Organization Web Site: www.vermontadaptive.org
Where and When: Sugarbush Resort in Waitsfield and Pico Mountain in Killington
Accommodation Information: Winter recreational program for people with physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities.
Contact Name: Donna Stanley (Pico)
Contact Phone: 802-353-7584

“Emily Anderson Presents The Awareness Theater Company”

Watch for this upcoming monthly public access TV show, produced with facilities provided by Vermont Community Access Media in Burlington. It will be available to other public access stations statewide.

Organization: VSA Arts of Vermont
Organization Web Site: www.vsavt.org
Accommodation Information: Awareness Theater Company is composed of people with a variety of disabilities.
Contact Name: Emily Anderson
Contact Phone: 802-655-4606

Alpine Skiing Lessons

The Bart Center is a family oriented program that serves all individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities.

Organization: Bart J. Ruggiere Adaptive Sports Center
Organization Web Site: www.bartcenter.com
Cost: $30/half day, $50/full day, plus a half-price lift ticket.
Where and When: Bromley Mountain, Peru. Lessons are available seven days a week, from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Accommodation Information: A wide variety of up-to-date adaptive equipment is available. Please call to make a reservation.
Contact Name: Joe Hurley
Contact Phone: 802-824-5522