Each summer, Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation hosts our Veterans No Boundaries (VNB) Summer Program, a unique retreat designed to bring together veterans, families, and caregivers for a weekend of adaptive sports, outdoor adventures, and community connection.
This year, we’re thrilled to host the program at Fernwood Cove Camp in Harrison, Maine—a stunning location that offers everything from lakeside activities to high ropes courses. For our veterans, VNB is more than just a program; it’s a place to heal, grow, and reconnect with the camaraderie they’ve missed since leaving the military.
“Our goal is to give veterans and their families a chance to reconnect, recharge, and experience the outdoors together,” said Amy Bannon, Maine Adaptive’s Executive Director. “For many, this is the first time they’re able to try an activity together since a life-changing injury or illness.”
Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of watching incredible moments unfold—moments that remind us why VNB is so special. Veterans often arrive feeling unsure of what to expect, but they quickly discover that they are surrounded by a community that understands them. They try new activities, build friendships, and rediscover strengths they thought they’d lost.
For retired Air Force Captain David Coombs, the impact of the program has been deeply personal.
“The Veterans No Boundaries program through Maine Adaptive has provided me with so many opportunities to experience adaptive sports—skiing, snowshoeing, kayaking, fishing, paddle boarding, pickleball, and adaptive cycling—all within my capabilities, yet I didn’t know until I got the chance to try,” said Coombs. “I may not have accomplished these things without the amazing support of the staff. The Veterans No Boundaries camps have been vital to improving my mental and physical health and have helped me grow as a person. I’ve learned new skills and most importantly tested my own limits while enjoying the company of fellow veterans and, in many cases, with the support of my spouse and son.”
Longtime VNB volunteer David Patch also shared how he got started and why he keeps coming back year after year:
“After I retired 14 years ago, I volunteered at another veteran camp where I met a fellow Vietnam Veteran who told me about VNB. It was December and I asked how would I find out about it. He said, go to this place at Sunday River where they are serving breakfast and ask for a Joanne. I did, and the next thing I knew, I was doing dishes! After dishes, I experienced the most incredible thing… families of veterans watching their family member doing things they never thought possible! Veterans arrived apprehensive but quickly started to smile, relax, and enjoy the old camaraderie they had missed, knowing that they were still capable of doing incredible things they thought they would never do again.”
David recalls a summer moment that will stay with him forever:
“Watching two amputees climb trees and go across tight ropes—one with just one leg and the other with a leg and a prosthetic—brought tears to my eyes, as it did all who watched. Their wives and kids beamed. So, that was the start over 10 years ago. It never gets old!”
The VNB Summer Program is not just about sports and outdoor challenges—it’s about rediscovery, joy, and shared experiences that help veterans and their families create lasting memories. With the help of our dedicated volunteers, staff, and supporters, we’re able to make these powerful moments happen every year.
To all our veterans: we honor your service, we recognize your sacrifices, and we celebrate your continued strength. Thank you for inspiring us and for being a vital part of the Maine Adaptive community.
News Coverage:
WGME NEWS 13: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EHn8LQocBU
WCSH 6 News Center Maine: https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/life/people/maine-veterans-resources/veterans-healing-adventure-maine-adaptive-summer-camp-no-boundaries/97-406d7213-1a5c-4df2-b54a-70ce9b3dbe12
SUN JOURNAL: https://www.sunjournal.com/2025/08/15/veterans-no-boundaries-summer-camp-returns/