As we gather with friends and family this Thanksgiving and look toward the holiday season, all of us at Maine Adaptive find ourselves reflecting on a year filled with memories, milestones, and moments that remind us why this community is so special.
In 2024, 459 students discovered, or rediscovered, the joy of moving through the world on snow, wheels, trails, courts, and water. Our team delivered more than 2,596 adaptive lessons, each one powered by our incredible community of 324 volunteers whose commitment and compassion make every adventure possible.
A Year Told Through Stories
Every day our programs run, our staff sees the best of what people can do when community, courage, and compassion come together. Brandon, our Senior Program Director, and Heather, our Program Manager, share these moments with the entire team of staff each week through stories, wins, and successes. This has become something our staff looks forward to, and reading through their messages feels like flipping through a yearbook filled with grit, growth, joy, and humanity.
There are hundreds of posts, each one a window into a remarkable moment. A few stand out:
- On January 3, Brandon shared, “Bob F got back on snow after 5 seasons off snow.” Bob, a long-time skier, returned with the help of volunteers Bill, Helen, Alex, and two brand-new volunteers, Violet and Doug. They jumped right in, learned quickly, and helped Bob rediscover the exhilaration of skiing.
- Another note celebrated Karen, a new volunteer, and Paula, a new student returning to skiing after six years. Karen learned thumb-tethering, loading a sit skier, and, with Paul G., a long-time volunteer, helped Paula carve again, just in time for Paula’s niece Sarah to watch with tears in her eyes.
- The joy of our youngest skiers shone in photos from Rugrats, our local school program. Lyanna, who asked for her favorite volunteers by name, skied with the team she’s grown to think of as family.
- From summer, a message read: “Another successful day of cycling at Pineland Farms!” New cyclists Jennifer and Emily tested different trikes, gaining strength and confidence with every ride.
- And sometimes the updates, often paired with a photo or quick video, were as simple and happy as: “Golf season has started!
Together, these updates form a tapestry of moments, big wins, tiny victories, first days, breakthroughs, laughter, and sometimes tears. They show volunteers offering a steady hand. Students pushing past fears. Families watching dreams rekindled. And the impact of new adaptive equipment, funded by donations and grants, giving students the power to move, explore, and thrive.
Growth, Change, and New Adventures
This year also brought growth in new directions: collaborations with the University of New England’s Physical and Occupational Therapy students, whose energy, curiosity, and kindness remind us how bright the future of adaptive recreation is.
And as always, our community felt both joy and loss. We said goodbye to several cherished members of the Maine Adaptive family after their passing, individuals whose spirits remain interwoven with our trails, our mountains, and our hearts. Their legacy lives on every time a student smiles down a slope or pedals forward with confidence.
Why We’re Grateful
As we reflect back, one feeling rises above all others: gratitude.
Gratitude for the students who trust us with their goals.
Gratitude for volunteers who show up, early mornings, long days, big hearts.
Gratitude for families who cheer, encourage, and believe.
Gratitude for the staff who pour themselves into every lesson, every challenge, every long day on snow or trail.
And profound gratitude for individual donors, foundations, corporate sponsors, and partners whose generosity ensures that every lesson is offered at no cost to students and families. Their support funds scholarships, new equipment, training, new program locations, and the countless small moments that add up to life-changing impact.
We meet so many extraordinary people across this beautiful state, people who open doors, lift us up, share our mission, and help bring the joy of recreation to every corner of Maine. You make this work possible.
With Heartfelt Thanks
As we gather with loved ones, enter this season of gratitude, and look toward the winter ahead, thank you for being part of this community, whether you ski, ride, volunteer, teach, give, cheer, or simply believe in what we do. Because of you, Maine Adaptive continues to be a place where courage grows, friendships form, and joy is shared freely.
From all of us: Happy Thanksgiving. We are grateful for you, today, and always.
